RIAA: JAY-Z Breaks Tie with Michael Jackson, Joins Mariah Carey In Exclusive Multi-Platinum Territory

Published: Friday 14th Jul 2023 by Rashad

Before Wednesday (July 12), only 21 acts in the history of music could boast being attached to 10 or more albums certified multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Among them stood only one Black performer: the ‘Songbird Supreme’ Mariah Carey.

This week, however, brought with it news the diva was joined by legendary Rap mogul JAY-Z (born Shawn Carter) in the exclusive club.

See the latest RIAA news about the ‘Heartbreaker‘ co-stars inside.

Taking to press Wednesday, the RIAA refreshed its logs to reveal two of JAY’s most prized bodies of work – 2009’s ‘Blueprint 3‘ and 2003’s ‘The Black Album‘ – had certification upgrades of 2x and 4x Platinum each. The term “Platinum” refers to sales equivalence of 1 million units in the United States.

The standout update is attached to ‘Black’ as it becomes the emcee’s milestone 10th multi-Platinum album. As such, he becomes the first rapper and first Black male performer to boast double-digit titles by his lonesome that have met or surpassed the 2x Platinum threshold. Before July 12, JAY was tied with King of Pop Michael Jackson for most multi-Platinum certified projects among Black male acts.

When considering all of his bodies of work, he holds two additional multi-Platinum projects: 2004’s ‘Collision Course (with Linkin Park)’ (2x Platinum) and 2011’s ‘Watch the Throne (with Kanye West)’ (5x Platinum).

Among all acts, Carey was the first (and, at present, only other) Black performer on the short list of acts with double-digit multiPlatinum albums as she owns 11 solo titles certified as high.

With the ‘Black’ and ‘Blueprint’ updates, JAY’s cumulative album sales total 33.5 million in the United States – making him one of the best-selling rappers of all time.

[main photo source: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images]

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  1. Taustin13 July 14, 2023

    Queen!!

  2. Holliewud July 14, 2023

    Mariah is not Black!!! Her mama white as snow and her daddy was of Afro Latino descent. Congrats to Jay Z for accomplishing this as a Black artist

    • Truth July 14, 2023

      Thank you for this I
      Don’t know why everyone calls her a black woman

    • Mariah is the GOAT July 15, 2023

      I really need white people to stay out of our business, Mariah’s father is an Afro American man with an Afro Venezuelan descent. Her paternal grandmother was an Afro venzuelan. I wish you broke people could buy a copy of her #1 best seller memoir.

      • Minajj July 16, 2023

        She still isn’t BLACK! How can you be black with a 100% white parent! She is BI-RACIAL! Black people have TWO Black parents! Y’all stay clinging to that one drop rule from 1905.

  3. Diabetes UNBOTHERED July 14, 2023

    💯

  4. Lisa July 14, 2023

    Mariah is not black. She is a white biracial women.

    • Lovin July 15, 2023

      Mariah is proud of her beautiful black heritage, unfortunately pale people have only wars, school shooters and catastrophic events to proud of.

  5. Ty July 14, 2023

    I’ve never heard Mariah refer to herself as black. Never heard her sing about racial injustice or put out statements in defence of such causes. But whatever.

    • Ray July 14, 2023

      Then clearly u don’t listen to Mariah. She’s always said that she was black. U can read her #1 New York Times best selling autobiography also.

      • Ty July 14, 2023

        Quote?

  6. Benreisha July 14, 2023

    Yall big fat sloppy h o e s tried it.
    Mariah is as black as the back of yo mama neck…
    Zon’t zo it!!!!
    Not all negresses gotta cry about welfare, get peed on and popping pills to f*** many niccas she’s a diva.. her issues are different.

    • What Would 50 do July 15, 2023

      Mariah grew up very poor, with barely any food at times. Poverty does not discriminate.

      • What Would 50 do July 15, 2023

        Mariah has sung songs about her poor life. and crying all the time

  7. What Would 50 do July 15, 2023

    Mariah and her mom didn’t have much food or clothes, she pulled herself out of property. To be who she is today.

    • What Would 50 do July 15, 2023

      **poverty Mariah pulled herself out of poverty. I normally don’t spell ✔️ on here

  8. DIABETES UNBOTHERED STAN July 15, 2023

    Billboard Hot 100: All-Time Top Black Solo Artists (adjusted all-time Hot 100 points):

    1. Mariah Carey 15.8 million
    2. Stevie Wonder 14.3 million
    3. Janet Jackson 13.4 million
    4. Michael Jackson 13 million
    5. Drake 12.8 million
    6. Whitney Houston 12.6 million
    7. Rihanna 12 million
    8. Usher 10.3 million
    9. Prince 10 million
    10. Aretha Franklin 9.9 million
    11. Marvin Gaye 8.2 million
    12. Diana Ross 7.8 million
    13. Donna Summer 7.6 million
    14. Beyonce 7.4 million
    15. Lionel Richie 7.4 million
    .
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    28. Nicki Minaj 4.6 million

    • Ww50do July 15, 2023

      Rihanna Barbados 250 million
      Mariah Carey United States 220 million
      Taylor Swift United States 200 million
      Whitney Houston United States 200 million .

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