Nicki Minaj has earned her second diamond single with “Bang Bang,” the 2014 single featuring Jessie J and Ariana Grande.
The RIAA has confirmed that the single — which initially went gold (sales of 500,000 units) in October 2014, three months after its initial release — was certified diamond as of Thursday (May 23).
A single going diamond means that it has sold 10 million units, with a “unit” being either one digital download or 150 on-demand audio or video streams.
“Bang Bang” is Minaj’s second song to achieve such a certification. 2011’s “Super Bass,” which initially went gold in November of that year, was certified diamond on March 29, 2024.
The only female rapper to have more diamond singles than the Young Money First Lady is Cardi B. The “Bodak Yellow” rapper achieved her third diamond single with the Bad Bunny-assisted “I Like It” back in December 2021.
Nicki Minaj makes history as she earns second diamond single with “Bang Bang” pic.twitter.com/X87lEaT4hJ
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) May 24, 2024
Speaking of “Super Bass,” Nicki’s ex, Safaree Samuels, recently shared that he was embarrassed by his cameo in the smash hit video.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday (May 21), the reality star reminisced and laughed at his dance moves featured in the visual.
“Yo wat the hell was I doing in that super bass video,” he wrote with laughing emojis. “yo I am really a crazy a&& ni%%%a I don’t give a sh*% bout nothing [laughing emojis]”
The song may have been on Safaree’s mind, as an AI version of “Super Bass” began circulating online earlier in the week, which Nicki was quick to condemn.
In a since-deleted post on X that went viral on Saturday (May 18), the “Starships” rapper quote-tweeted an AI-generated version of the Pink Friday hit reworked into a 1970s-themed disco tune.
“I hate yall so bad for this,” she wrote, though it wasn’t clear if she was being sarcastic or she seriously hated the production.
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Nicki Minaj previously made it clear that she is not at all a fan of AI-generated art.
Last month, she joined Q-Tip, Chuck D and other artists to support a campaign that aims to protect musicians from having their creations jacked by artificial intelligence.
An open letter published by the Artists’ Rights Alliance seeks to push back against the use of said technology within the music industry as tech companies like YouTube have been experimenting with it via music-making tools.
It reads, in part: “We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal artists’ voices and likenesses.”
