Joining Justin Bieber and Kanye West on Scooter Braun’s SB Projects roster are Usher and rapper Vic Mensa.
Usher and rising Roc Nation rapper Vic Mensa have signed with Scooter Braun for management, sources tell Billboard. The two artists are the latest additions to the SB Projects roster following Kanye West, whom Braun began co-managing in March. Mensa is co-managed by Cody Kazarian.
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Over the last two years, Braun has been steadily building out his management base. In addition to longtime client and Usher protégé Justin Bieber, Braun represents Tori Kelly, Carly Rae Jepsen, Martin Garrix and Black Eyed Peas, among others. He and former client Ariana Grande parted ways in February, though Braun is credited with having A&R’d her just-released album, Dangerous Woman, along with Republic Records EVP Wendy Goldstein.
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“I’ve always been in the Scooter family,” Usher told Billboard when asked to confirm his signing after appearing on a panel with Ryan Seacrest at the 73rd annual Cannes Lions on June 21. “We actually have worked together on artists, and worked together in business. So it’s just a continuum.”
Live Nation president/global touring and chairman/global music Arthur Fogel and Maverick Management partner Ron Lafitte joined Usher’s manager/wife Grace Miguel in helming the singer’s career last year. The eight-time Grammy Award winner’s previous managers include his mother Jonetta Patton, Benny Medina (Jennifer Lopez) and former AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips.
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Set to perform at the BET Awards (June 26), Usher recently released two new singles, “Crash” and “No Limit” featuring Young Thug. Usher’s long-awaited eighth studio album, Flawed, is due later this year. He also portrays boxer Sugar Ray Leonard in Hands of Stone, the biopic about fellow boxer Roberto Duran. The film opens in theaters on Aug. 26.
Signed to Roc Nation by Jay Z last year, Chicago native Mensa released his latest project, the seven-song EP There’s Alot Going On, on June 3. Co-signed early on by Kanye West, Mensa appears on the track “Wolves,” together with Sia, from West’s album The Life of Pablo. Mensa featured West on his own 2015 single “U Mad” and also earned his first Grammy nomination that year for best rap song as a co-writer on West’s single “All Day.”