( CNN ) -- You know you 've reached a special level of fame when you 're known by just your first name . For R & B superstar Usher ( full name Usher Raymond ) , achieving his place among the entertainment industry 's first-namers has come with the sale of tens of millions of records and multiple Grammy Awards . `` I 'm definitely living my dream to the fullest ... What I do is very positive and an indication that if you simply believe in your dreams , you can make it , '' he told CNN . When not performing the man who recently visited the gambling city of Macau during his first tour of China is a more modest character . `` I would definitely say there is a difference between the Usher that 's on stage and the Usher who balances the regular life of being an entertainer , '' he said . With a new album out entitled `` Raymond vs. Raymond '' -- `` It probably would have been easier if I 'd just named it 'Usher vs . Usher ' but then people would have thought I was like a schizo '' -- balance has become a recent theme in his life and work . `` I experienced an incredible amount of depth in these last two to three years of my life in terms of entertainment , places I 've gone , the things that I want to do ... and the balance between my personal life and my entertainment is what this album was all about , '' he said . The death of Michael Jackson , an inspirational figure to Usher both in his early career and later when the two became friends , affected him . But talking about it to CNN , he looks back only on the positives from their relationship and the good advice he was given . `` The one thing that he always said to me was , 'Be mindful of history . Be conscious of history . Do n't get caught up in just the moment . Understand that each moment is a piece of history and you should approach it that way . ' '' Passing on the wisdom from the `` King of Pop '' and guiding new stars like Canadian protégé Justin Bieber is part of Usher 's plans for the future . `` I look at him like a son , like a little brother . They even call me or consider me a mentor sometimes . Whatever it takes , to be helpful . As I said , when I was first his manager , I felt like I could make a meaningful contribution to his career , and thus far it 's looking that way . So I 'm really happy . '' Watch the full interview on CNN Talk Asia .
U.S. R & B superstar was friend of Michael Jackson . The singer died in a Paris hotel room on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50, after suffering from an apparent drug overdose. Passing on the advice of `` King of Pop , '' he 's now mentor to teen sensation Justin Bieber .