Fresh off the heels of his Lovers & Friends Festival appearance, Usher’s new single “GLU” moves to No. 10 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart. It’s his 13th top 10 hit on this chart.
It took just seven weeks for Usher to reach the top 10 with his sticky new single, co-produced by Sean Garrett, Lil Jon, and The Avila Brothers, the second-fastest race to the top ten among his last three singles.
“Bad Habits,” Usher’s 12th top ten of his career on this chart, broke into the top 10 of the Adult R&B Airplay chart in three weeks in October 2020. Less than two months later, Usher achieved his sixth No. 1 single with the Pierre Medor and Lxrd Rossi-produced track.
Meanwhile, Usher’s previous 2020 single, “Don’t Waste My Time,” featuring Ella Mai, made its top ten entrance in 13 weeks. It topped the Adult R&B chart for two weeks that June.
Last week, at No. 9, “GLU” gave Usher his 34th top ten on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. It’s now No. 8 at the time of publication.
That feat put Usher second behind Chris Brown for the most top 10s among male R&B acts on that list, as Brown holds 53 to his credit.
Usher matches his fifth-place total on the chart above with Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj, both with 34.
Still without an official video, Usher’s “GLU” hits new peaks on other Billboard charts, including No. 19 on the Hot R&B Songs chart; and No. 12 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The bedroom jam previously debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart.
“GLU” has garnered over 3.1 million streams on Spotify since it was released March 17 via the newly-minted Gamma label, founded by executive Larry Jackson.
In an April 2023 interview with Rated R&B, Garrett, one of Usher’s frequent and longtime collaborators, shared the creative intent behind “GLU.”
“Writing the song didn’t take that long, but it was important to make sure the title and the concept were on point, and it all went together,” Garrett explained when asked about the songwriting duration.
“The word ‘glue’ in this song is used as a double entendre. It’s sexy. It’s a sticky thing, which we like, but at the same time, the word ‘glue’ is about it all being together. The relationship or you loving somebody and that glue is something that bond that you build with someone. I think it worked out.”
“GLU” is the lead single from Usher’s hugely anticipated ninth studio album, which has been in the works since 2019. The untitled record was initially titled Confessions 2, a sequel to his 2004 magnum opus. However, according to Usher in an August 2022 interview with USA Today, that title pursuit was scrapped.
“It’s been an inspiration throughout the process. Confessions was a successful album and I count down the days until I begin to launch this. It’s coming real soon. I’ve actually finished it, and I’m now going through the process of sequencing it and naming it,” stated Usher.
Coming up for Usher is a high honor. He’ll be awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music during its 2023 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m., at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.