Usher’s latest single “GLU” retains the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart for a second consecutive week.
It marks Usher’s first time holding the top position for at least two weeks as the sole artist since “Papers,” which reached its peak in January 2010. The Sean Garrett and Zaytoven-produced track spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart.
In 2020, Usher achieved a two-week streak at No. 1 with his Ella Mai-assisted single, “Don’t Waste My Time.”
On Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, “GLU” rises to No. 4 this week, tallying Usher’s 35th top 10 hit on the list; sixteen of them are No. 1 hits.
Elsewhere, “GLU” remains at No. 4 on urban radio and drops to No. 2 on R&B radio this week. On the latter chart, the bedroom banger reigned for one week.
“GLU” has garnered more than 4.4. million streams on Spotify since it was released March 17 via gamma, the newest independent label headed by executive Larry Jackson.
Although Usher has not yet released an official video for “GLU,” he has uploaded a rehearsal and his Dreamville Fest performance of the track on his YouTube page.
“GLU” is the lead single from Usher’s ninth studio album, which is also his first album for gamma. It was co-produced by Lil Jon, Sean Garrett, and The Avila Brothers.
Garrett discussed the inspiration for his seductive song in an interview with Rated R&B.
“I felt like the concept had to be extremely unique. It had to be said in a way that was straddling the line a bit but comes across where everyone can enjoy it. And kind of getting back to just making a woman feel good; that’s what Usher does,” said Garrett to Rated R&B in an April interview.
“He goes crazy with the vocals and it’s truly what R&B music is. We took every piece to the song and took our time to put it together properly to make sure that it felt amazing and was an elevation of what R&B has been happening for late. We wanted to make sure that this was gonna be something that everybody would love.”
Usher’s next album remains untitled. It’s the follow-up to his 2016 album, Hard II Love, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart.
At the 2023 BET Awards last Sunday, Usher and Chris Brown tied for the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist award. Before that, Usher joined Muni Long for the official remix of her Grammy-winning single “Hrs & Hrs.”
Usher has upcoming shows as part of his Las Vegas residency and Rendez-Vous A Paris stint. Tickets are available at usherworld.com.
Stream “GLU” by Usher below.
