Jay-Z and Kanye West recently achieved a remarkable milestone with their collaboration on the song “N-ggas In Paris.” The Recording Industry of America confirmed that the track has achieved diamond certification, signifying sales of 10 million copies. This achievement is a significant accomplishment for both artists.
Prior to this, Jay-Z had not earned a diamond record, making “N-ggas In Paris” his first. On the other hand, Kanye had already achieved this feat once before with his song “Stronger” from the album Graduation.
Despite being released in 2011, “N-ggas In Paris” remained at the 9x-platinum mark since May 2022. However, it finally surpassed this milestone and reached the elusive diamond status this week, more than a decade after its initial release. This accomplishment highlights the enduring popularity and impact of the song, showcasing its lasting appeal to music fans.
Kanye West previously shared the story behind the creation of “N-ggas In Paris,” which was inspired by the contrasting experiences he had during his travels in Europe.
According to Kanye, the song represents the intersection of art and commercial success. It embodies the fusion of his urban roots and the glitz of Hollywood. In a 2010 interview with XXL, he mentioned engaging in conversations with both fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld and Jay-Z within the same hour, symbolizing the blend of high fashion and music. Kanye emphasized that when he and his peers attended fashion shows in Paris, they would listen to Jay-Z’s music, adding a touch of Jeezy to the Parisian vibe.
When “N-ggas In Paris” was released, it achieved significant success, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Apart from Kanye’s contribution, the track boasts production from talented individuals such as Hit-Boy, Mike Dean, and Anthony Kilhoffer. Hit-Boy, in particular, expressed his joy on Twitter regarding the song’s diamond certification.
Hit-Boy acknowledged the immense privilege of being involved in a song that became Jay-Z’s first diamond-certified record. He also mentioned his contribution to Nas’ first Grammy-winning album, Kings Disease, expressing gratitude for the incredible experiences his work has brought him.
The music video for “N-ggas In Paris” has garnered an impressive number of views, surpassing 386 million on Kanye West’s official YouTube channel. The video showcases captivating live performance footage from their Watch The Throne Tour’s Los Angeles stop, adding an electrifying visual element to the song.
The success of “N-ggas In Paris” extended to the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, where it received recognition and won accolades in two categories: Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. This achievement further solidified the song’s impact and demonstrated the artistic excellence of Kanye and Jay-Z’s collaboration. Recently, the duo joined forces again for the track “Jail” from Kanye’s album Donda, released in 2021. However, a leaked Donda documentary revealed that Kanye contemplated removing Jay-Z’s verse from the song as part of his unconventional creative process.
The documentary provides an intimate look into Kanye’s world, showcasing never-before-seen footage. It captures moments of reflection as he visits his childhood home in Chicago, evoking memories of his late mother, Donda West. The viewers also get a glimpse of Kanye’s creative process, witnessing him tinkering with various songs in the studio and delivering impassioned speeches and prayers to his team. The documentary features notable appearances by artists such as Pusha T, Playboi Carti, Fivio Foreign, Rick Rubin, and Mike Dean, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective of Kanye’s artistic journey.
