Sound CheckUsher’s “Confessions” reaches 10 million in U.S. sales
In addition to currently having the number one song on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and acting as mentor to one of the world's fastest rising stars, Justin Bieber, Usher now has something new to smile about.
The diamond-selling artist recently crossed the 10 million-sale mark in the United States for his 2004 album "Confessions" becoming the 19th artist to do so according to Nielsen SoundScan which began tracking data in 1991.
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According to Billboard, "Confessions" accomplished this milestone the week ending July 1 when it sold another 2,000 copies just pushing its total sales over the 10 million mark and is the first album to do so since Eminem's "The Eminem Show" in 2011.
The top three albums that have reached and surpassed 10 million in sales in the U.S. since 1991 are Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" with 14.75 million, Shania Twain's "Come On Over" with 15.52 million and Metallica's "Metallica" with 15.79 million.
The sultry R&B album has something for everyone from up beat dance tracks like "Yeah!" and "Caught Up" to slow jams like "Burn" and "Confessions II."
The album earned Usher eight nominations at the 47th Grammy Awards where he picked up three in the categories of Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
One of his most personal works to date, "Confessions" features a look into what was going on in Usher's personal life at the time of its conception and something his team thought his public would appreciate getting an inside look into.
"As a friend, just knowing the music side of it, I thought it was a good idea for people to know the dude," Usher's friend and former A&R (artists and repertoire) representative Kawan "KP" Prather told MTV back in 2005. "The music has never been the question, but people tend to buy into the artist. The more they know about you, the more they feel like they're there with you. I was like, 'Man, it's dope [to be more personal], but good luck.'"
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One of the most personal tracks on the record is the single "Burn," which was written about Usher's break up with hip-hop girl group band member, TLC's Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.
"Whenever [Usher] makes a hit, he's always in love with some girl, and he's usually at the end of that relationship," one of the album's producers Jermaine Dupri said. "His relationship with Chilli was going into flame-out, and I told him to ... let it 'Burn.' Hence the song. Next time we do an album together, if he's not in love, I might be nervous!"
Check out "Burn" featured below and why not pop "Confessions" into your CD player or onto your MP3 player this weekend and relive the R&B greatness of the now diamond certified album?
