Usher’s critically-acclaimed sophomore album, My Way, has been certified 7x multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The album has sold more than seven million equivalent units since releasing on Sept. 16, 1997. It is now three million copies away from reaching diamond status (10 million).
“You Make Me Wanna…,” the lead single produced by Jermaine Dupri, advances to 3x multi-platinum, selling more than three million equivalent units. The Grammy-nominated single, which Usher co-wrote with Dupri and Manuel Seal, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent 47 weeks on the chart.
The second single, “Nice & Slow,” has also been certified 3x multi-platinum. The song earned Usher his first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent two weeks at the top of the summit.
“I would say the first video I ever had that, to me, really felt curated in a different way that wasn’t just about the music but also setting a stage was ‘Nice and Slow,” Usher told Vulture in a recent interview.
Released on LaFace Records, My Way debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 67,000 copies in the first week.
It was certified gold a month after its release and eventually peaked at No. 4 during the week of Jan. 24, 1998.
“I would say the first video I ever had that, to me, really felt curated in a different way that wasn’t just about the music but also setting a stage was ‘Nice and Slow,” Usher told Vulture in a recent interview.
It was unable to reach the top due to Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” which spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the coveted singles chart.
Speaking of Monica, she was featured on My Way on “Slow Jam,” a cover of Midnight Star’s 1983 classic, helmed by Babyface. Rapper Lil Kim also contributed to the album (“Just Like Me”).
Usher recently announced new dates for his Usher: My Way The Vegas Residency. The 25 additional shows will take place from March through July 2023 at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It will mark his third consecutive year with a residency in Las Vegas. His current stint concludes in October.
Earlier this week, he invited fellow R&B singer Tevin Campbell on stage to perform his 1993 hit “Can We Talk.”
“When legends come out to play… #UsherMyWay … thank you #TevinCampbell,” Usher wrote in an Instagram caption.
Revisit Usher’s My Way album below.
