‘Off the Wall’: Michael Jackson Joins Whitney Houston As the Only Black Artists with 3 Diamond-Certified Albums by the RIAA

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‘).

[photo source: Ebony]