Tevin Campbell Confirms That L.A. Reid Wanted Usher To Sing ‘Can We Talk’ Over Him + Recalls Being Drunk As A Kid & Disrespecting Wyclef During A Studio Session: He Called My Mom

Tevin Campbell Confirms That L.A. Reid Wanted Usher To Sing ‘Can We Talk’ Over Him + Recalls Being Drunk As A Kid & Disrespecting Wyclef During A Studio Session: He Called My Mom

Tevin Campbell isn’t holding anything back as he speaks on the ins and outs of the music industry.

Tevin Campbell is a well-known singer/ songwriter who initially rose to fame at a young age in the late 80s. Over the years the “I’m Ready” singer has accomplished a lot in his career including receiving 5 Grammy Award nominations and selling 5 million records in the United States.

During a recent interview with the “State of Black Music Podcast,” Tevin Campbell confirmed that music executive L.A. Reid wanted his hit song “Can We Talk” to go to Usher. The track, which was written and produced by Babyface and Daryl Simmons, was the first single released from Tevin’s second studio album “I’m Ready” in 1993.

Reportedly, It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. While chatting about how the song almost didn’t go to him, Tevin said,

“Well, that’s true. That’s actually true, L.A. did want [Usher] to record it but Babyface wanted me to do it and they had a big fight over that.”

He added,

“‘I Got It Bad’ by Usher is one of my favorite R&B songs, I couldn’t sing that like he sings it. I don’t believe Usher could sing ‘Can We Talk’ like I sing it. Not every song is meant for everybody.”

Usher

Tevin, who started in the entertainment industry as a child, then touched on what it’s like for someone to be a child star. He took the time to give actress Drew Barrymore, who also became famous at a young age, her flowers.

“I would love to know Drew Barrymore. I think she’s amazing.”

Drew Barrymore

He continued,

“I’m not the only one [who started their career young]. But it’s different when you are alone, by yourself, [but] it’s cool to be in a group. But Drew Barrymore was alone, man. And she went through it and I understand everything she went through because I went through that same thing.”

Even though Tevin has been in the industry since he was a kid, there are still people he hasn’t gotten the chance to work with yet that he’d like to. During his interview, he revealed that he’d love to collab with Bruno, Beyoncé and Jazmine Sullivan. He also mentioned,

“I would have loved to have done a duet with Whitney Houston, she’s my ultimate idol.”

Whitney Houston

Tevin Campbell then revealed an interesting experience he had working with Wyclef Jean years ago.

Tevin Campbell says LA Reid Wanted “Can We Talk” Song For Usher (? @SOBMpodcast @tevincampbelll @Usher) pic.twitter.com/AgMlNmsGt2

— theJasmineBRAND (@thejasminebrand) June 30, 2022

The “Moesha” actor shared that prior to a session he had planned with Wyclef Jean he consumed “8 cosmopolitan” drinks in a “span of probably 2/3 hours.”

Wyclef Jean

He continued and said that because he was so “sh*t-faced” every song Wyclef Jean played for him he said,

“Oh, that’s horrible.”

“I was cursing too. I was being very very nasty and you know, just horrible.”

He continued,

“Then he called my mom because he couldn’t take it no more. I was drunk, acting a fool, acting like a brat.”

He added that his mom wasn’t able to help with his drunken antics and the session was ultimately canceled.

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