Usher has praised his protégé Justin Bieber.

The ‘OMG’ singer, who signed Bieber, told the Los Angeles Times that he was impressed by Bieber.

“I think it was, first and foremost, his charming, winning, timeless attitude [that appealed to me],” he said. “It’s as though he had been here before.”

He continued: “When I met him, his personality won me over. When he sang, I realized we were dealing with the real thing. His voice just spoke to the type of music I would want to be associated with. And it wasn’t a gimmick - we had to teach him how to dance and be on stage, but he really had a good voice.”

Usher also revealed that he gives Bieber advice, explaining: “Man, I tell him like I tell any artist, either be passionate fully about what you do or don’t do it at all. And understand that the perception of what you build is the reality of what they will believe.”

He added that Bieber is already mature enough to handle the music industry despite being just 16.

“As I said, I think that Justin has been here before, although he’s 16,” Usher said. “When you talk to him, it’s like you’re talking to a well-seasoned young man. It’s almost like he’d already mapped out in his mind what his story could be and it’s up to us to navigate him.

“There couldn’t be anybody more proud. He’s like a son to me. And never too much - because this is only the beginning. His story has yet to truly unfold.”

source