Usher Says One of His 'Greatest Gifts' Is Using His Music to Connect Emotionally with His Kids

The singer is dad to four kids — Usher "Cinco" V, Naviyd Ely, Sovereign Bo and Sire Castrello

Usher is finding new ways to connect with his kids.

The "OMG" singer, 45, was interviewed for TheCut's first-ever solo print issue, opening up about his relationship with his four kids. Usher shares sons Usher "Cinco" V, 16, and Naviyd Ely, 15, with his ex-wife, Tameka Foster, as well as daughter Sovereign Bo, 3, and son Sire Castrello, 2, with his wife, Jenn Goicoechea Raymond.

The musician notes that although he tries to keep his kids away from some of the hardships of life, he realizes that he can't. Instead, he tries to lean into those emotional moments, connecting with his kids through music.

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Related: Usher Encourages Son Naviyd to 'Be Great' as 15-Year-Old Hopes to Start His Own Singing Career

"I try to coddle my kids to protect them from emotions and life and love and sex – you can't!" Usher tells the outlet. "They want to experience things too. Why make them feel as though they need to hide it?"

"One of the greatest gifts I could ever give to one of my children is to be able to tell them, 'I know exactly how you feel right now. Listen to this song,' " he continues. "My house is like a mini art gallery, and my kids are the features."

In February, Usher appeared on the cover of PEOPLE, saying that of his four kids, his daughter stands out from the pack.

"My three-nager is a cold whole trip, but she's so loving and I don't know why I named her Sovereign because she's a dictator. I made her a dictator by way of trait of name," the R&B singer laughed, adding, "Careful what you ask for because you'll get it."

"But if I'm asking for anything, it is that my children will grow to love each other, and there's enough distance between the boys who are older and the babies to be able to cover each other and know that they are protective of one another, that they are willing to challenge each other, to really be the structure that I wish that I had at times," the proud dad continued.

"I didn't have older brothers or sisters. I'm the oldest of my sisters and my brother, but I figure it out every chance that I get."

Usher said his goal is always "to really be patient and talk through [things]" with his kids.

"You are going to have experiences that are going to be good, or they have experiences that are going to challenge you. You need to have somebody that's going to try to have patience with you," he shared.

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