Nearly 5 years after Pop songbird Whitney Houston soared into Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) history books for becoming the first Black artist to own 3 Diamond certifications for albums, she’s finally joined by royal company: King of Pop Michael Jackson.
Just one month shy of the 46th anniversary of Jackson’s 1979 breakthrough fifth solo album ‘Off the Wall,’ the RIAA took to press (September 2) to announce the project had met its threshold for Diamond certification (meaning it’s sold at least 10 million in the United States).
Home to classics like ‘Rock with You’ and ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,’ the LP peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 at the height of its popularity and currently boasts worldwide sales of 20 million.
Before ‘Wall,’ Michael saw 1987’s ‘Bad‘ cross the elusive sales threshold in 2017 while 1982’s ‘Thriller‘ was already double Diamond by 1990 (and later triple Diamond by 2021).
With his new certification, Jackson ties Houston for most Diamond-certified albums among Black artists (3 apiece) since the RIAA first began in 1952. Unlike Houston, however, Jackson accomplished the feat strictly with studio efforts.
Among all solo artists, only Shania Twain (3), Eminem (3) and Garth Brooks (9) have as many or more Diamond-certified albums to their credit.
The ‘Off the Wall’ accomplishment is the latest in a slew of jaw-dropping accomplishments as MJ is already in RIAA history books for having the most Diamond-certified singles and albums among Black artists, highest cumulative album sales in American history among Black artists, and best-selling album among all solo acts (‘Thriller‘).
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Do we still considering the make over MJ a Black artist? His skin was way more pale than random white people. His black genes were nowhere to be found 💅🏼
Ms. Ling Ling and Anne have the same pin-up avatar. You really need to find your true self. You have so many different entities inside you, for real.
Weird!!!
You are the same unhealthy person behind Ms. Ling Ling and Anne. This is a sad case of unhealthiness.
Oh, so you get trans people, right?!
I don’t buy the vitiLIEgo explanation for his decision to admittedly bleach his skin. I believe he wanted to look like his wives and kids. But, regardless, he was still a black man though. Being black is part of the identity, it’s not just what you are, it’s who you are. No amount of bleach can change that, regardless of the alteration of his outward appearance.
It doesn’t matter what you think it was not your problem it was his. Get a life so negative
Congrats Michael. King & Queen!!!
Congrats. The First asian woman with those accolades