Sean Paul Earns First-Ever RIAA Diamond Certification With “Cheap Thrills”

Sean Paul just added another historic milestone to his legendary career.

The Jamaican dancehall superstar has officially earned his first RIAA Diamond certification thanks to “Cheap Thrills,” his smash collaboration with Australian pop star Sia. The track was recently certified 11x Platinum, surpassing 11 million units sold in the United States, making it the biggest certification of Sean Paul’s career to date.

Released in 2016, “Cheap Thrills” became a global phenomenon, blending pop accessibility with Sean Paul’s unmistakable dancehall energy. Originally appearing on Sia’s This Is Acting album, the song took on a new life when Sean Paul joined the remix — a move that helped push the track straight into chart dominance.

A Chart-Topping Moment

“Cheap Thrills” spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Sean Paul’s first chart-topper in more than a decade. The song also ruled radio, holding the top spot on the all-genre Radio Songs chart for eight weeks, his longest reign there since Beyoncé’s “Baby Boy” in 2003.

The success cemented “Cheap Thrills” as one of the defining pop hits of the 2010s, later landing on Billboard’s Decade-End Hot 100 list. The track also earned both Sean Paul and Sia their first Grammy nominations in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.

A Career Built on Longevity

Sean Paul’s Diamond moment is just the latest chapter in a career that has consistently crossed genres and generations. Since breaking out in 2000, the Kingston native has delivered crossover anthems like “Get Busy,” “Temperature,” and “Gimme the Light,” helping bring dancehall into the global mainstream.

His 2002 album Dutty Rock earned him a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, while also becoming one of his highest-charting projects on the Billboard 200. Over the years, Sean Paul has collected four No. 1 hits and 10 Top 10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 — numbers that reflect both staying power and evolution.

Still Going Strong

Even after decades in the game, Sean Paul hasn’t slowed down. He released back-to-back Grammy-nominated albums, Live N Livin (2021) and Scorcha (2022), both of which landed in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart.

Most recently, he co-headlined the Jamaica Strong benefit concert in New York to support Hurricane Melissa relief efforts, and dropped an uplifting single titled “Faith We A Keep.”

As 2016-era hits continue to resurface across social media and playlists, it feels only right that one of that year’s biggest global records is now being honored at the highest level.

With a Diamond plaque officially under his belt, Sean Paul’s legacy as one of dancehall’s most successful global ambassadors is stronger than ever.