Usher

After forfeiting the last week of ?Chicago? due to an illness, R&B singer Usher is ready to get back to business. The first objective on his list of many will be to officially launch his US Records, a joint venture deal with J Records.

The Confessions singer/actor tells MTV that the move to executive ranks was a bit of a transition for him initially, but he gave praise to the legendary Clive Davis for helping to guide him through the role reversal.

"I never prided myself on going specifically after the business," says Usher. "So it was a challenge for me to take this seat. But being in the company of Sony BMG, and Clive specifically, I knew I could do a great job as long as I'm able to provide great material.

The first two acts Usher will begin pushing are Chicago R&B group One Chance and Atlanta rapper/songwriter Rico Love. He predicted a first-quarter release for One Chance and late-spring/ early-summer date for Rico Love.

Usher thinks his similarities to these acts will help the public grow to love and except them comparable to the way he has been accepted.

He tells MTV, "you're gonna get those comparisons because that's the only thing people may have to go off of. And that's a good thing ? it worked for me. I'm not initially going after that, but it's coming from [me], so you may hear resemblances of my personality in their music, because I did write songs for them and I did produce for them. But when it comes to their visibility, they have their own individuality. They don't look like me, they don't move like me."

No word on when User will begin working on his next project.