L.A. Reid, the man who helped launch the careers of both Usher and Sean “Diddy” Combs, shared in his 2016 memoir how Justin Bieber was brought to him as a “gift” by Usher when the young pop star was just 14 years old.
“This is Justin Bieber,” Usher said, introducing the young talent.
Reid was blown away, realizing that Usher hadn’t just brought him a kid with an incredible voice but a “born entertainer,” someone destined for global stardom.
Bieber, who rose to global fame at age 15 with his hit single One Time in 2009, had initially been discovered at 12 by entrepreneur Scooter Braun, after covering Usher and Chris Brown songs on YouTube.
Reid described him as a “beautiful” 14-year-old when Usher introduced him, marking the pivotal moment that led to Bieber’s signing with Island Records.
Just a year later, the Baby singer spent a now-famous 48 hours with Diddy at the rapper’s home, an experience that gained attention due to its wild nature, with the young star and Diddy reportedly going “full buck crazy” during their time together.
Reid, whose own career saw him discover Usher as a teenager and set Diddy up with the tools to create Bad Boy Records, also detailed how Sean Combs mentored a 14-year-old Yeah! singer for a year.
In light of recent allegations against Sean Combs, including accusations of sex trafficking and racketeering involving over 120 victims, the connections between Diddy, Usher, and Bieber are being reexamined.
Reid, who is himself facing legal issues related to sexual harassment allegations, remains a key figure in shaping the careers of all three artists, according to his memoir.
