In the 71-year history of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), only 100 acts can boast having earned 5 or more multi-Platinum-certified albums.

For context, projects that reach 2x Platinum or more (meaning they’ve sold the equivalence of at least 2 million in the United States) are deemed “multi-Platinum.”

Before February, only 4 of those 100 performers were solo Black male vocalists – Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Chris Brown, and Luther Vandross.

That count changed recently, however, thanks to a slew of certification upgrades afforded to Usher‘s most popular titles.

Look inside to see how the ‘Confessions‘ crooner joined the unique RIAA club.

Taking to press earlier this month (as we reported here), the RIAA announced over 30 updates to the certification statuses of some of Ush’s biggest hits.

While the biggest callout was the Diamond certification of his 2004 smash ‘Yeah‘ for sales equivalence of over 10 million in the United States, another noteworthy mention comes courtesy of his new set of multi-Platinum albums as 2010’s ‘Raymond vs. Raymond’ is now at 3x Platinum and 2008’s ‘Here I Stand’ sits at 2x Platinum.

Together, the newly minted projects not only bring his career total album sales to 33 million in the United States but also lift his multi-Platinum LP count to 5.

The only other Black male vocalists to have earned as many or more album certifications of that ilk are Brown (5), Kelly (6), Vandross (7), and Jackson (9).

Among all Black men, JAY-Z stands as the leader (10) and is followed by Drake who is tied with MJ (9).

[source]

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