INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Usher preached togetherness during 鈥渢umultuous times鈥� while performing a series of his hits at an exclusive star-studded afterparty following .
The eight-time Grammy winner spoke about the importance of unity during the Chairman鈥檚 Party on Thursday night inside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. He went on to perform several of his classics from 鈥淢y Boo鈥� to 鈥淵eah!鈥� on the BET Network stage at The Canyons, an open-air location within the stadium鈥檚 footprint.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very important time when all of us need hope,鈥� the R&B singer said in front of the many guests who flowed into the afterparty with several high-profile stars in attendance, including Issa Rae, Cedric the Entertainer, Rita Ora and Keegan-Michael Key, the host of NFL Honors. Attendees had an early look at the site of with some given the opportunity to take photos on the field.
鈥淭hese games have meant so much,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭he league has had its moments during these tumultuous times. Now, with us being all together in this room and stadium together, it鈥檚 the purpose of hope.鈥�
With a band playing behind him, Usher kept the energy high while performing upbeat jams including 鈥淐aught Up,鈥� 鈥淒J Got Us Fallin鈥� in Love,鈥� 鈥淥MG鈥� and 鈥淵ou Make Me Wanna.鈥�
The singer told the crowd that his performance is only the beginning to an 鈥渋ncredible weekend.鈥�
Before Usher鈥檚 performance, DirecTV awarded a community organization a $25,000 grant as an extension of the Super Bowl 56 Legacy Program. Two additional organizations 鈥� focused on empowering youth through storytelling 鈥� received $5,000 each.
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Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
