JAY-Z and Kanye West have earned themselves diamond plaques as their Watch The Throne anthem “N-ggas In Paris” is now certified 10x platinum.
According to the Recording Industry of America, Hov and Yeezy’s 2011 joint smash hit went diamond on Monday (June 12) and both of the decorated rappers are now part of the extremely exclusive club.
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“N-ggas In Paris” serves as Jay’s first diamond record while Kanye has done it once before with Graduation‘s “Stronger.”
“N-ggas In Paris” had been stuck on 9x-platinum since May 2022 but crossed over the elusive diamond mark this week — more than a decade after its initial 2011 release.
Jay-Z (@SC) earns his first ever and Kanye West earns his second @RIAA Diamond single with "N****s in Paris". pic.twitter.com/0NmKNB1RyS
— chart data (@chartdata) June 12, 2023
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Kanye previously detailed the inspiration behind “N-ggas In Paris” which came from the duality he encountered on his European travels.
“I am where art meets commercial. The sweet spot between the hood and Hollywood. Having a conversation with Karl Lagerfeld and JAY-Z within the same hour,” Ye told XXL in 2010. “When we’re in Paris dressing all crazy at fashion shows, we listening to JAY-Z. Jeezy in Paris, that’s what it is.”
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“N-ggas In Paris” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to Kanye, the track features production from Hit-Boy, Mike Dean and Anthony Kilhoffer. The former took to Twitter to celebrate the record’s diamond status.
“It’s a real blessing to be apart of the song that became jay-z first diamond record and producing the album that won Nas his first grammy. What a life [praying hands emoji],” Hit-Boy tweeted on Monday, also referencing his work on Nas’ first Kings Disease album.
it’s a real blessing to be apart of the song that became jay-z first diamond record and producing the album that won Nas his first grammy. What a life 🙏🏾
— Hit-Boy (@Hit_Boy) June 12, 2023
A music video for “N-ggas In Paris” boasts north of 386 million views on Kanye West’s official YouTube channel and features performance footage from the Los Angeles stop of he and Jay’s Watch The Throne Tour.
“N-ggas In Paris” went on to clean up at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards where it took home hardware in the Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance categories.
Kanye and JAY-Z most recently teamed up for Donda‘s “Jail” in 2021. Although, Yeezy threatened to remove Hov from the track in a leaked Donda documentary that gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Kanye’s unorthodox creative process.
“Everybody that’s not here, I’m taking their verses off,” he said. “I’m taking JAY-Z verse, I’m taking — if there’s anybody not here on the porch with me, they’re not on this version.”
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Featuring never-before-seen footage, the documentary shows Ye reflecting on his late mother, Donda West, while visiting his childhood home in Chicago, tinkering with various songs in the studio, delivering impassioned speeches and prayers to his team, and linking with Pusha T, Playboi Carti, Fivio Foreign, Rick Rubin and Mike Dean, among others.
