Nicki Minaj‘s “Starships” has achieved Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), moving 10 million units. The milestone marks Minaj’s third Diamond award, following “Super Bass” and “Bang Bang” with Jessie J and Ariana Grande.
Released in 2012, “Starships” revolutionized pop-rap fusion, reaching No. 5 on Billboard Hot 100. The track’s production team – RedOne, Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub – created a sophisticated blend of EDM, pop and hip-hop elements, establishing a blueprint for crossover success.
The song achieved multi-platinum status globally, performing exceptionally well in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. In Japan, it became one of the highest-selling digital singles by a foreign artist, while dominating European charts from Germany to France.
The track’s innovative production combines four-on-the-floor dance beats with rap verses, employing melodic progressions that influenced countless future hits. Its structure innovatively switches between electronic and traditional hip-hop elements, a technique that transformed genre-blending approaches in popular music.
In the streaming era, RIAA certification criteria now include streaming equivalents, with 150 streams counting as one paid download. “Starships” has maintained remarkable popularity across consumption formats, finding new audiences through platforms like TikTok where younger generations continue discovering its iconic hooks.
The song joins elite company alongside Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” in the Diamond club. Unlike many Diamond-certified tracks that achieved success through pure rap appeal, “Starships” demonstrated how genre-blending could lead to unprecedented commercial heights.
Its success created a template for artists like Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion and Ice Spice, who blend rap with pop elements for mainstream appeal. The influence can be heard in countless tracks combining hard-hitting verses with melodic, radio-friendly choruses.
Since “Starships,” Minaj has explored various styles, from “Chun-Li” to “Super Freaky Girl,” demonstrating how commercial success enables artistic experimentation. This versatility has allowed her to maintain relevance while evolving beyond the pop-heavy sound that initially brought her crossover success.
The Diamond certification represents both hip-hop’s commercial evolution and the changing dynamics of streaming-era achievements. As streaming continues reshaping the industry, “Starships” serves as a case study in balancing mainstream appeal with artistic integrity, raising questions about future certification requirements and the evolution of commercial success metrics.
The milestone further solidifies Minaj’s legacy as one of music’s most commercially successful artists, proving her ability to create hits that transcend genres and generations while maintaining artistic authenticity.
