Twitter/RIAA
Jay-Z and RIAA CEO Cary Sherman.
Less than a week after its release, Jay-Z's critically acclaimed new album "4:44" has already been certified platinum, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).RIAA tweeted the news with a picture of Jay and the company's chairman and CEO Cary Sherman standing beside the platinum plaque for the album.
"Props to JAY, he's done it again!" Sherman said in a statement. "Another Platinum album adds to an already iconic career."
"4:44" is now Jay-Z's 13th platinum solo studio album - the most of any hip-hop artist in history, according to RIAA.
It's unclear how the album reached platinum certification so quickly despite it being a Tidal exclusive.
Complex has speculated that Sprint, Tidal's partner in the release of "4:44," may have purchased a bulk number of copies in the same way that Samsung purchased a million copies of Jay's 2013 album "Magna Carta Holy Grail."
4:44 Goes Platinum - JAY-Z's 13 Platinum (or higher) solo studio Album Awards are more than any other hip hop artist. @s_c_ @RocNation #444 pic.twitter.com/oSSXrUpMUn
- RIAA (@RIAA) July 5, 2017