Confessions (Usher album)

***Confessions*** is the fourth studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on March 23, 2004 from Arista Records. The album was recorded between 2003 and 2004. It was produced by Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Lil Jon. _Confessions_ is an R&B album with some hip hop and crunk styles. The album's theme had controversy. This was because of Usher's personal relationship. Producer, Jermaine Dupri later said that the album is about Usher's personal story.

The album was a success in the United States. It sold 1,095,000 copies the first week. It continued to sell more copies because of its four singles. A special edition version was released. It had the hit single "My Boo". This was to try and help the album sell more records and to stop bootlegging. Some music critics gave a mixed review for the album's lyrics. However, the album was given positive reviews. The album also won several awards. It won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

_Confessions_ has sold 10,000,000 copies in the US. It was certified diamond by the RIAA. This means that the album shipped 10,000,000 copies. Many music critics believe the album was Usher's "greatest works". According to _Billboard_ the album is the second best-selling album of the 2000s in the US. The album debuted at number one on many music charts around the world. It became the first album by Usher to do this.

## Personnel

Credits for _Confessions_ from Allmusic.

- Darcy Aldridge – Vocals (background)
- Bobby Ross Avila – Guitar, Piano, Scratching, Strings, Keyboards, Vocals (bckgr), Producer, Drum Programming, Wurlitzer, Moog Bass
- Dante E. Barton – Engineer
- Jason Boyd – Vocal Producer
- Valdez Brantley – Producer
- Bryan-Michael Cox – Producer
- Larry Cox – Keyboards
- Ian Cross – Engineer
- Kevin "KD" Davis – Engineer
- Vidal Davis – Producer, Mixing
- Jermaine Dupri – Producer, Mixing
- E Bass – Guitar
- Brian Frye – Engineer
- John Frye – Mixing
- Richard Furch – Mixing
- Sandy Garrett – Vocals (bckgr), Vocal Producer
- Serban Ghenea – Mixing
- Andre Harris – Producer, Mixing
- Rich Harrison – Producer, Instrumentation
- Delicia Hassan – Production Coordination
- Eddie Holland – Composer
- John Horesco IV – Engineer, Assistant
- Iz – Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Scratching, Drums, Keyboards, Producer, Moog Bass
- Jimmy Jam – Producer, Fender Rhodes
- LaMarquis Mark Jefferson – Bass
- Darrale Jones – A&R
- Just Blaze – Producer
- L-Roc – Keyboards
- James Lackey – Producer

- Ken Lewis – Guitar, Engineer, Mixing
- Terry Lewis – Producer
- Anthony Mandler – Photography
- Matt Marrin – Engineer
- Manny Marroquin – Mixing
- Tony Maserati – Mixing
- Tadd Mingo – Assistant
- Johnny "Natural" Najara – Producer
- Paula Patton – Vocals (bckgr)
- Mark Pitts – A&R
- Herb Powers – Mastering
- Usher Raymond – Vocals (bckgr), Producer, Executive Producer
- Tim Roberts – Assistant
- Donnie Scantz – Engineer
- Jon Smeltz – Mixing
- Jan Smith – Vocal Producer, Vocal Coach
- Jonathon "Lil' Jon" Smith – Vocals (bckgr), Producer, Mixing
- Aaron Spears – Producer
- Patrice "ButtaPhly" Stewart – Vocals (bckgr)
- Arthur "Buddy" Strong – Producer
- Phil Tan – Mixing
- Robin Thicke – Producer, Instrumentation
- Ryan Toby – Vocal Producer
- The Trak Starz – Engineer
- Mark Vinten – Engineer
- D.L. Warfield – Design, Layout Design
- Ryan West – Engineer
- Ghian Wright – Assistant
- James "Big Jim" Wright – Bass, Producer, Wurlitzer

### Weekly charts

|scope="col"|Chart (2004)|scope="col"|Peak position|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Australia Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|2||
|Austria Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|25||
|Belgium Ultratop 50 Albums (Flanders)|style="text-align:center;"|10||
|Belgium Ultratop 50 Albums (Wallonia)|style="text-align:center;"|7||
|Canadian Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|Denmark Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|10||
|Finland Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|20||
|Germany Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|2||
|Ireland Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|align="left"|Netherlands Mega Album Top 100|style="text-align:center;"|3|
|New Zealand Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|Poland Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|35||
|Sweden Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|11||
|Switzerland Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|3||
|UK Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|US _Billboard_ 200|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|style="text-align:center;"|1||

|scope="col" style="width:18em;"|Chart (2005)|scope="col"|Peak position|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|France Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|4||
|Norway Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|2||
|Spain Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|60||

### Decade-end charts

|scope="col"|Chart (2000–2009)|scope="col"|Position|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|US _Billboard_ 200|style="text-align:center;"|2||

## Other websites

- _Confessions_ at Discogs
- _Confessions_ at Metacritic

## Infobox (album)

- **name**: Confessions
- **type**: studio
- **artist**: Usher (musician), Usher
- **released**: March 23, 2004
- **recorded**: 2003–04
- **genre**: Contemporary R&B, R&B, Soul music, soul, Hip hop music, hip hop
- **length**: 60:30
- **label**: LaFace Records, LaFace, Arista Records, Arista
- **producer**: Usher Raymond <small>(executive producer, exec.)</small>, L.A. Reid, Antonio "LA" Reid <small>(exec.)</small>, Jermaine Dupri, Destro Music, Lil Jon, Rich Harrison, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Robin Thicke, Thicke, Bryan-Michael Cox, Just Blaze, Dre & Vidal, Bobby Ross Avila, James "Big Jim" Wright
- **prev title**: 8701
- **prev year**: 2001
- **next title**: Here I Stand
- **next year**: 2008