diamond certification Archives

Chris Brown Earns First Diamond Certified Single With “No Guidance”

November 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Chris Brown is one of the best-selling artists of all time. He’s been called the “King of R&B” by his peers. He also has the most RIAA Gold certified singles and RIAA multi-Platinum singles of any male star in pop history. It’s difficult to imagine an achievement that Chris Brown hasn’t already unlocked, and yet, he has topped himself. The singer recently scored his first ever Diamond certified single with “No Guidance,” his 2019 hit with Drake.

Chris Brown confirmed the massive achievement on November 13. He posted a response to the Diamond certification on Instagram, writing: “Diamond. Cook and remain humble.” A Diamond certification is given to songs that have managed to eclipse 10 million units. It’s a rare feat reserved for singles that stand the test of time, and continue to draw streams years after their release. “No Guidance” is a perfect example of this phenomenon. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked Chris Brown’s highest charting pop song since “Forever” a decade earlier. It also set a record for most weeks on top of the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.

Chris Brown Holds The Record For Most Gold Singles

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A post shared by BROWN (@chrisbrownofficial)

“No Guidance” may not have topped the Billboard Hot 100, but it’s become, statistically, the biggest song of Chris Brown’s career. It was a catchy song, but part of the song’s enduring appeal is definitely the crossover between Breezy and Drizzy. The two artists were passionate rivals for most of the 2010s, but they decided to set their differences aside and collab. The anticipation was high, and “No Guidance” delivered. “I just always had a lot of admiration for his talent,” Drake told Rap Radar in 2019. “And I think finally he gave me the mutual respect and admiration by allowing me to take the lead on the song.”

Chris Brown’s Diamond certification is a respite from the negative press that has been surrounding him in recent weeks. The singer is the focus of the new documentary A History of Violence, which delved into his troubled past and interviews various women who have accused him of violent behavior. The doc led to a renewed interest in the more sordid aspects of Brown’s career. Obviously, these allegations have done very little to impact his success, as his new RIAA plaque can attest.

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Alicia Keys Secures First Diamond-Certified Single With Jay-Z Collab “Empire State Of Mind”

July 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s no secret that Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ 2009 collab “Empire State Of Mind” is one of the most iconic NYC anthems of all time. Despite being released over a decade ago, it continues to find success and recently reached yet another impressive milestone. The track has officially been diamond-certified by the RIAA, meaning it’s moved more than a whopping 10 million units.

The feat is especially exciting for Keys, as this is her first-ever diamond-certified single. She took to X today to celebrate, retweeting various posts about the accomplishment. “Empire is diamond!!!!!!!!” she also wrote, seeming thrilled about her latest achievement.

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys’ “Empire State Of Mind” Is Now Diamond-Certified

“Empire State Of Mind”@SC featuring @aliciakeys
Officially @RIAA Certified Diamond pic.twitter.com/x1tplKqZG5

— Roc Nation (@RocNation) July 24, 2024

As for Jay-Z, the track is now one of three of his to reach diamond status, joining hits like “N****s In Paris” with Kanye West and “Umbrella” with Rihanna. He’s yet to comment on his latest brag-worthy feat, though Roc Nation’s official X account shared a snippet of the iconic song today to celebrate. After the song’s release, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, was nominated for three Grammy awards, and more. Needless to say, the two artists work well together, and could even have another collaboration coming soon.

Last month, Keys hopped on X to thank fans for their support over the years, sharing a clip of herself standing next to Jay-Z. “1 Dream, 1 Song, 1 Billion streams [prayer hands emojis],” she captioned it. “Thank you! We love you. What’s next…. [eyes emoji] [shushing emoji].” This sparked speculation that they could have another collab on the way, though this is still unconfirmed. What do you think of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ song “Empire State Of Mind” reaching Diamond status? Are you surprised or not? What about it becoming Keys’ first-ever Diamond-certified single? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

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Nicki Minaj Nabs Her Second Diamond Certification For “Bang Bang” With Ariana Grande & Jessie J

May 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

According to HipHopDX, Nicki Minaj is two songs away from breaking a new record. As of Thursday, May 23, the multi-cultural multi-hyphenate has not one but two diamond certifications to her name. Before receiving her newest and elusive plaque, she had gone 13 years without this level of recognition on a song. Her 2011 hip-hop/pop fusion “Super Bass” was the first in her catalog to go diamond, doing so on November 9, 2021. It made her just the second female rapper to rake in the required 10 million units. Perhaps her biggest nemesis, Cardi B, was the first to do so in March 2021 with her 2017 breakthrough hit “Bodak Yellow.” Now, Nicki Minaj can add “Bang Bang” to the list.

This 2014 song belongs to singer Jessie J, but obviously, Nicki still receives the same credit. The relentlessly played pop/rap blend also featured Ariana Grande. You could not avoid this record no matter how hard you tried. Sporting events, clubs, restaurants, stores, the radio, it was everywhere. Well, all that marketing helped Nicki and everyone else involved achieve an incredible feat.

Nicki Minaj Is Now One Diamond Hit Behind Cardi B

Nicki Minaj makes history as she earns second diamond single with “Bang Bang” pic.twitter.com/X87lEaT4hJ

— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) May 24, 2024

As we mentioned, Cardi B still is in the lead for most diamond songs by a female MC. Her other two include “Girls Like You,” her collab with Maroon 5, and “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin. So, Nicki still has some work to do. But still, a huge congratulations to her, Jessie, and Ariana for this rare feat!

What are your thoughts on “Bang Bang” by Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, and Jessie J going diamond? Does this further cement her as the greatest female rapper of all time? Is this the better diamond track over “Super Bass”, why or why not? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding the Nicki Minaj. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

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50 Cent Celebrates “In Da Club” Diamond Certification

November 1, 2023 by newhiphopnews

50 Cent recently took to social media, celebrating yet another major accomplishment. The performer’s 2003 Get Rich or Die Tryin’ track, “In Da Club” has officially hit diamond status. He flexed the feat in a new Instagram post, reminding followers that he continues to take home wins, even for work he put out decades ago.

“Diamonds are forever,” he wrote. “Yo that thing 50 cent is no joke. #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.” Countless fans chimed in, praising the artist for the accomplishment in his comments section. The iconic track was released as the lead single for Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in January of 2003. It eventually peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, become the New York native’s first No. 1 song.

50 Cent Flexes Another Feat

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A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

He was nominated for two Grammy awards the year it was released, and it later sent the artist home with two awards at the 2003 VMAs. The catchy single’s also gotten praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and more. Luckily for fans, they can catch the 48-year-old performing “In Da Club” and more on his Final Lap Tour, which is currently in its international stretch. This month, the hitmaker is scheduled to make stops in France, Ireland, England, and more.

50 Cent’s track “In Da Club” finally reaching diamond status isn’t the only thing he has to be excited about lately, however. Last week, he dropped off a new trailer for the third season of Power Book III: Raising Kanan, giving viewers a taste of what’s to come. The Starz series is loosely based off of his own childhood. “So [shocked face emoji] I have the best tour and the best shows? How ya feel about it [Shrug emoji],” 50 Cent wrote. What do you think of 50 Cent’s track “In Da Club” finally reaching diamond status? How do you feel about his celebratory post? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more news.

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The Weeknd Breaks New Record With “Beauty Behind The Madness”

August 31, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Weeknd has been at it for a long time now. Overall, Abel has been in the game since the early 2010s when he dropped his Trilogy series of mixtapes. At first, many thought he was a band. However, people eventually clued to the fact that he is actually just one talented individual. Once his mixtape era ended, he got signed and immediately started making some albums. He started off with Kissland which had mixed reception at the time. When Beauty Behind The Madness came out, he truly came into his own.

There were a ton of amazing hits on this album. To this day, these tracks are the biggest of his career. Although he has some major hits from his other albums, a lot of fans look at the commercial success of BBTM as his true jumping-off point. In fact, the album is still breaking records. For instance, according to DJ Akademiks, the album became the first in music history to boast three diamond singles. The tracks in question are “Earned It,” “The Hills,” and “Can’t Feel My Face.”

The Weeknd Is A Sales Beast

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A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

These are all songs that were inescapable when they came out back in 2015. Almost a decade later, they are still getting a ton of plays on not just streaming services, but the radio as well. The Weeknd is one of those artists who always seems to be one-upping himself. He is about to embark on a whole new era of his career, and fans are very excited about it. As it turns out, he may just be ditching The Weeknd as a name, altogether.

No matter what he does next, there is no doubt that fans are going to follow him. He is one of the most listened-to artists in the entire world, and we do not foresee that changing. Let us know your favorite Weeknd songs and albums, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world.

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Snoop Dogg Scores His First Diamond Single, “California Gurls”

June 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

13 years after its release, this West Coast pop anthem just made history for the two artists that released it. Moreover, Snoop Dogg just earned his first-ever Diamond-certified single by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), “California Gurls” with Katy Perry. Not only that, but the singer also reached a huge milestone by becoming the female artist with the most Diamond hits according to the RIAA. For those unaware, a Diamond certification from the association means that the release in question sold at least 10 million equivalent units. As such, it’s clear that this song is still in rotation, whether it’s people feeling nostalgia for it or discovering it for the first time.

Of course, high acclaim and success is nothing new for Tha Doggfather. While this specific instance is an example of commercial success, the Long Beach MC has garnered loads of respect. For example, he recently revealed that James Brown told him he was the hardest-working artist in the industry. Furthermore, Snoop Dogg transcended the hip-hop genre when it came to his star power, something that his many partnerships, pop crossovers, and more endeavors continue to prove.

“California Gurls,” Snoop Dogg’s First Diamond Song

“California Gurls” was the first single for Katy Perry’s third album, 2010’s Teenage Dream. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts and remained at No. 1 for six consecutive weeks. However, interestingly enough, the Snoop Dogg collab idea came from another successful rap crossover hit. According to the “Electric” hitmaker, she was inspired by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ fellow city-honoring hit, “Empire State Of Mind.” Still, the reasons behind that inspiration were as competitive as they were admiring.

“When I came up with the idea of ‘California Gurls,’ it was because I was a little bit jealous of all the love that was given to the East Coast,” she revealed to MTV in 2010. “I thought for sure Tupac was rolling in his grave, and the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson was totally upset.” Furthermore, she said it was “perfect timing” for a Cali hit. Wwho better to tap than one of the kings of West Coast hip-hop? For more news and the latest updates on Snoop Dogg, log back into HNHH.

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XXXTENTACION & Trippie Redd’s “F**k Love” Goes Diamond 5 Years After Death

June 18, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Exactly five years after his tragic passing, XXXTENTACION’s legacy continues to make shockwaves in the music industry. Say what you will about his personal demons and accountability, but he carved out a lane that many continue to follow and be inspired by. Today, Sunday June 18, his estate mourned his loss but celebrated his work by officially releasing his Lil Uzi Vert collab, “I’m Not Human.” Also on this anniversary, his track with Trippie Redd “F**k Love” was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), according to their website. Not only that, but today is also the Ohio native’s 24th birthday, who is celebrating a new single of his own this week.

As such, this marks an incredibly special, rare, but what feels like a destined milestone for both artists. While XXXTENTACION’s commercial success cannot be overstated and Trippie Redd has had plenty of that as well, this is the latter’s first diamond track ever. For those unaware, that equates 10 million certified equivalent units, which is a huge feat even for today’s prolific streaming era. No matter how you slice it, this news seemed written in the stars.

XXXTENTACION & Trippie Redd’s Diamond Plaque

Back when the 17 track went six times platinum, the now-24-year-old paid tribute to the Florida rap innovator. In fact, looking back on his short but sweet message, it’s remarkable to see how his affirmation became true less than three years later. “Damn bro @xxxtentacion it’s cr*zy how we gone be diamond together… I love u & miss u,” Trippie Redd shared on Instagram. During an interview with Complex, the A Love Letter To You artist gave an emotional testimony when remembering his collaborator. “Literally, right before I went [to jail], Jah had sent in the ‘F**k Love’ track and we had talked to each other,” he expressed. “We had good words for each other. At the end of the day, we always used to argue and s**t. We was like some little a** girls. [laughs] But we always made up from our arguments.

“The last argument was very serious but we ended up getting past it and s**t,” he continued. “I got locked up, and then like the day I got out, that s**t happened. Like literally, I’m driving to my lawyer office, and I just don’t feel the vibe or the energy. It’s like, I’m gettin’ outta jail and I could just feel something was wrong. And everybody knew it, they knew I felt that way, ’cause somebody that just got out of jail would be happy. I wasn’t really happy at all, I was just feeling weird. And we got to the building and s**t, my lawyer son came up, was talkin’ about…f**k that s**t.” Today, we can grieve but also celebrate the impact that these artists have that will continue to grow. For more on XXXTENTACION and Trippie Redd, stay posted on HNHH.

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Jay-Z Has Received His First-Ever Diamond Song Certification From The RIAA Thanks To A Kanye West Collab

June 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

It’s hard to believe for a guy who spent the first decade of his career making a diamond shape with his hands, but Jay-Z has just received his first-ever Diamond single certification from the RIAA. On Monday, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced the 2011 single “N****s In Paris” from Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s collaborative album Watch The Throne had passed 10 million units sold. The achievement marks Kanye’s second diamond certification after the 2007 Graduation lead single “Stronger” crossed the threshold in October 2021.

US Certifications (@RIAA): Jay Z (@sc) & @kanyewest, N****s in Paris Diamond (10,000,000).

— chart data (@chartdata) June 12, 2023

Hit-Boy, who produced the record, noted the accomplishment on Twitter, drawing a parallel with his groundbreaking work with former Jay-Z rival Nas. “it’s a real blessing to be apart of the song that became jay-z first diamond record and producing the album that won Nas his first grammy,” he wrote. “What a life.” Mike Dean, who also contributed to the track, celebrated receiving his fourth Diamond award.

it’s a real blessing to be apart of the song that became jay-z first diamond record and producing the album that won Nas his first grammy. What a life

— Hit-Boy (@Hit_Boy) June 12, 2023

Just hit my 4th diamond

“Paris” pic.twitter.com/eUJCCzc6I1

— MIKE DEAN! #MWA (@therealmikedean) June 12, 2023

“Paris” was a record-breaking hit in other respects, as well, becoming known for the number of times the duo would perform encores of the song while on tour. They maxed out at 12 times in — naturally — Paris on June 18, 2012.

Just for the fun of it, you can listen to “N****s In Paris” above.

“Ni**as In Paris”: Iconic Jay-Z & Kanye West Collab Goes Diamond After Nearly 12 Years

June 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Kanye West and Jay-Z may no longer be friends in the same capacity they were before, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t grace us with some serious hits over the years. We’ve heard them on “Run This Town” with Rihanna, “Monster” alongside Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj, and Beyonce’s “Drunk In Love (Remix),” just to name a few. Of course, there was also 2011’s Watch The Throne album, which has just earned Hov his first RIAA Diamond certification.

As HipHopNMore notes, Ye’s “Stronger” single was his first Diamond plaque, but adding another to the collection is still exciting nonetheless. His second comes from his and Jay’s work on “Ni**as In Paris,” which has now moved upwards of 10 million copies in the US alone. Other popular titles from the collaborative project include “No Church In The Wild” with Frank Ocean and The-Dream, as well as “Otis” featuring the legendary Otis Redding.

Jay-Z and Kanye West Achieve Another Milestone

It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen West and the New Yorker link up on stage, but the year after dropping “Ni**as In Paris” they famously performed it 11 times in a row. The moment took place during their Watch the Throne concert in Paris, France in 2012, and has since been immortalized as a piece of hip-hop history. The last time we heard Hov on a Kanye track was on 2021’s DONDA, though recently leaked documentary footage shows the 46-year-old threatening to remove his frequent collaborator from the album.

At this point, it seems unlikely that we’ll see the two work together in such a close capacity again, but still, we’ll hold out hope for a reconciliation. Elsewhere in the news, Jay-Z’s name became a hot topic this past weekend after R. Kelly’s former cellmate alleged that the convicted sex offender had previously shared theories about Hov trying to kill him. Read all about the rumours at the link below, and tap back in later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

[Via]

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Lil Wayne Reacts To His 2008 Hit “Lollipop” Becoming Diamond Certified

December 14, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Lil Wayne’s hit song “Lollipop” with Static Major is officially certified diamond and the rapper couldn’t be more proud. Shouting out his late collaborator in an Instagram post, the Louisiana native also showed gratitude to his loyal fanbase.

“My first joint to go diamond wowwww!!!” he penned on social media 14 years after the song’s debut. “Thank you to all my fans and supporters. I Ain’t Sh*t Without Y’all!!! #LongLiveStaticMajor.”

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A post shared by Lil Wayne (@liltunechi)

Artists reaching diamond status is no easy feat, as they need to sell over 10 million units to get recognition by the RIAA. A number of rap artists have also been able to become diamond certified throughout their accomplished careers, including Kanye West with “Stronger” and Drake with “God’s Plan.”

“Lollipop” made its debut in March 2008, and proved to later become one of the biggest hits of that summer. Featured on Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III, it was one of the first singles listed on the album alongside “A Milli.”