Craig David Reflects On 2002 ‘VIBE’ Cover And Planned “Reunion” With Usher For Lovers & Friends

Edward Cooke

Craig David was very excited about Lovers & Friends Fest 2024.

It even served as the catalyst for his upcoming 7 Days Commitment tour. Despite the abrupt cancellation, VIBE had a nostalgic conversation with the British crooner about loosely reuniting with Usher for the one-day festival as he reminisced on their February 2002 VIBE cover when they were labeled the “new sound of R&B.”

“Do you know how amazing that cover is? It’s a core memory for me,” David gushed over Zoom. “I can remember it like it was yesterday. First to see Faith Evans; I’m just gassed there. Then you got Blu Cantrell, and the big man Usher in the building. It was so wholesome and I’m so grateful to have experienced that as an 18-year-old kid coming over from the UK to be in the presence of greatness. Every time I look at it, it just makes me smile.”

When later discussing what would’ve been a reunion of sorts with Usher at Lovers & Friends, David praised the “You Make Me Wanna” singer and his longevity.

“Do you know what’s so beautiful about it? Going to Vegas and doing a residency, [he] set the tone [for] the next phase of your whole career and legacy […] I was so happy for him because this kind of length of career is something that it’s not easy to stick in the mix for this long. It’s not easy to be okay with the spotlight being way off over here on something else, a different sound, a different moment, and you just still stay in the mix and be like, ‘Okay, keep doing my thing.’ Then, all of a sudden when the lights are back on you and you’re actually just ready for it, it’s just the most beautiful thing. So seeing Usher have that experience, it just gave me again [confidence boost].”

The 42-year-old reveled in the fact that “my real joy is none of this is ever competition,” adding, “There’s so many spaces for so many different artists. If we can help each other win, then we all win.”

Despite the now-cancelled performance being the unofficial first stop on his upcoming tour, David promised that the week-long run is just a preview of what’s to come.

“[I want to] come and do a full-fledged tour,” he expressed before teasing, “It may actually be more extensive than the UK tour, if I’m being honest.”

His 7 Days Commitment tour started May 6, and goes through May 16 in select cities like New York City, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. The UK trek takes place in February 2025.

Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox