Could've Been (H.E.R. song)

"Could've Been"
"Could've Been"
Single by H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller
from the album I Used to Know Her and I Used to Know Her: The Prelude
Released	September 25, 2018
Genre	R&B
Length	4:08
Songwriters	David "Swagg R'celious" Harris; Dernst Emile II; Gabriella Wilson; Hue "SoundzFire" Strother;
Producer	D'Mile
H.E.R. singles chronology

"Could've Been" is a song by American singer H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller. It impacted urban adult contemporary radio on September 25, 2018 as the first and only single from her EP I Used to Know Her: The Prelude. It was later included on the singer's second compilation album I Used to Know Her published in 2019.^[1]

The song was written by the singer herself with David "Swagg R'celious" Harris, Hue "SoundzFire" Strother and D'Mile, who also produced it.^[2]

Music video

The music video for "Could've Been", directed by Lacey Duke, was published in November 2018.^[3]^[4]

Accolades

"Could've Been" was nominated for the BET Award for Best Collaboration at the BET Awards 2019 but lost to "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott featuring Drake.^[5] It was also nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to "Waves" by Normani featuring 6lack.^[6]

"Could've Been" received additional nominations at the 62nd Grammy Awards including Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance.^[7]

Controversy

Wilson and her co-writers paid an undisclosed amount in a March 2023 settlement, concerning their unauthorized sampling of the award-winning Take 6 song "Come Unto Me" in the making of "Could've Been".^[8]

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[9]	31
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	76
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[11]	39
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)^[12]	2

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[13]	2× Platinum	80,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[14]	2× Platinum	160,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[15]	Platinum	30,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[16]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[17]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Zidel, Alex (August 3, 2018). "H.E.R. Calls On Bryson Tiller For A Smooth Duet In "Could've Been"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
^ "H.E.R. & Bryson Tiller Set the Mood With 'Could've Been'". Ebony. November 6, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
^ "Video: H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller - 'Could've Been'". Rap-Up. November 2, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
^ Ichiki, Chase (November 5, 2018). "H.E.R. & Bryson Tiller collab for their "Could've Been" visual". Revolt. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
^ Warner, Denise. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 BET Awards". Billboard. June 23, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
^ Warner, Denise. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 MTV VMAs". Billboard. August 26, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
^ Geffen, JoAnn (2023-03-09). "H.E.R. AND CO-WRITERS OF "COULD'VE BEEN" SETTLE ACTION WITH MEMBERS OF 10X-GRAMMY WINNING TAKE 6 FOR "COME UNTO ME"". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
^ "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
^ "H.E.R. Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – H.E.R. – Could've Been" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
^ "Canadian single certifications – H.E.R – Could've Been (feat. Bryson Tiller)". Music Canada. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller – Could've Been". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Could've Been in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
^ "British single certifications – H E R ft Bryson Tiller – Could've Been". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
^ "American single certifications – H.E.R. – Could%ve Been". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2021.

[1] Zidel, Alex (August 3, 2018). "H.E.R. Calls On Bryson Tiller For A Smooth Duet In "Could've Been"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 28, 2025.

[2] "H.E.R. & Bryson Tiller Set the Mood With 'Could've Been'". Ebony. November 6, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2025.

[3] "Video: H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller - 'Could've Been'". Rap-Up. November 2, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2025.

[4] Ichiki, Chase (November 5, 2018). "H.E.R. & Bryson Tiller collab for their "Could've Been" visual". Revolt. Retrieved October 28, 2025.

[5] Warner, Denise. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 BET Awards". Billboard. June 23, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.

[6] Warner, Denise. "Here Are All the Winners From the 2019 MTV VMAs". Billboard. August 26, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.

[7] "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2019-11-20.

[8] Geffen, JoAnn (2023-03-09). "H.E.R. AND CO-WRITERS OF "COULD'VE BEEN" SETTLE ACTION WITH MEMBERS OF 10X-GRAMMY WINNING TAKE 6 FOR "COME UNTO ME"". EIN Presswire. Retrieved 2023-03-16.

[nzhot40-9] "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_H.E.R.-10] "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_H.E.R.-11] "H.E.R. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.

[sc_Billboardadultrandbsongs_H.E.R.-12] "H.E.R. Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2019.

[BrazilH.E.R.Could've_BeensingleCertRef-13] "Brazilian single certifications – H.E.R. – Could've Been" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 10, 2023.

[CanadaH.E.RCould've_Been_(feat._Bryson_Tiller)singleCertRef-14] "Canadian single certifications – H.E.R – Could've Been (feat. Bryson Tiller)". Music Canada. Retrieved August 25, 2025.

[New_ZealandH.E.R._feat._Bryson_TillerCould've_BeensingleCertRef-15] "New Zealand single certifications – H.E.R. feat. Bryson Tiller – Could've Been". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Could've Been in the "Search:" field and press Enter.

[United_KingdomH_E_R_ft_Bryson_TillerCould've_BeensingleCertRef-16] "British single certifications – H E R ft Bryson Tiller – Could've Been". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 24, 2025.

[United_StatesH.E.R.Could%ve_BeensingleCertRef-17] "American single certifications – H.E.R. – Could%ve Been". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2021.

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H.E.R.
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Back of My Mind
Compilation albums	H.E.R. I Used to Know Her
EPs	I Used to Know Her: The Prelude I Used to Know Her: Part 2
Singles	"Focus" "Best Part" "Could've Been" "Hard Place" "Slide" "I Can't Breathe" "Damage" "Fight for You" "Come Through" "Lonely at the Top"
Featured singles	"Smile" "Closer" "Playa"
Other songs	"Thursday" "Come Together" "B.S." "Chronicles"

Bryson Tiller
Discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Trapsoul (2015) True to Self (2017) Anniversary (2020) Bryson Tiller (2024) Solace & The Vices (2025)
Extended plays	A Different Christmas (2021)
Singles	"Don't" "Exchange" "Sorry Not Sorry" "Somethin Tells Me" "Run Me Dry" "Always Forever" "Outta Time" "Lonely Christmas" "Whatever She Wants"
Featured singles	"Wild Thoughts" "Could've Been" "Playing Games" "By Yourself (Remix)" "Body in Motion" "Gotta Move On" "You" "Wait on It" "It Depends"
Other songs	"Self-Made"