The superstar matches his longest command, first established 15 years ago.Just when we thought it was a wrap for the sexy, Diplo-produced hit, Usher's "Climax" rebounds 2-1 for an 11th week atop R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, where it ties for the longest rule of the singer's career.
Usher first spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the survey with the first of his 12 toppers, "You Make Me Wanna...," in 1997. "Climax" song returns to the summit with a 1% gain to 27 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen BDS.
Dating to his first appearance on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs the week of Sept. 18, 1993, Usher boasts the most No. 1s (12) and the most weeks at No. 1 (68) among all artists. Alicia Keys (54 weeks) is the only other act to spend more than a year at No. 1 in that span, with three of those shared between Usher and Keys courtesy of their 2004 topper "My Boo."
R&B/hip-hop radio has been known to propel veteran acts to their longest-leading hits long after they've established their stardom. In 2005, Mariah Carey likewise scored her greatest reign on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 15 years after her first No. 1, as "We Belong Together" led for 14 weeks.
'LIE' LIFTS, VARNER REACHES TOP 10: Usher's "Climax" narrowly edges Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz's "Mercy" (26 million, down 3%), which dips to No. 2 after it reached No. 1 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs last week.
J. Cole's "Nobody's Perfect" (featuring Missy Elliott), Trey Songz's "Heart Attack" and Usher's "Lemme See" (featuring Rick Ross) holding steady at their Nos. 3, 4 and 5 positions, respectively, while 2 Chainz's "No Lie," featuring Drake (8-6), claims the chart's Greatest Gainer/Airplay badge for a second consecutive week (21 million, up 24%).
Elle Varner, meanwhile, earns her first R&B/Hip-Hop Songs top 10, as "Refill" rises 11-10. The song is the second single from her album "Perfectly Imperfect," due Aug. 7. Her "Only Wanna Give It to You," featuring J. Cole, reached No. 20 in December.
'SELF MADE' SUCCESS: The highly anticipated Rick Ross-led project "Maybach Music Presents: Self Made 2" takes the No. 1 spot on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, arriving with 98,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album follows "Maybach Music Presents: Self Made: Vol. 1" (the previous last No. 1 various artists compilation), which opened with 59,000 in June 2011, 39,000 less than "Self Made 2" moved in its first week.
R. Kelly's "Write Me Back" debuts on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at No. 2 with 68,000. The follow-up to last year's No. 2-peaking "Love Letter" houses two singles currently charting on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: "Share My Love," at No. 47 after peaking at No. 13 in May, and "Feelin' Single," which jumps 38-31 in its sixth week.
"Write" is Kelly's 15th R&B/Hip-Hop Albums top 10. Dating to his first week in the top 10, with "Born Into the '90s" the week of April 18, 1992, Kelly is tied with Snoop Dogg for the second-most top 10s after Jay-Z's 18.
The top two titles on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums knock Usher's "Looking 4 Myself" (36,000, down 26%) out of the top slot (1-3) after two weeks at No. 1. The "Project X" soundtrack (5-4; 11,000, down 5%) and Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" (4-5; 10,000, down 21%) round out the chart's top five.