How could I almost forget that this year marks the 20-year anniversary of one of the most monumental albums of modern R&B.

Anyone from Gen X to Gen Z [should be able] to say that one album defines an artist most memorably in their minds, and, that artist [should be] none other than Usher, and we can all say that these are our ‘Confessions.’

Every now and again, the culture is truly fortunate to witness an artist on top of their game. One that unleashes an expose’ that speaks to how we are living through such truth and transparency. One that we thoroughly enjoyed at the time and will be reminded of for always.

Usher Raymond III had already made himself the R&B heartthrob of the day with a slew of hits from his previous albums since his debut in 1994.

Now who would have even thought that the past 10 years was only the groundwork for what we received in 2004 with ‘Confessions.’ This was the project where he said it from his chest, “I Ain’t Here To Play With Y’all!”

Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee and a member of a local boy band called, ‘NuBeginning’, it was immediately obvious that “The Ush” outshined his fellow cohorts. It was then his mother packed them up to move to the bustling music scene of Atlanta in the early 1990’s.

This is when he was partnered with Jermaine Dupri and signed to LaFace/Arista. Young “Ush” was in prime company as he had always been since he first hit the scene, but this time they were standing on business.

[The Confessions album] achieved over 1 million sales in the first week of its release to 8 million in 2004 and 15 million overall worldwide, a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B album in 2004, and the sales rank of 14 times platinum certified it as the best-selling R&B album of the 21st century!

This was easily achieved with hit singles that were released, like “Yeah” featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris, “Burn”, Confessions Pt. II”, “My Boo” featuring Alicia Keys and “Caught Up”. Other deep cuts went hard as well such as, ‘Superstar”, “Bad Girl”, “That’s What It’s Made For” “Can You Handle It?”, and “Seduction.” All This magic was made possible by production and songwriting credits from a highly credible roster that included Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Lil John, Brian Michael Cox, Robin Thicke, Just Blaze and Dre & Vidal just to name a few.

No one would dare argue that the ‘Confessions’ project was the sonic journey that we all needed at the time for what we knew and loved about Usher and what he has continually put down throughout the years following into the present as the undeniable talent we witnessed in him from day one! Thank You, Sir, for after 20 years we can go back and be reminded of what it is to be honest with ourselves in life’s little situationships.

Happy Confession-versary!