Just two days after The Color Purple broke a slew of records upon its Christmas Day debut, Usher and H.E.R. have released the steamy new music video for “Risk It All,” their acclaimed collaboration off The Color Purple (Music From and Inspired By).
With Usher sporting nothing but a pair of skin-tight black boxer briefs, the “Good Good” singer effortlessly reminds us of his sex symbol status as H.E.R. matches his energy and equally embraces her sensuality on screen while wearing a low-cut black corset paired with black shorts. The two Grammy winners lip sync to their respective verses as they join background dancers performing modern dance choreography set to the somber, piano-backed ballad. “Sometimes it’s tragic, so problematic / People are cryin’ for it, people are dyin’ for it / Always the reason, we still believe it / Somethin’ that leaves us hurtin’ is worth it,” they croon.
Co-written and produced by H.E.R. — who also stars in the blockbuster movie musical — and Oscar and Grammy winner Jimmy Napes, “Risk It All” embodies the narratives of love, survival, determination and liberation that course through The Color Purple. The song appears on The Color Purple (Music From and Inspired By), which also includes new music from the likes of Fantasia, Halle Bailey, Megan Thee Stallion, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott, Black Thought, October London, Shenseea, Mary Mary, Jorja Smith, Keyshia Cole and more.
The Color Purple opened in theatres on Dec. 25, 2023. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie — which is a film adaptation of the 2005 Tony-winning Broadway musical based on the 1985 Steven Spielberg-helmed film and Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel — outpaced expectations and pulled in over $18 million in North America alone. That marks the largest Christmas Day opening for a film since Sherlock Holmes in 2009, as well as the second-largest Christmas Day opening of all time.
Starting on Dec. 27 at 11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. PT, the Dave Meyers-directed video will premiere on MTV and air every hour on MTVU, MTV Live & MTV Biggest Pop. “Risk It All” will also be included on Usher’s Coming Home, his forthcoming ninth studio album, which is set to arrive the same day he graces the Super Bowl Halftime stage (Feb. 11).
Watch the racy new “Risk It All” music video above.