Usher on the Defense

Here's what I take away from this article:

1. Usher couldn't sell his baby's pictures
2. He also wonders why he married Tameka
3. His new album sucks

FINALLY, there's one celebrity who refuses to cash in on parenthood by selling baby pictures to a magazine. "In no way would I ever pimp out my child for money," Usher told Page Six.

The pop singer - upset by rumors he was trying to sell photos of his infant son, Usher Raymond V, and eager to defend his wife, Tameka, and his upcoming album, "Here I Stand" - wants to set the record straight.

"I am livid that people talk about my child," Usher told us. In fact, he has posed - for free - with his son for an "incredible" Father's Day cover for Essence magazine.

"What makes you a man more than being a father to your child? I recognize I gave anonymity away when I became an artist, but to have people try to paint a horrible picture of what's so beautiful - it's obvious someone is trying to stop something so beautiful."

As for embattled spouse Tameka - who has been blamed for the firing of most of Usher's music team, for not getting along with his mother, Jonetta Patton, and for being jealous of other women - Usher says, just get over it.

"I stand by her as a man loving my wife and being there for my child . . . Opinions are like [bleep]holes. Everybody's got one. What I will say is, this is my wife and I would hope that [people] would respect my wife and my marriage and who I have chosen to spend my life with."

Regarding talk that his album underwhelmed a few critics, Usher fumed, "It was just finished on Friday! And no one but a few international journalists have heard it yet. Everybody responded very well to it.

"They noted that it was very courageous to take this direction in my music . . . They called it timeless."

In addition to Essence, Usher will grace the covers of Entertainment Weekly and Vibe and has already booked a coveted slot on "Saturday Night Live."

(Source: Page Six)