An enduring R&B classic, 1994’s ‘I Wanna Be Down’ is known by many as the tune that transformed a relatively unknown teen singer-actress into an international musical superstar.
The lead single from Brandy‘s eponymous debut album, the Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones-penned bop shot to the top of Billboard’s R&B charts and even peaked at #6 on the Hot 100 at the height of its popularity.
Blazing a path for what would become one of the genre’s most prized discographies, ‘Down’ served as the first chapter of the Vocal Bible’s narrative – a musical journey that’s still collecting awards nearly 30 years after its beginning.
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Taking to press Wednesday (March 7), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) revealed ‘Down’ had been pushed up to Platinum status. This denotes sales equivalence of 1 million units in the United States.
With the ascension ‘Down’ becomes the GRAMMY-winning diva’s fourth single of her career certified as high or higher. It follows ‘Baby‘ (Platinum), ‘Sittin Up in My Room‘ (Platinum), and ‘The Boy is Mine (with Monica)’ (2x Platinum).
Hard-at-work on her highly anticipated eighth studio album, the yet-titled follow-up to 2020’s critically acclaimed ‘B7,’ we look forward to B-Rocka adding even more shiny plaques from the RIAA to her growing collection.
Remember ladies before ya start to shade people was buying albums back then
Thank u for saying this. Even mj Madonna and whitney don’t have platinum singles like that but their albums were huge sellers
It was easy to go platinum then no excuses she’s overrated never was a big seller
No it wasn’t easy then . It’s easy NOW. That’s why todays artists have diamond singles and platinum
Albums that sold nowhere near in pure sales. Old music is outselling new music for the first time in history. Lol where’s Cardi’s album?
Back in the day people purchased ALBUMS. Brandy’s first three albums are verified platinum plus. Her debut went 3x platinum, Never Say Never 5x platinum and Full Moon went platinum plus with minimal promo due to her pregnancy. Her and a lot of older artists sales haven’t been updated in decades.
@Dc you need to do google, Wikipedia, billboard search on brandy before typing nonsense. We both love Mary j bilge and she wasn’t selling singles, Mary was selling albums. That mean you are saying same thing about Mary j blige as well, huh??
Your article should have mentioned she was only 14 years old at the time. Amazing achievement releasing a smash hit at that age, just like Monica, Aaliyah, Usher. These talentless artists today, thinking they are young when they are well Into their twenties and thirties (Peter Pan syndrome), will never know!
I am very surprised that her lead single didn’t go at least platinum due to her star power from the sitcom as well the very successful remix single with Latifah, Lyte and YoYo. Brandy would go on to have a very successful debut that went platinum rather quickly. If you have the CD, then why purchase the single. Any artist would trade a platinum album for a platinum single.
In comparison, Monica’s debut single, Don’t Take It Personal, would see platinum however it did take a while for the album to go platinum. The Holy Trinity (Aaliyah, Brandy and Monida) all had strong lead singles.
I Wanna Be Down went Gold when released in 1994, then Atlantic pulled it from stores in order to sell the album. It’s remarkable that due to streaming, a song that old has now crossed over to Platinum.
Brandy has a lot more certifications coming her way soon now that her catalog is finally being audited. She’ll receive Gold, Platinum and Multiplatinum certs for a lot of her hits including Best Friend, Brokenhearted, Missing You, Sittin Up, The Boy Is Mine, Have You Ever, Almost Doesn’t Count, Full Moon, Right Here, Put It Down and more. Congrats Bran!
Are you a member of her team? If so, can you tell her to make sure that “hate it that you love me” is on the next album? Thanks!! Asking for the fans. Lol
Nearly 30 years…. I see some shades… my grandma even achieved this faster than that poison Brandy 💅🏾
She could neva be queen Monica
I feel like this was certified platinum back in the 90s…..Baby definitely was and The Boy Is Mine has sold close to 6 million in the US alone….
I swear I play this video almost every other day..along with Why I Love You So Much by Monica and At Your Best by Aaliyah…those 3 will always be my top tier black female musicians of the 90s..I feel like I grew up with them. It’s amazing to have watched them grow and blossom from young t*** girls to grown women (I’m sad I didn’t get to see Aaliyah FULLY blossom though bc she was getting there, she was almost there)…anyway congrats Brandy, I might not like everything she does but she is a big staple of my childhood so I respect it and her!
Classic!
Brandy seemed so mature at 14 yrs old, even more so than a lot of these 35+ yrs nowadays who be doing the absolute most for no reason.
Yasss preach chile
I said it before and I’ll say it again… her biggest hit was a hit and run!
YES! I SAID IT AND I MEAN IT!
Look at Monica’s lessor🤣🤣🤣
Let’s it’s not forget 16 years ago find killed the mother of two and got away with it due to the ugly darkness of her skin. May Brandy rot in hell 🔥🔥
Reports show revenue for spray tanning & tanning booths have INCREASED, with Spray Tanning showing significant growths worldwide. Add in the fact…White Women also LOVE men with Melanin…you have a demographic who STRONGLY disagrees while challenging ur statement.
Even Cher is spending the coins “y’all gave her” on Black d*ck….
You mad?
A white woman tanning is beautiful, and it is not them trying to look like an ugly darkie who goes ashy whenever the sun touches their skin 🔥🔥. That small percentage of white women that you mentioned who date darkies are only doing their charity work. As for Cher, she is a prime example of why people shouldn’t help the darkies out because they are an ungrateful group of people. Let’s not forget that it was the white man who freed you from your black masters, who were selling you off for a bit of coin. To answer your question, I’m very happy because I have white privilege, stay oppressed, and stay mad. 🤣🤳🏽💋
It’s NOT a small percentage. WW in other parts of the world are EMBRACING their LOVE of Melanin whether it’s for themselves OR a mate. It use to be taboo…NOT anymore.
Let’s NOT forget it was the WM who made Interracial ILLEGAL, although no such laws ever existed in other parts of the world.
And It’s quite sick how you take pride in such an evil dark period of American History.