Usher: Artist Essentials

First released: 2004 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2004 release history of Confessions. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2004 studio recording
Credit: Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris
Role in this collection: Primary vocalist with Lil Jon and Ludacris

Original album: Confessions

Confessions expanded - original and explicitly named Special Edition items
The original 2004 program supports Yeah with Lil Jon and Ludacris and Caught Up. Confessions Part II and Burn are explicitly identified as Confessions Special Edition versions; those named 2004 presentations are selected. Inherited March fields are not used to assert that the subsequently added My Boo or guest-rapper remix were on the first March program. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2001 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2001 release history of 8701. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2001 studio recording
Credit: Usher
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: 8701

8701 - original 2001 program
The original program identifies U Remind Me, U Got It Bad and U Don't Have to Call in 2001. The last two do not inherit their later annual campaign years. Calendar-day precision is not assigned to the album header. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2004 (year verified)

The selected item is explicitly the 2004 Confessions Special Edition version. Only that edition's supported year is assigned; the expanded page's inherited March field is not claimed as the first day for the exact edited presentation.

Recording: Original 2004 Confessions Special Edition version
Credit: Usher
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Confessions (Special Edition)

Confessions expanded - original and explicitly named Special Edition items
The original 2004 program supports Yeah with Lil Jon and Ludacris and Caught Up. Confessions Part II and Burn are explicitly identified as Confessions Special Edition versions; those named 2004 presentations are selected. Inherited March fields are not used to assert that the subsequently added My Boo or guest-rapper remix were on the first March program. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

Sony - Confessions original anniversary and later orchestral versions
The 2024 label announcement identifies the original twenty-year-old Confessions repertoire and explicitly separates new orchestral Burn and Superstar bonus versions. It corroborates the original 2004 era without redating all expanded tracks to the first album's calendar day. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1997 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1997 release history of My Way. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1997 short studio recording
Credit: Usher
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: My Way

My Way - original 1997 program and named extended edition
The original program identifies You Make Me Wanna, Nice & Slow, My Way and Bedtime in 1997. You Make Me Wanna has its earlier same-year single field and a separately named Extended Version; the normal short recording is selected. Later 1998 annual appearances do not redate the album songs. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2004 (year verified)

The original LaFace single establishes the full Usher/Alicia Keys duet in 2004. The expanded album's inherited March field is not used as its first-release day.

Recording: Original 2004 studio recording
Credit: Usher and Alicia Keys
Role in this collection: Co-lead vocalist with Alicia Keys

Original single: My Boo

My Boo - original LaFace single program
The original 2004 single and associated Alicia Keys credit are used instead of the inherited March date on expanded Confessions. The selected full duet keeps the same credit and original recording identity as the preserved Alicia Keys collection. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 1997 (year verified)

The original 1997 album program establishes this recording before its later annual-list appearance. The album-first year is retained.

Recording: Original 1997 studio recording
Credit: Usher
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: My Way

My Way - original 1997 program and named extended edition
The original program identifies You Make Me Wanna, Nice & Slow, My Way and Bedtime in 1997. You Make Me Wanna has its earlier same-year single field and a separately named Extended Version; the normal short recording is selected. Later 1998 annual appearances do not redate the album songs. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2001 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2001 release history of 8701. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2001 studio recording
Credit: Usher
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: 8701

8701 - original 2001 program
The original program identifies U Remind Me, U Got It Bad and U Don't Have to Call in 2001. The last two do not inherit their later annual campaign years. Calendar-day precision is not assigned to the album header. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2010 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2010 release history of Raymond v Raymond. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2010 studio recording
Credit: Usher featuring will.i.am
Role in this collection: Primary vocalist with featured will.i.am

Original album: Raymond v Raymond

Raymond v Raymond - original program and earlier/later single fields
Papers preserves its original October 2009 single field before the 2010 album. There Goes My Baby and OMG retain their 2010 pre-album fields; OMG explicitly credits will.i.am. DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love with Pitbull is separately dated July 2010, not the expanded album's March header or a 2011 annual appearance. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2008 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2008 release history of Here I Stand. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2008 studio recording
Credit: Usher featuring Young Jeezy
Role in this collection: Primary vocalist with featured rapper Young Jeezy

Original album: Here I Stand

Here I Stand - original Young Jeezy collaboration
The original 2008 program credits Love in This Club with Young Jeezy and retains its pre-album single field. The separately named Part II with Beyonce and Lil Wayne is not the chosen performance. | Reviewed 2026-10-18

First released: 2012 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 2012 release history of Looking 4 Myself. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 2012 studio recording
Credit: Usher
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Looking 4 Myself

Looking 4 Myself - original 2012 program
The original 2012 program identifies Climax, Scream and Lemme See featuring Rick Ross. Climax and Lemme See have earlier same-year single fields. Scream's inconsistent track-level 2022 field is excluded; the original 2012 program and contemporaneous remix release corroborate its original era. | Reviewed 2026-10-18