Chart Rewind: In 2004, Usher Got Intimate & Ruled the Charts With “Confessions”

By 2004, Usher had achieved a level of success that would be the envy of any artist. Just seven years after his commercial breakthrough, the star had become one of R&B/pop's premier crossover artists, his last two albums had collectively spawned six top five Billboard Hot 100 hits, and he was fresh off a pair of Grammys. two-time champion for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Yet for all the accolades, there was little intrigue about the man behind the music.

“The media wasn't completely sold because of Usher and Usher's interest in and out of music,” said Jermaine Dupri, the singer's frequent collaborator. Advertising sign in 2014. “'How do we make him interesting?' was the conversation.”

From discussions with Dupri and other A-list creators – including Bryan-Michael Cox, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Just Blaze and Lil Jon – the creative hive found its answer: Confessions. Just 25 years old at the time, Usher broke new ground with songs that explored the painful subject of infidelity that many assumed were references to his failed relationship with TLC's Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.

Dupri has since claimed that some of the songs—including perhaps the album's centerpiece, “Confessions Part II”—were inspired by his own personal drama, but regardless, ConfessionsThe intimate tone unlocked a new public fascination with Usher. Its lead single, the laced-up club-banger “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, won resounding approval from the public and soared to No. 1 on the Hot 100, holding the spot for 12 consecutive weeks.

The next two Confessions The singles, the vaulting break-up ballad 'Burn' and the suggestive 'Confessions Part II', were also clear winners. “Burn” hit “Yeah!” from atop the Hot 100 in May and recorded his own non-consecutive reign of eight weeks (a one-week hiatus from American Idol winner Fantasia's “I Believe”), but soon gave way to “Confessions Part II,” a two-week champion in June.

After a dominant spring and summer, Confessions he did not retreat for the fall. An extended special edition hit stores in October, headlined by a new duo that reunited the king and queen of R&B: Usher and Alicia Keys. With both artists on a hot streak, their collaboration “My Boo” was a smash hit that earned a six-week reign on the Hot 100 from October to December.

Confessions-Mania, of course, also made the record titanium. The set debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 1.1 million in its first week, according to Luminate. Thanks to the parade of hit singles, Confessions it ruled the album chart for nine weeks and was the best-selling album of 2004.

Since then Confessions tidal wave, Usher continued to score more hits in the following years, with two more Hot 100 No. 1s. “Love in this Club,” featuring Young Jeezy (2008), and “OMG,” featuring Will. i.am (2010) and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-toppers 'There Goes My Baby' (2010) and Climax' (2012) were among the chart-toppers.

While his output declined in the 2010s, his momentum revived with massive acclaim in the early 2020s. His residence in Las Vegas, My way, was a huge commercial success and a cultural talking point, with many videos from the show translating into viral moments on social media. That triumph landed him on the biggest stage of all: Usher headlined the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, the highest-rated show in US history and, of course, performed tracks from his most successful album. Keys joined in for a rendition of “My Boo,” while “Yeah!”, featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, rounded out the set.