Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" Becomes Most Certified Song in Music History

The viral hit has been certified 14x platinum.

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Lil Nas X‘s “Old Town Road” is now the most certified song in RIAA history.

The 21-year-old’s remix with Billy Ray Cyrus was certified 14x platinum in the United States, earning 14 million equivalent song units in just a little over two years since its independent release. Nas X announced the milestone on social media, sharing a meme (in true Nas X fashion) in celebration.

“Old Town Road” was first released independently in December 2018, then entered the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2019 after it found popularity on TikTok. It was re-released by Columbia Records that same month and the remix with Cyrus dropped in early April. The song, which samples Nine Inch Nails‘ “34 Ghosts IV,” went on to set numerous records throughout the year, including becoming the longest running No. 1 and the fastest selling diamond record of all time. Nas X and Cyrus were nominated for three awards at the 2020 GRAMMYs, receiving a nod for Record of the Year and winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video.

Elsewhere in music, watch The Weeknd’s ad for his Super Bowl LV halftime performance.

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Sophie Caraan
Sophie Caraan Managing Editor

Sophie Caraan is the Managing Editor at Hypebeast, where she sets the editorial direction, standards, and output strategy for the HQ team. With a decade of editorial experience, she brings both a storyteller's instinct and a strategist's eye — spotlighting the figures and movements that shape the culture across a multitude of lanes. Her tenure is marked by high-impact conversations with the likes of RZA, Mads Mikkelsen, CORTIS, Erling Haaland, Kasing Lung, NIGO, and more.

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