Often dubbed the King of R&B, Usher is acclaimed by critics for his exceptional vocal abilities and impressive dance choreography. This versatile artist’s prowess in singing, songwriting, dancing, and acting has elevated him to the ranks of the best-selling musicians globally.
At 45 years old, Usher has achieved sales exceeding 100 million records worldwide, along with 9 number-one singles to his credit. His 2004 album, Confessions, firmly positioned him as a leading figure in 2000s music, producing four Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, including “Yeah!”, “Burn”, “Confessions Part II”, and “My Boo”.
In its April 2015 issue, Complex Magazine recognized Usher as the greatest male pop vocalist of the past twenty years. He has garnered numerous awards, including 8 Grammy Awards, 18 Billboard Music Awards, and 12 Soul Train Music Awards.
Disclaimer: This ranking is based on Spotify streams as of the time of writing.
Top Usher Tracks to Enjoy in 2024: Yeah!, My Boo, and More
1. Yeah! feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris (1,433,876,080 Spotify streams)
Written by Christopher Bridges, Jonathan Smith, James Phillips, Patrick Smith, LaMarquis Jefferson, and Sean Garrett, “Yeah!”launched on January 10, 2004, as the lead single from Usher’s fourth studio album, Confessions.
This iconic track features rapping from Ludacris and Lil Jon. “Yeah!”topped the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive twelve consecutive weeks.
The song narrates a flirtatious encounter at a club. A snippet from the first verse goes:
“I seen shorty, she was checkin’ up on me/ From the game she was spittin’ in my ear, you would think that she know me (Know me)/ I decided to chill (Okay)/ Conversation got heavy (Hey),”
2. DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love feat. Pitbull (931,833,238 Spotify streams)
“DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love”is a vibrant track that captures the energetic atmosphere of clubs, making it perfect for unwinding after a workweek. The opening verse embodies this vibe:
“So we back in the club/ With our bodies rockin’ from side to side, side-side to side, uh/ Thank God the week is done/ I feel like a zombie gone back to life, back-back to life,”
Featuring the rapper Pitbull, this single was released on July 12, 2010, as the inaugural song from Usher’s EP, Versus.
“DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love”achieved quadruple platinum status from ARIA, double platinum from CRIA, and octuple platinum from RIAA. It also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
3. My Boo feat. Alicia Keys (832,510,837 Spotify streams)
“My Boo”serves as the fourth single from Usher’s acclaimed album, Confessions, featuring fellow R&B star Alicia Keys, and was released on August 29, 2004.
The songwriting credits for this romantic piece include Usher, Keys, Adonis Shropshire, Manuel Sean, and Jermaine Dupri. The track explores the nostalgia of first love and the enduring feelings of ex-partners. A line from the intro reads:
“There’s always that one person that will always have your heart/ You’ll never see it comin’ ‘cause you’re blinded from the start/ Know that you’re that one for me, it’s clear for everyone to see/ Ohh baby, ohh, yeah,”
This song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group and held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, marking Usher’s seventh and Key’s second chart-topper.
4. U Remind Me (390,372,290 Spotify streams)
“U Remind Me”stands as the lead single from Usher’s third studio album, 8701.
This contemporary R&B song won Usher his inaugural Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, propelling it to the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs charts.
The upbeat summer anthem narrates a man’s dilemma of feeling a great attraction towards a woman who inadvertently reminds him of a painful past relationship. The catchy chorus echoes the song’s sentiment:
“But you remind me of a girl that I once knew (Oh, oh)/ See her face whenever I, you look at you/ (Whenever I look, I look)/ You won’t believe all of the things she put me through (Won’t believe, won’t believe, won’t believe it, baby, uh, oh no, no)/ This is why I just can’t get with you,”
5. I Don’t Mind feat. Juicy J (387,096,522 Spotify streams)
“I Don’t Mind”is a collaboration between Usher and rapper Juicy J from Usher’s eighth studio album, Hard II Love, released on November 21, 2014.
The writing team includes Usher, Jordan Houston, Jacob Kasher, Theron Thomas, Lukasz Gottwald, Timothy Thomas, and Henry Walter. This electrifying R&B song pays tribute to a dancer Usher has developed feelings for. A line from the chorus succinctly expresses this sentiment:
“Shawty, I don’t mind/ If you dance on a pole, that don’t make you a h*/ Shawty, I don’t mind/ When you work until three, if you’re leavin’ with me,”
This track ascended to number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, marking Usher’s thirteenth single to reach the top, tying him with legends like Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye.
6. OMG feat. Will.i.am (377,346,604 Spotify streams)
“OMG”is a lively dance-pop and electropop track from Usher featuring the talented rapper Will.i.am, who contributed to writing and producing the song.
This track blends auto-tune effects with sports arena chants, creating a vibrant club atmosphere. Released on March 22, 2010, as the fourth single from Usher’s sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond, “OMG”went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was Usher’s ninth chart-topping single. It also achieved chart-topping success in the UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.
The song portrays a man’s immediate attraction to a woman he sees in a club, with the first verse stating:
“I fell in love with shawty when I seen her on the dance floor/ (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)/ She was dancin’ s*xy, pop-pop-poppin’, droppin’, droppin’ low/ (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)/ Never ever has a lady hit me on the first sight,”
7. U Got It Bad (322,942,767 Spotify streams)
“U Got It Bad”serves as the second official single from Usher’s third studio album, 8701. This R&B ballad was released on August 21, 2001, and was composed by Usher, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri.
This emotive track is marked by digital acoustic guitars, percussion, and its captivating bass line that complements Usher’s smooth vocals. It reached the peak of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Usher’s third single and second consecutive number one from 8701.
The song delves into the feelings of infatuation and the deep emotional connection shared between lovers. A portion of the chorus beautifully expresses the essence of longing:
“(You) You got it, you got it bad/ When you’re on the phone (oh, Yeah), hang up and call you right back/ (Oh, you) you got it, you got it bad/ If you miss a day without your friend, your whole life’s off-track,”
Other notable tracks by Usher include “Love In This Club,””Burn,”and “Hey Daddy.”
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