Jay-Z Earns First RIAA Diamond-Certified Single With Classic Kanye West Collab “Ni**as in Paris”

For Ye, this marks the second Diamond single in his catalog following the 2021 certification of "Stronger."

June 13, 2023

jay and ye performing — Image via Getty/Jamie McCarthy

“Ni**as in Paris" has joined the Diamond club.

On Monday, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that Jay-Z and Ye’s 2011 Watch the Throne classic had surpassed 10 million certified units. The 10-times platinum distinction comes just over a year after the track, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, hit nine million certified units. It first bagged a Gold certification, signifying half a million units, back in December 2011.

This is particularly notable for Jay as it marks his first Diamond-certified single, though he (of course) has a number of Platinum and Gold certifications to his name. For Ye, the “Ni**as in Paris” feat stands as his second entry in the Diamond club; “Stronger,” taken from his Graduation album, topped 10 million certified units back in October 2021. Meanwhile, Ye has several other tracks that will surely pass the Diamond line in the near future. “Gold Digger,” for example, was sitting at eight million certified units as of September 2020.

Producer Hit-Boy reflected on the “Ni**as in Paris” Diamond status in a tweet, telling fans it was “a real blessing” to have been a part of what has now become Jay’s first-ever 10-million-units-strong track.

Mike Dean, who’s also credited as a producer on the track, noted in his own social media update that this marks his fourth song to go Diamond.

Ye and Jay last worked together during the Donda sessions. Given everything that’s transpired since then, it seems unlikely that we’ll see another Throne reunion any time soon.