SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: In this image released on November 9, Rihanna attends ... [+]
Rihanna hasn’t released new music in years, and despite many rumors and queries from fans and journalists, she hasn’t seriously hinted that a full-length is on the way. As the world waits for something new from the superstar, her older hits continue to perform well, and now, one of them has earned a very special honor.
“Diamonds” by Rihanna has been certified diamond by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). The tune has now shifted 10 million equivalent units, according to the music industry organization.
In the U.S., songs and albums can be certified diamond once they reach that 10 million threshold. That figure is made up of equivalent units, which include both pure purchases as well as equivalents, which are generated from streaming activity.
Rihanna has earned diamond singles in the past in the U.S., but “Diamonds” is different from her others wins. This time around, she collects another one of these special plaques entirely on her own, as her similarly-certified smashes were all marketed alongside other artists.
“Diamonds” marks Rihanna’s third diamond song in America. Her Eminem collaboration “Love the Way You Lie” and “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris have both previously advanced from multi-platinum status to the diamond level.
At the moment, “Love the Way You Lie” stands out as the top-certified track for both Rihanna and Eminem (for him, it’s tied with “Lose Yourself” for this position). The song was certified diamond a little more than a decade ago–shortly after “Diamonds” became a hit. Now, that pop/rap track is up to 13-times platinum status.
Rihanna released “Diamonds” in 2012 as the lead single from her then-upcoming album Unapologetic. The tune shot right to No. 1 on the Hot 100, giving the musical superstar one of her most recent champions on the tally.
Three more hits from Rihanna are headed for diamond certifications, though when they’ll collect their honors is anybody’s guess. “Work,” “Needed Me” and “Stay” are all steady at nine-times platinum status, so diamond honors are in the future–perhaps the near future.
