Usher denies selling baby pictures

R&B star Usher has angrily denied claims that he signed a lucrative baby pictures deal with a US magazine.

The singer posed with his wife Tameka Foster and five-month-old son Usher Raymond V in a photoshoot for Essence magazine, but he has insisted that he did so for free.

"In no way would I ever pimp out my child for money," Usher told the New York Post. "I am livid that people talk about my child.

"What makes you a man more than being a father to your child? I recognise I gave anonymity away when I became an artist, but to have people try to paint a horrible picture of what's so beautiful - it's obvious someone is trying to stop something so beautiful."

Usher described himself as "super dad" when asked about his parenting skills last year.