In 2000, HitClips were a thing, Pharell looked like this, and Nelly released Country Grammar. At just 26, the St. Louis native took over the airwaves (and MTV) with a stream of hits like “E.I,” Ride wit Me” and the ever popular, “Country Grammar (Hot S**t).”
A few platinum albums and country collabos later, the rapper’s debut album is now certified diamond.
According to Forbes, the Recording Industry Association of America presented the artist with a special plaque commemorating the feat during a benefit concert in Philadelphia Monday evening (July 25). The album was at the top of the charts with 235k copies sold in its first week in June 2000 and remained on the charts for over six weeks. Country Grammar is now the eight hip-hop album in the diamond club. Others include Notorious BIG’s Life After Death, 2Pac’s All Eyes on Me and Greatest Hits, Oukast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Eminem’s The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP, MC Hammer’s Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em and Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill.
The rapper took to social media earlier today (July 26), to celebrate.
He was also given another diamond award for his collaboration with Florida Georgia Line’s remix to the 2012 single, “Cruise.”
Relive the early 2000’s with Nelly’s “E.I.” music video below.