Sometimes you just have to beg.

In 2006, Lloyd Polite (yes, that’s his real name) found himself poised on the brink of stardom. Only 20 years old, he’d already been working hard at the music game for the past decade, releasing a record at the age of 10 as part of a pre-teen R&B group called N-Toon. When the kiddie quartet broke up, he struck out on his own and scored a few moderate hits with his debut album. His name was out there — now he had to take advantage of the opportunity.

For his all-important second album, Lloyd worked with a bevy of different producers. On one track he found himself in the studio with James “J Lack” Lackey, brother of superstar singer/dancer/perfumist/roller skater Usher. Lackey played Lloyd the beats for “Get It Shawty,” a song already earmarked for big brother, and Lloyd knew it was perfect for him — and that it was a hit. Usher planned to release a version himself eventually, but Lloyd begged the pop idol to let him have the first shot. Usher loved the song, too, but it didn’t fit with his immediate plans and he didn’t want to sit on a potential hit written by his own brother, or worse, never release it at all. So he gave Lloyd his blessing.

Released as a single in the spring of 2007, right in the midst of the shawty boom in R&B (for a 10-year span rappers and singers used that term in seemingly every song), “Get It Shawty” backed it up into the US Top 20, and received constant play on R&B/Hip Hop radio stations. Over the years, Lloyd has never failed to mention Usher, and to thank him for the song and the opportunity. Unfailingly polite.

So exchange names and things … with Lloyd.