Makes History With Diamond-Certified Hit “Cheap Thrills”
Sean Paul’s list of global achievements just reached a historic new level.
The Jamaican dancehall icon has officially become the first Jamaican artist to earn a Diamond-certified single in the United States, as his 2016 smash hit Cheap Thrills featuring Sia was certified 11× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The new certification confirms the song has surpassed 11 million units in U.S. sales and streaming equivalents — officially pushing it beyond Diamond status.
This milestone cements Sean Paul’s position not just as a dancehall legend, but as one of the most impactful Caribbean artists in global music history.
A Diamond Moment for Jamaican Music
While several Jamaican artists have earned massive international success, Diamond certifications in the U.S. remain extremely rare. The only other Jamaican act to reach that tier is Bob Marley and the Wailers, whose iconic Legend compilation album is certified 18× Platinum.
Fellow dancehall star Shaggy also boasts enormous sales success, with his 2000 album Hot Shot certified 6× Platinum in the U.S. and over 12 million copies sold worldwide — though certifications vary by country and territory.
For Sean Paul, Cheap Thrills marks his first song to enter Diamond territory, setting a new personal and national benchmark for Jamaican music.
From Kingston to the Top of the Charts
Sean Paul first exploded onto the Billboard charts in 2000, becoming the unmistakable voice behind crossover classics like Get Busy, Gimme the Light, and Temperature. His 2002 album Dutty Rock earned him a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album and launched a career that would span more than two decades of cross-genre dominance.
On the Billboard Hot 100, Sean Paul has achieved:
- Four No. 1 singles
- 10 Top 10 hits
- 19 total Hot 100 entries
His chart-topping run includes:
- Get Busy
- Baby Boy (with Beyoncé)
- Temperature
- Cheap Thrills (with Sia)
How “Cheap Thrills” Became a Global Smash
Originally released on Sia’s 2015 album This Is Acting, Cheap Thrills took on a new life when Sean Paul joined the official remix in early 2016. The fusion of Sia’s vibrant synth-pop sound with Sean Paul’s unmistakable Jamaican delivery proved unstoppable.
The remix went on to:
- Spend four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Top the Radio Songs chart for eight weeks
- Earn both artists a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Rank among Billboard’s most impactful hits of the decade
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Already one of the most internationally successful Jamaican artists of all time, Sean Paul has earned multiple Gold and Platinum certifications throughout his career. His biggest U.S. certifications also include:
- 4× Platinum – Bailando (with Enrique Iglesias)
- 3× Platinum – Temperature
- 3× Platinum – Rockabye (with Clean Bandit)
- 2× Platinum – Do You Remember (with Jay Sean & Lil Jon)
- Platinum – Get Busy
- Platinum – We Be Burnin’
With Cheap Thrills now officially Diamond-certified, Sean Paul’s influence stands taller than ever — a testament to his longevity, adaptability, and undeniable global impact.
From Kingston sound systems to worldwide charts, this Diamond moment isn’t just a win for Sean Paul — it’s a win for dancehall and Jamaican music history.
