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Drake surpasses Eminem as the highest-certified singles artist in RIAA history, adding ten new plaques to his list of achievements.
Drake continues to set new career records, surpassing Eminem to become the highest-selling singles artist in RIAA history. Chart Data reveals the Toronto native’s ten new plaques bring his total singles sold to 184 million. Eminem held the previous record with 166 million singles sold.
He is now just the third act in history to have at least five diamond singles with “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance,” “God’s Plan,” “SICKO MODE” with Travis Scott, and “Life Is Good” with Future. He stands alongside Bruno Mars and Post Malone, who have six and five diamond-certified singles, respectively.
The Grammy award-winning rapper is also nearing the record for the highest certified RIAA song, currently held jointly by Post Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” both 17x platinum. His 2018 hit “God’s Plan” reached 15x platinum status on Thursday, taking the lead as the biggest-selling single in his catalog.
In addition to his diamond plaques, seven other Drake hits increased in the ranks in RIAA status. His collaborative project with Future, What a Time To Be Alive, and the mixtape More Life were officially certified platinum. Additionally, Thank Me Later, and If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late also surpassed one million, while the songs “Nonstop,” “I’m Upset,” and “Controlla” all achieved new levels of distinction.
Last month, Drake tied Jay-Z’s record for the most number-one hits on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with 14, thanks to his latest chart-topping album, Her Loss, with 21 Savage. Drake holds a perfect score going back to his major label debut, Thank Me Later, in 2010, while Jay-Z’s streak began in 1998 with his third LP, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life.
With an impressive spread of achievements, Drake shows no signs of stopping. In just the last year, he delivered two full-length projects, with Honestly, Nevermind in June, and Her Loss, a joint venture with 21 Savage, in November.