Usher Raymond Reflects on ‘Confessions’ Legacy, Addresses ‘King of R&B’ Title
Renowned R&B/Pop artist Usher Raymond recently celebrated a significant milestone as his 2004 album ‘Confessions’ was awarded a Diamond plaque by the RIAA, signifying 10 million sales.
Often regarded as his masterpiece by many of his fans, the album continues to hold a special place in his discography.
Speculation has been rife that Usher may reunite with record producer Jermaine Dupri to create a sequel to ‘Confessions’. The eight-time Grammy winner addressed these rumors in a conversation with The Shade Room.
“At the moment, it’s only a rumor,” Usher commented when queried about a potential ‘Confessions II’ to mark the 20th anniversary of the original album. “But who knows? We’ll see when the time comes next year.”
‘Confessions’ had a spectacular debut, securing the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and selling 1.1 million copies in its first week. It maintained its position at the top of the Billboard 200 for nine non-consecutive weeks in 2004.
The album also spawned several Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping hits, including “Yeah!” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, which dominated for twelve weeks. “Burn,” “My Boo” in collaboration with Alicia Keys, and “Confessions Part II” also reached the pinnacle of the chart.
Given Usher’s impressive record, boasting nine career Number Ones on the Hot 100 and a highly successful Las Vegas residency, some R&B fans have hailed him as the king of the genre. In response to this, Usher expressed his appreciation but also highlighted the limitations of such a title.
“If I label myself merely as the king of R&B, it would be too restrictive. I adore R&B, but it’s a gateway to so many other things,” Usher explained. “If people have credited me with this title due to my consistent success, I’m humbled, but there’s so much more to it than just being that.”
The 44-year-old music legend humorously added, “Isn’t Jacquees the King of R&B? I don’t want to usurp his position. He’s like a younger brother…There are many kings.” Jacquees had previously declared himself as the King of R&B, a proclamation that received mixed reactions.
Usher had discussed the King of R&B title in 2022 as well. The Atlanta-based musician/actor had stated, “If you bestow that title upon me, I’ll wear it with pride. I’ll adjust my crown, acknowledging that I stand on the shoulders of countless icons.”
