Cardi B becomes first female rapper to have a diamond song (2024)

Cardi B’s breakout hit “Bodak Yellow” is still making money moves. The 2017 chart-topper was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America yesterday (March 8), making Cardi the first female rapper to have a diamond single. On Twitter, the RIAA congratulated the Bronx native on the lofty certification, which is awarded when a body of music sells more than 10 million units.

Congratulations to [Cardi B]!” RIAA’s account tweeted. “The first female rapper to achieve [an] RIAA single award!”

Cardi reacted to the achievement in a video posted by industry executive Brooklyn Johnny, whom she has worked with for many years. In the clip, the “Up” rapper received her diamond plaque and said in disbelief, “It’s diamond, for real? Certified by the RIAA? For real?!” She also received a plaque for her now five-time platinum hit, “WAP.”

In her own video shared to Twitter, Cardi revealed she had been rehearsing for her upcoming Grammys performance when she was invited to a restaurant by executives from her record label, Atlantic.

“So, I’ve been rehearsing all day today. I’m really stressed out, my body’s aching… they telling me like, ‘Oh, you gotta go meet up with Atlantic [Records] execs. I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m f*cking tired. I don’t want to talk about no Grammys; I don’t want to talk about no album.’ And then, I still got drove to a restaurant,” she said.

There, she was surprised with the plaques.

“I’m here and I just got this crazy surprise and I think you guys are gonna find out tomorrow,” she continued. “I just wanna say thank you guys so much because without you guys this wouldn’t happen. This really made my day and really uplifted me for this crazy performance. I know you guys are gonna be really, really happy.”

She later responded to congratulatory messages from fans, tweeting, “I need a moment guys… I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow and I’ll be reposting. I’m too emotional to see all these beautiful tweets.”

“Bodak Yellow” soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September of 2017. The historical moment marked the first song by a solo woman rapper to top the chart in 19 years. Prior to that, only Lauryn Hill had achieved the ranking with her 1998 hit, “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

Last month, Hill also became the first female rapper to have a diamond-certified album for her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

See Cardi’s tweets about her new accomplishment below.

Cardi B becomes first female rapper to have a diamond song (2024)

FAQs

Cardi B becomes first female rapper to have a diamond song? ›

She became the first female rapper to have a diamond-certified song earlier this year with her major-label debut single “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves).” “I Like It” is now Cardi's third diamond-certified smash, following “Bodak Yellow” and “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5, which hit the record on Nov.

Who was the first female rapper to go diamond? ›

On Monday (March 8), Cardi's breakout single, which earned the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017, officially became certified diamond by the RIAA. This makes the Bronx, New York-bred artist the first female rapper to have a song go diamond or sell more than 10 million units.

Does Cardi B have any diamond songs? ›

Cardi B

In 2021, Cardi B became the first female rapper in history to have a diamond-certified single with "Bodak Yellow." Later that year, she received a second award as a featured artist on Maroon 5's "Girls Like You" and a third for her single "I Like It."

Who has the first diamond song? ›

"Something About The Way You Look Tonight / Candle in the Wind" by Elton John. "Something About the Way You Look Tonight / Candle in the Wind" became the first-ever song to be certified diamond on October 9, 1997.

What female rapper has a diamond record? ›

The Bronx-born star now has two diamond-certified songs. Cardi B is now the first female rapper to have two diamond-certified records, the Recording Industry Association of America announced on Monday (Nov.

Which rapper has gone Diamond the most? ›

Post Malone has broken the record for the most RIAA diamond-certified singles from any artist, with three newly certified records.

What rapper went Diamond twice? ›

2Pac was not about that "Oh well, that's just the way it is" life. The real 2Pac wondered whether heaven had a ghetto. In any case, Greatest Hits is basically a reissue All Eyez on Me, which pretty much means that All Eyez on Me went diamond twice.

How many #1 songs does Cardi B have? ›

Recognized by Forbes as one of the most influential female rappers of all time, Cardi B holds various records among women in hip hop; she is the female rapper with the most number-one singles (five) on the Billboard Hot 100, and the only female rapper to achieve multiple solo number-ones and earn number-ones in two ...

Has Cardi B ever went diamond? ›

"Bodak Yellow" made Cardi B the first female rapper to have a song certified Diamond by the RIAA, a record which she has since extended to three Diamond-certified songs.

Who has 5 diamond songs? ›

"When I Was Your Man" was certified diamond on May 21, 2021, making Mars the first artist in history with five diamond-certified songs.

Does Nicki Minaj have a diamond record? ›

While Nicki Minaj is proud of her diamond record, she is no stranger to RIAA certifications. Her albums Pink Friday, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, The Pinkprint and Queen have been certified platinum at least once.

Who has 7 diamond albums? ›

Garth Brooks is the artist with the most diamond albums.

Does Taylor Swift have a diamond song? ›

Topping the list of Swift's 1989 hits, according to RIAA certifications, is the album's lead single, "Shake It Off." The infectious anthem stands as Swift's sole diamond-certified hit, an accolade achieved when a track or album surpasses 10 million equivalent units in the United States.

Does Cardi B have any Diamond records? ›

Cardi's latest Diamond plaque makes her the first female rapper ever to have three diamond single certifications (her others are for “Bodak Yellow” and her Maroon 5 collab “Girls Like You”). She also joins pop star Katy Perry as one of them only women to ever have that many Diamond plaques.

Does Jay-Z have a Diamond record? ›

Jay-Z has earned his first ever diamond certification. The RIAA noted on Monday (June 12), that his 2011 collaboration with Kanye West, "N-ggas In Paris" achieved 10x platinum status, qualifying it for a diamond plaque with 10,000,000 units sold.

Has Nelly gone Diamond? ›

In 2016, Nelly's debut release, Country Grammar, became the eighth Hip Hop album ever to be certified diamond.

Who was the first female rapper to win a Grammy? ›

At the 1995 Grammy Awards, Salt-N-Pepa and Queen Latifah made history as the first female rap acts to win Grammys.

Who was the first female trio rappers to go gold and platinum? ›

Salt-N-Pepa were the first female rappers to be certified platinum. Their recognition and success was largely because of their fearlessness to speak on taboo topics. The band hit the hearts of their largely female audience by speaking their truth and being bold with the things they had to say.

Who was the first hip-hop album to go Diamond? ›

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em by MC Hammer represents a notable moment in Hip Hop history. This momentous work brought rap music into the mainstream like never before and earned its diamond certification shortly after being released in '90.

Who was the first rapper with Diamond teeth? ›

The insertion of gems into teeth predates hip hop culture. Hip hop artists such as Raheem the Dream and Kilo Ali began wearing grills in the early 1980s; New Yorker Eddie Plein, owner of Famous Eddie's Gold Teeth, and Johnny Dang and Paul Wall are often credited with kickstarting and expanding the trend.

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