Don't Waste My Time (Usher song)

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"Don't Waste My Time"
Single by Usher featuring Ella Mai
ReleasedDecember 13, 2019 (2019-12-13)
Recorded2019
Length3:20
Label
  • Brand Usher, RCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Usher singles chronology
"Come Thru"
(2019) 		"Don't Waste My Time"
(2019) 		"SexBeat"
(2020)
Ella Mai singles chronology
"Put It All on Me"
(2019) 		"Don't Waste My Time"
(2019) 		"Not Another Love Song"
(2020)
Music video
"Don't Waste My Time" on YouTube

"Don't Waste My Time" is a song by American singer-songwriter Usher featuring British singer-songwriter Ella Mai. The song was first uploaded to SoundCloud on November 19, 2019, although it was officially released by RCA Records on December 13, 2019 to online music stores and streaming services.[1] The song was written by the artists alongside Vedo, Christopher Allen Jones, and producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael-Cox. The song takes inspiration in part from "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" (1990) by American R&B quintet Hi-Five and "Show You the Way to Go" (1976) by American family group the Jacksons.

Background and release[edit]

Usher has been in the studio working on the sequel to Confessions.[2] In March 2019, he posted a picture of himself in the studio next to a whiteboard with the words "Confessions 2" and a blurred out tracklisting. The following day Jermaine Dupri, who produced the original Confessions went live on Instagram and previewed new music. This is following his last collaborative album A, with Zaytoven. YouKnowIGotSoul exclusively premiere 'Don't Waste My Time" through SoundCloud.[3] It was released for digital download on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and online streaming services, Tidal, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube on December 13, 2019.

Music video[edit]

The music video for "Don't Waste My Time" was directed by LeSean Harris. It was released on March 25, 2020.[4] It features cameos from Snoop Dogg, Jamie Kennedy, Eric Bellinger, Jermaine Dupri, Evan Ross, Christian Combs, and Justin Combs[5] As of April 2021 the video has over 20 million views on YouTube.

Live performances[edit]

Usher, Ella Mai, and Jermaine Dupri performed the song for the first time on BET's SOS: Saving Ourselves - A BET Covid 19 Relief Special, benefiting African American Communities Impacted By Coronavirus on April 22, 2020.[6]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[7]

  • Usher – vocals, lyrics
  • Ella Mai – vocals, lyrics
  • Jermaine Dupri – lyrics, production, mixing engineer
  • Bryan-Michael Cox – lyrics, production
  • Wilbard "VEDO" McCoy III – lyrics
  • Christopher Allen Jones – lyrics
  • Colin Leonard – mastering engineer
  • Bill Zimmerman – assistant engineer
  • Phil Tan – mixing engineer

Charts[edit]

Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 19
South Africa (Radio Monitor)[9] 49
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[10] 7
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11] 43
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[12] 12
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[13] 1

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Samuels, Keithan (April 10, 2020). "Usher Releases New Song 'SexBeat' Featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris". Rated R&B. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  2. ^ "Usher Collaborated With Ella Mai, and It's as Smooth as You'd Expect: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  3. ^ "Usher & Ella Mai Come Together For New Song "Don't Waste My Time" (Exclusive Premiere) - YouKnowIGotSoul.com". 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  4. ^ "Usher Keeps the Party Rocking in "Don't Waste My Time" Video with Ella Mai". 25 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Usher and Ella Mai Throw a Party in the Video for "Don't Waste My Time"". Complex Networks.
  6. ^ "7 Highlights from BET's 'Saving Our Selves' Special". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Don't Waste My Time". Tidal. December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  9. ^ "Radiomonitor".
  10. ^ "Usher Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  11. ^ "Usher Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  13. ^ "Usher Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Usher – Don't Waste My Time". Recording Industry Association of America.
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