RIAA: Drake’s ‘Take Care’ Becomes the First Album By a Black Artist Since Usher’s 2004 ‘Confessions’ to Be Certified Diamond

Before October 2025, only 8 Black male solo artists could boast ownership of a Diamond plaque for a studio album over the 73-year history of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

That count changed on Friday (October 24) when rapper Drake joined the exclusive list thanks to his 2011 chart-topping album ‘Take Care.’

Home to hits ‘Marvin’s Room,’ ‘Headlines,’ ‘The Motto,’ ‘HYFR,’ ‘Make Me Proud,’ and its Rihanna-assisted title track, ‘Take Care’ was one of many Drizzy titles given a certification upgrade on his 39th birthday (October 24).

Now sitting at Diamond status for sales of 10 million in the United States, the LP becomes the first of his career to be certified as high.

Uniquely, the 2011-released album is only the fifth Rap studio effort released this century to be bestowed a Diamond plaque following Nelly‘s ‘Country Grammar‘ (2000), Eminem‘s ‘Marshall Mathers LP’ (2000) and ‘Eminem Show‘ (2002), and OutKast‘s ‘Speakerboxx/LoveBelow’ (2003).

Even more notably, the updated RIAA status of ‘Care’ makes Drake the first Black artist since Usher with his 2004 blockbuster ‘Confessions‘ to have a 10-million selling LP under his belt (among efforts released this century).

On the all-time exclusive list of Black men with Diamond-certified albums, Ush and Drizzy join superstar hitmakers Michael Jackson, Nelly, Lionel Richie, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., MC Hammer, and Stevie Wonder.