Don't Waste My Time (Usher song)

"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. 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

Usher has been in the studio working on the sequel to Confessions. 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. 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

The music video for "Don't Waste My Time" was directed by LeSean Harris. It was released on March 25, 2020. It features cameos from Snoop Dogg, Jamie Kennedy, Eric Bellinger, Jermaine Dupri, Evan Ross, Christian Combs, and Justin Combs As of June 2024 the video has over 50 million views on YouTube.

Live performances

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.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

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

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

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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

v t e Usher songs
Usher	"Can U Get wit It" "Think of You" "The Many Ways"
My Way	"You Make Me Wanna..." "Nice & Slow" "My Way"
8701	"Pop Ya Collar" "U Remind Me" "U Got It Bad" "U Don't Have to Call" "U-Turn"
Confessions	"Yeah!" "Confessions Part II" "Burn" "Caught Up" "My Boo"
Here I Stand	"Love in This Club" "Trading Places" "Moving Mountains" "What's Your Name" "Love in This Club Part II" "Here I Stand"
Raymond v. Raymond	"Papers" "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" "Lil Freak" "OMG" "There Goes My Baby" "More"
Versus	"DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" "Hot Tottie" "Lay You Down" "Somebody to Love" (Remix)
Looking 4 Myself	"Climax" "Scream" "Lemme See" "Dive" "Numb"
Hard II Love	"No Limit" "Crash" "Missin U" "Champions" "Rivals"
Coming Home	"Good Good" "Standing Next to You" (Remix)
Collaborations	"The Party Continues" "I Need a Girl (Part One)" "Lovers and Friends" "Same Girl" "Better on the Other Side" "Spotlight" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" "Dirty Dancer" "The Christmas Song" "Promise" "Without You" "Touch'N You" "Rest of My Life" "Go Missin'" "New Flame" "Body Language" "The Matrimony" "Don't Look Down" "Back to Sleep" (Remix) "Crush" "Party" "Come Thru" "Too Much" "Peaches" (Remix) "Good Love" "Transparency"
Non-album songs	"Call Me a Mack" "What More Can I Give" "You'll Be in My Heart" "Good Kisser" "She Came to Give It to You" "I Don't Mind" "Chains" "Wait for It" "SexBeat" "California" "I Cry" "Don't Waste My Time" "Bad Habits" "Glu"

v t e Ella Mai
Studio albums	Ella Mai Heart on My Sleeve
EPs	Ready
Singles	"Boo'd Up" "Trip" "Shot Clock"
Featured singles	"24/7" "Don't Waste My Time"
Other songs	"Whatchamacallit"

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