Having a Diamond-certified record that has sold at least 10 million copies is one of the highest achievements in music and a true sign of superstardom. Only a handful of rappers in the hip-hop world have received such honors.
Shortly after Drake released the video for “God’s Plan” in 2018, he said it was one of the most important things he had ever done. A year later, “Scorpion”‘s Grammy-winning lead single helped the superstar win his first Diamond Medal from the Recording Industry Association of America. Not only has “God’s Plan” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for over 11 consecutive weeks, but as of 2023, Drizzy’s single has officially been certified 16x platinum.
Slim Shady is one of the best-selling and most successful hip-hop artists of all time, having created multiple albums and singles and sold over 10 million copies. He won for the Rihanna-assisted “Love the Way You Lie,” 2010’s “Not Afraid,” his classic “Lose Yourself,” and for the albums “The Eminem Show” and “The Marshall Mathers LP” Diamond Medal. Whether his 2024 album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace) will produce any diamond-certified hits remains to be seen, but with such a stellar track record, Marshall’s odds look pretty good.
In 2023, 50 Cent’s hit single “In Da Club” went Diamond. The newest member of the exclusive club is Jay-Z, whose Big Apple song “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys reached Diamond status in July 2024.
Southern legends like Ludacris, T.I., and Juicy J also have a place in the Diamond Club thanks to collaborations with pop stars like Justin Bieber, Robin Thicke, and Katy Perry. See all 52 rappers who earned diamonds below.
