Usher Raymond IV, born on October 14, 1978, is a renowned American singer, songwriter, and dancer. With a strong presence in the R&B genre, Usher made his mark in the music industry with his self-titled debut album, “Usher,” in 1994. However, it was his second album, “My Way” (1997), that catapulted him to stardom in the late 1990s. This album not only showcased his talent but also yielded his first U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, “Nice & Slow,” along with the chart-toppers “You Make Me Wanna…” and “My Way.”
Following this early success, Usher continued to make waves with his third album, “8701” (2001), which produced chart-toppers like “U Remind Me” and “U Got It Bad,” as well as the hit “U Don’t Have to Call.” The album achieved significant global sales of eight million copies and earned Usher his first two Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2002 and 2003.
In 2004, Usher’s album “Confessions” solidified his status as one of the best-selling musical artists of the 2000s. It boasted four consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: “Yeah!” (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris), “Burn,” “Confessions Part II,” and “My Boo” (with Alicia Keys). The album went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide and received Diamond certification from the RIAA.
After parting ways with his manager and mother in 2007, Usher continued to deliver hits with the albums “Here I Stand” (2008) and “Raymond v. Raymond” (2010). These albums not only debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart but also produced chart-toppers such as “Love in This Club” (featuring Young Jeezy) and “OMG” (featuring will.i.am).
In addition to these accomplishments, Usher’s EP “Versus” spawned the top-five single “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” (featuring Pitbull), and he followed it up with the top-fifteen single “More.” His 2012 album, “Looking 4 Myself,” also made its debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart and featured the top-ten hit “Scream.” Furthermore, his R&B ballads “There Goes My Baby” and “Climax” earned Grammy Awards in 2011 and 2013.
Even in the years that followed, Usher’s music continued to resonate with audiences. His track “I Don’t Mind” (featuring Juicy J) reached the top-fifteen in 2014, and his album “Hard II Love” (2016) peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 chart. Notably, in 2018, he collaborated with record producer Zaytoven on the album “A,” showcasing his enduring influence and talent in the music industry.