Usher Sues Investors Over $700,000 Unpaid Loan

Atlanta singer and entertainment executive Usher Raymond IV has filed a lawsuit against a group of investors, seeking to recover $700,000 from a $1.7 million loan he provided for a planned restaurant and lounge in the city's Buckhead neighborhood. The suit, filed last week in Fulton County Superior Court, names record producer Bryan Michael Cox, music executives Keith Thomas and Charles Hughes, and attorney Alcide Honoré as defendants, along with related companies.

According to the court filing, the dispute began in late 2024 when Thomas, Hughes, and Cox approached Usher with a proposal for Homage ATL, an upscale dining and lounge venue. The group aimed to purchase a commercial property at 3102 Piedmont Road, the former site of Ocean Prime, for more than $6 million. Usher declined to join as an equity partner but agreed to lend $1.7 million to facilitate the acquisition. The funds were wired in January to a trust account held by Honoré, who represented some of the investors.

The project stalled, with no purchase completed despite ongoing negotiations. By summer, Usher demanded repayment. He received $1 million back in August, but efforts to retrieve the remaining $700,000...