A new year is a time to reflect on the spectacular events that have happened throughout your life. To start off this year, we wanted to reflect the rare achievement only a few select artists have earned, RIAA Diamond Award. This prestigious title is earned when the artist has sold 10 million copies or more of an album or a song. We’ve gathered a list of 15 different rappers who have at least one or more RIAA Diamond certified songs.
15 Rappers Who Have RIAA Diamond Certified Songs
#1 – Eminem
At the number one spot, Eminem’s “Not Afraid” was the third song in history (out of 97 total) to be certified diamond in June of 2014. Following that, the infamous “Lose Yourself” was the fifteenth song certified. Finally, “Love the Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna was certified right after as the sixteenth and received an award in 2018. In March of 2022, three of Eminem’s albums, The Eminem Show, Curtain Call: The Hits, and The Marshall Mathers LP, were diamond certified songs as well.
#2 – Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” ft. Charlie Puth was certified diamond in 2019. The song was commissioned for the Furious 7 soundtrack – the 2015 installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise. It served as a tribute to lead actor Paul Walker who died in a car crash in 2013.
#3 – Drake
Drake’s “God’s Plan” was the 31st song to be certified Diamond in September of 2019. Following that, “Hotline Bling” was #94, and “One Dance” featuring WizKid and Kyla hitting #95 and received an award in 2022.
#4 – Post Malone
Post Malone has scored many diamond certifications, such as “Congratulations,” with Quavo which received the award in October of 2019. Following that, “Rockstar” featuring 21 Savage earned the title, followed by “Sunflower,” with Swae Lee which was produced for Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse and received an award in 2020. To top that off, Post Malone recently had “Psycho” and “White Iverson” get certified diamond in November of 2022.
#5 – Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus was the fastest song in history to be certified diamond in October of 2019. The song was awarded the title less than a year after it was released with 17 million copies being sold.
#6 – Fetty Wap
“Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap received diamond certification in November of 2019. This was his debut single off of his self-titled debut album and it skyrocketed Fetty Wap into popularity. Eventually, even ranking on the charts right behind Taylor Swift.
#7 – Travis Scott
Controversial artist, Travis Scott, had his song “Sicko Mode” featuring Drake become certified diamond in December of 2020. The song was a single off of his astronomically successful album, Astroworld, which was later turned into a festival in an abandoned amusement park.
#8 – Cardi B
“Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B saw massive success allowing her to become the first female rapper in history to have a song reach Diamond status. The song was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 but she didn’t win that year. However, her album Invasion of Privacy which including “Bodak Yellow” on the track list, took home the Grammy for the Best Rap Album of 2019. Cardi followed that up with another song, “I Like It” featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny earning the certification as well.
#9 – XXXTentacion
May he rest in peace, XXXTentacion had his song “Sad” become diamond certified in August of 2021. It was in 2018 that the late rapper was found dead in his car after being murdered in an attempted robbery. To this day his impact is still felt in hip-hop.
#10 – Kanye West (Ye)
It’s no question that Kanye West is one of the biggest artists of this century so far. Also known as Ye, his massive hit “Stronger,” was certified diamond in October of 2021. The Daft Punk sampled single was featured on arguably one of his best albums, Graduation.
#11 – Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj is a titan for this generation of music. Her song “Super Bass” was the 65th song to be Diamond Certified in November of 2021. The music video won MTV’s Video Music Awards for Best Hip-Hop Video of 2011. It has also been featured in Rolling Stone’s “500 Best Songs of All Time” and Billboard’s “Top 100 Songs Which Defined the 2010s Decade.“
#12 – Future
Future’s “Life Is Good” featuring Drake got diamond certified in November of 2021. The music video won both a BET Hip-Hop Award for Best Hip-Hop Video and a Clio Music Award for Film/Video. Currently, the video for “Life Is Good” has over 2 billion views on YouTube.
#13 – Roddy Ricch
“The Box” by Roddy Ricch received its diamond certification in December 2021. It initially spent 11 months on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and spread like wildfire throughout TikTok. Recently, it was announced that Roddy Ricch was being sued for ripping off the 1975 song “Come On Down (Get Your Heads Out Of The Clouds).”
#14 – Juice WRLD
Juice WRLD made a big name for himself before his unfortunate passing in 2019. His song “Lucid Dreams” received diamond certification in February of 2022. He was a champion of the emo rap and Soundcloud hip-hop era and still influences artists today.
#15 – Lil Baby
Our last entry on this list of diamond certified rappers, Lil Baby had his song with Gunna, “Drip Too Hard,” earn the certification in September of 2022. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and even received a Grammy nomination.
