Nice & Slow

On January 6, 1998, Usher released a track that fundamentally altered the trajectory of his career. Nice & Slow arrived as the second single from his second studio album, My Way, shifting the focus from teen pop to mature R&B. The song's minimalist production relied on lush synthesizers and a slow tempo to highlight Usher's vocal runs and intimate delivery rather than high-energy beats.

Critics immediately recognized the shift in tone. Stereogum later noted that the lyrics explicitly detail sexual desire, describing a narrative of cruising the streets since seven o'clock. This specific line sparked years of debate among fans about whether "cruising" referred to driving or something else entirely. Usher settled the controversy in March 2025 by clarifying the context within the song's story.

The track's influence has persisted for decades through covers, samples, and live performances. Nelly and Ashanti performed a notable duet version in 2023, while Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller sampled the melody for their 2025 collaboration It Depends. Comedian Dave Chappelle also paid tribute during a July 2026 concert in Washington D.C., throwing "Usher Bucks" onto the stage as the song played. [edit]