Turning Over To The Wild: The Untold Story Behind Usher's Mentorship With Diddy

In 1993, music mogul L.A. Reid took a gamble by signing a 14-year-old Usher to his label, LaFace Records. After releasing Usher's first single, *Call Me a Mack*, Reid was left searching for the next big hit. In his 2016 memoir, Reid admitted he struggled to find another song compelling enough to push Usher into the spotlight. That’s when he turned to his friend, Sean “Puffy” Combs, now known as Diddy, for help.

Reid recalled asking Diddy, one of the wildest party figures of the time: "Will you take this kid and teach him your swagger? Can you just give him some of your flavor?" Usher, only 15, was sent to New York to experience what Diddy dubbed "Puffy's Flavor Camp." Despite his reservations, Reid sought to give Usher an edgier sound, but worried if turning him over to Diddy was responsible.

Usher later opened up about his time living with Diddy, admitting he was exposed to a lifestyle that he couldn't fully comprehend. Reflecting on the experience years later, Usher said, "It was pretty wild... crazy. There were curious things taking place that I didn't necessarily understand." When asked if he'd send his own children to such an environment, his response was a firm, "Hell no!"

In the wake of current allegations against Diddy—including charges of sex trafficking and racketeering—Usher's time under Diddy's mentorship has come under renewed scrutiny. With more than 120 alleged victims coming forward, questions swirl about how much Usher and those around him knew at the time.

Reid's memoir also details the beginning of Diddy’s career. He introduced the young mogul to Clive Davis, paving the way for the creation of Bad Boy Records. Reflecting on his decision to send Usher to New York, Reid admits he never truly knew if "Flavor Camp" had worked until Usher returned a year later. 

“When Puffy walked in, shirtless like the king of the world, dancing to Usher’s new tracks, I knew he had delivered exactly what I wanted,” Reid wrote. Diddy had infused Usher with a new swagger, turning him into a star with a fresh hip-hop-infused R&B sound.

But Reid’s risk with Usher wasn't the last time he'd take such a chance. Years later, Usher introduced Reid to a 14-year-old Justin Bieber. Usher had discovered Bieber on YouTube, and upon bringing him to Reid’s office, the young singer wowed with his charisma, immediately sitting at the piano and performing. "Justin had a face like no other," Reid gushed. "His charm and natural charisma turned him into a superstar before our eyes."                   

                 

Yet, like Usher before him, Bieber, too, had a brush with Diddy's world. At just 15, Bieber spent 48 unsupervised hours at Diddy's home, which Reid later admitted raised concerns. Questions have since surfaced regarding whether Bieber's handlers, including Usher, were fully aware of Diddy's controversial behavior at the time.

Today, as Diddy faces serious charges, Bieber is reportedly struggling with the revelations. Sources claim that Bieber feels betrayed and confused, particularly due to Diddy's role in his early career. While Bieber is advised to distance himself from the scandal, insiders reveal that the pop star is wrestling with the fallout.

The situation has even affected Bieber’s wife, Hailey, who has stepped in as his “gatekeeper,” according to sources. In a recent Instagram post, Hailey shared a defiant image of Bieber flipping off the camera, signaling her feelings about the ongoing drama surrounding Diddy.

As the music industry continues to reckon with these explosive revelations, Reid's once bold decision to hand Usher over to the "wildest party guy in the country" now raises deeper questions about the blurred lines of mentorship and responsibility in a world where fame and excess often collide.