Sean Paul's 'Cheap Thrills' Earns Diamond Certification: A Dancehall Milestone

The accolades keep rolling in for Jamaican dancehall icon, Sean Paul. His smash 2016 collaboration with Sia, “Cheap Thrills,” has officially been certified 11 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This momentous achievement signifies over 11 million units sold, marking Paul's first diamond-plus certification.

From his early hits like “Temperature,” “Get Busy,” and “Gimme the Light,” Sean Paul exploded onto the Billboard charts in 2000. This launched a two-decade run of cross-genre success. His 2002 album, Dutty Rock, secured a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album and became his first of two top 10 projects on the Billboard 200. On the Billboard Hot 100, Paul has landed four No. 1 singles and a total of 10 top 10 hits, including the four-week chart-topper “Cheap Thrills.”

Initially released by Sia on her 2015 album This Is Acting, “Cheap Thrills” was then remixed with Sean Paul in early 2016. Capitalizing on the popular “tropical pop” sound, Paul’s remix propelled the song to the top of the charts. It dominated the all-genre Radio Songs chart for eight weeks. This was his longest reign since his featured appearance on Beyoncé’s 2003 hit “Baby Boy” (which held the top spot for nine weeks). “Cheap Thrills” ultimately landed at No. 66 on the 2010s Decade-End Billboard Hot 100. It also earned both artists their first (and only) Grammy nominations in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.

Notably, “Cheap Thrills” marked Paul’s first Hot 100 chart-topper in over a decade. It is also Sia’s second single to achieve diamond certification from the RIAA. Sia's “Chandelier” reached diamond status in 2024, exactly ten years after its release, mirroring the trajectory of “Cheap Thrills.”

Sean Paul has remained a prominent figure in music, releasing two consecutive Grammy-nominated albums: 2021’s Live n Livin and 2022’s Scorcha. Both albums reached the top 10 on the Reggae Albums chart, landing at Nos. 9 and 6, respectively. Last month, he co-headlined the Jamaica Strong benefit concert for Hurricane Melissa relief. The concert, which took place at New York’s UBS Arena on December 12th, also saw him release an uplifting anthem titled “Faith We A Keep.”

With 2016 nostalgia currently trending across social media, it's fitting that one of the year's biggest hits is being recognized for its monumental success.

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