Anyone doubting Usher’s comeback to sheer greatness might want to reconsider. The multi-awarded superstar’s Ella Mai-assisted single “Don’t Waste My Time” has now reached the number one spot on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay, becoming his fifth overall.
Usher overtaking the top spot with the Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox-helmed record snags him a career milestone on the airplay chart. He is now the third artist in 26-year history of the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay to have chart-leaders in three different decades (2020s, 2010s, 2000s), joining Alicia Keys and Charlie Wilson.
He also follows in Uncle Charlie’s recent Adult R&B footsteps, earning the title as the second act to have multiple new number one singles in the last three decades: 2020s, 2010s, 2000s.
Usher’s first reign at the summit started in December 2008, with “Here I Stand,” the title track from his fifth album. He returned to the pole position twice in 2010 with a pair of Raymond v. Raymond singles (“Papers,” “There Goes My Baby”).
He collected one more number one hit in 2012 for “Climax” from Looking 4 Myself. The Diplo-produced track won Usher a Grammy for Best R&B Performance.
The chart victory of “Don’t Waste My Time” also accounts for the third chart-topper for Mai. The Grammy winner picked up her first for 2018’s “Boo’d Up.”
Usher recently reunited with Lil Jon and Ludacris for “SexBeat,” the second offering from the Confessions 2 sequel. The album is slated sometime this year.
