Sean Paul Earns First-Ever U.S. Diamond Certification With ‘Cheap Thrills,’ Marking His 15th RIAA Award

Sean Paul has added another historic chapter to his already legendary career, earning his first-ever Diamond certification in the United States as Cheap Thrills officially surpasses 11 million units sold and streamed. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) confirmed on Thursday, January 22, that the 2016 global smash, his chart-topping collaboration with Australian pop star Sia, is now certified 11x Platinum, comfortably clearing the 10-million-unit benchmark required for Diamond status.

Released on December 17, 2015, Cheap Thrills has enjoyed one of the most consistent commercial runs in modern pop history, steadily climbing from Gold and Platinum certifications in 2016 to 9x Platinum by July 2024, before reaching Diamond territory in January 2026. The achievement brings Sean Paul’s total U.S. RIAA certifications to 15, comprising 13 singles and two albums. His Grammy-winning album Dutty Rock is now 3x Platinum, while The Trinity was upgraded to 2x Platinum in March 2024, underscoring the long-term global appeal of his catalogue.

The Diamond milestone arrives during a remarkable run of international accolades for the dancehall icon. Earlier this month, Sean Paul earned his 10th UK Platinum single after his 2001 breakout hit Like Glue was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, officially making him the most-certified Jamaican artiste in British chart history. The Tony “CD” Kelly-produced anthem remains a cornerstone of early-2000s dancehall, having peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and cracked the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Meanwhile, Sean Paul continues to dominate the digital era. He closed out 2025 as Spotify’s most-streamed dancehall artiste globally, amassing over 1.6 billion streams across 184 countries and more than 15 billion lifetime streams overall. With a Diamond record now added to his résumé and fresh accolades stacking up on both sides of the Atlantic, Sean Paul enters 2026 not as a legacy act, but as one of Jamaica’s most powerful and enduring global music exports.

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