50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ hits diamond status after 20 years

50 Cent has a lot to celebrate as his debut single, "In Da Club," has achieved diamond status, meaning it has sold over 10 million units in the US. Fans of the rapper were thrilled as he announced on his Instagram account that he had received a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Accompanied by a screenshot of the certificate, the rapper shared the good news with his followers.

"In Da Club" was released in 2003 as the lead single from 50 Cent’s first major label album, Get Rich or Die Tryin. The song was produced by Dr. Dre and co-written by Eminem, who signed 50 Cent to their respective labels, Aftermath Entertainment and Shady Records, after hearing his mixtape Guess Who’s Back.

With its catchy tune and relatable lyrics, the song soared to the top of the charts, claiming the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive nine consecutive weeks. It also topped the charts in several other countries, including Canada, Australia, and the UK. It was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Male Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards and won Best Rap Video and Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards.

=In Da Club’ is widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop songs ever and featured in numerous movies, TV shows, video games, and commercials. It has also been sampled, remixed, and covered by many artists, such as Beyoncé, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar. According to Chart Data, the song has amassed over 1.9 billion views on YouTube.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, expressed his gratitude for the milestone on Instagram, writing: 

“Diamonds are forever, so that thing 50 Cent is no joke.” He also added the hashtags #bransoncognac and #lecheminduroi, promoting his liquor brands. He later posted another photo of himself holding a plaque with the diamond certification, saying, "In Da Club has officially reached Diamond 10,000,000 singles sold. The 43rd hip-hop song to go, Diamond, is one of the 121 songs of all time to do it. I feel good, I’m that thing 50 Cent".

50 Cent is on tour in Europe, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Get Rich or Die Tryin’, also certified diamond by the RIAA. The tour will end in Abu Dhabi on December 21.