by Chris Mench | Complex

Sixteen years after its original release, Nelly's blockbuster debut album Country Grammar has finally been certified diamond by the RIAA. That's right, the St. Louis, Mo. rapper has officially moved 10 million units of his first album, which first came out back in 2000. He was surprised on stage on Monday night with a plaque commemorating his amazing accomplishment.

Country Grammar is just the eighth album in hip-hop history to achieve a diamond certification. Other diamond-selling albums include Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Tupac's All Eyez On Me, and The Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill.

Nelly's debut was an instant smash when it came out in 2000. It spawned major hits like "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)," "Ride Wit Me," and "E.I.," all of which made a big impact on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

His Country Grammar plaque wasn't his only sales achievement of the night, either. Nelly was also honored with a diamond single plaque for his Florida Georgia Line collaboration "Cruise."

MickyDolenz said:

by Chris Mench | Complex

Sixteen years after its original release, Nelly's blockbuster debut album Country Grammar has finally been certified diamond by the RIAA. That's right, the St. Louis, Mo. rapper has officially moved 10 million units of his first album, which first came out back in 2000. He was surprised on stage on Monday night with a plaque commemorating his amazing accomplishment.

Country Grammar is just the eighth album in hip-hop history to achieve a diamond certification. Other diamond-selling albums include Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, Outkast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Tupac's All Eyez On Me, and The Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill.

Nelly's debut was an instant smash when it came out in 2000. It spawned major hits like "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)," "Ride Wit Me," and "E.I.," all of which made a big impact on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

His Country Grammar plaque wasn't his only sales achievement of the night, either. Nelly was also honored with a diamond single plaque for his Florida Georgia Line collaboration "Cruise."

Ride Wit Me is a classic.

Good for him!

That is quite impressive for a single-disc album.

Beastie Boys "Licensed To Ill" (1986) - went diamond last year finally

MC Hammer "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em" (1990) - the first hip hop album to go diamond

2Pac "All Eyez On Me" (1996) - double album
The Notorious B.I.G. "Life After Death" (1997) - double album
2Pac "Greatest Hits" (1998) - double album and hits compilation but still counts!
Nelly "Country Grammar" (2000)

Eminem "The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000)
Eminem "The Eminem Show" (2002)
OutKast "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" (2003) - double album

^^I thought Vanilla Ice's To The Extreme was diamond too. But I guess it must be over 11 million worldwide, and not just US sales only.

Cinny said:

That is quite impressive for a single-disc album.

Beastie Boys "Licensed To Ill" (1986) - went diamond last year finally

MC Hammer "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em" (1990) - the first hip hop album to go diamond

2Pac "All Eyez On Me" (1996) - double album
The Notorious B.I.G. "Life After Death" (1997) - double album
2Pac "Greatest Hits" (1998) - double album and hits compilation but still counts!
Nelly "Country Grammar" (2000)

Eminem "The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000)
Eminem "The Eminem Show" (2002)
OutKast "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" (2003) - double album

I wish Public Enemy had an album that went diamond!