Usher Calls Kim Kardashian “A Fairy God-A&R” and Talks New Skims Ad

Usher has a new collaborator: Kim Kardashian.

The Grammy-winning star appears in new racy photos for the reality star and entrepreneur’s Skims line and he says the partnership was developed to celebrate his new album Coming Home, out on Friday.

“The idea started with the photo that is my album [cover], where I have the peach in my hand. We shot the reverse of that photo, which was the first shot that was released, and therefore, after, as I do support Kim, supporting Skims was the next step,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “It really was in conjunction with the album.”
 

A limited edition, digital download version of Coming Home, with an alternative cover and a bonus track called “Naked,” will be available the first week of release via SKIMS.com.

Usher says he played Kardashian his new album and called her “a fairy god-A&R.”

“She listened to my album. She’s, believe it or not, like a fairy god-A&R, just to give you at least an opinion. But we curated a very small group of people in Las Vegas. She listened to the album, and she was like, ‘I want to do something to be supportive of what you’re doing.’ And this was one of the things that we did as a result of our friendship,” he explains.

In the newly released photos, the in-shape singer sports the Skims stretch 5” boxer in midnight and the Skims cotton 5” boxer in military, among other looks. Skims Mens will be available to purchase on Skims.com on Feb. 12 in sizes XS-5X with prices ranging from $16-$44 for single pieces and $42-$98 for packs.

Coming Home is Usher’s 9th album and will be released two days before he headlines the Super Bowl halftime show. The album features the singles “Good, Good” and “Ruin.”