This is one of things that no one would have ever believed if you suggested it was going to happen a decade ago. A Canadian artist (and a rapper, at that) becoming the highest certified male artist OF ALL TIME? Not a chance in hell. But here we are.
The Recording Industry Association of America, better known as the RIAA, recently revealed a list of the highest certified male artists, based on singles, features and albums. And there’s actually two Canadians in the Top 10.
In what will likely go down as one of his most impressive accomplishments, Drake is currently sitting in the No. 1 spot, and a full 35 million units ahead of the next artist on the list, Elvis Presley, sitting at 191 million. Drake is the only artist to crack the 200 mill mark.
Eminem, Michael Jackson and country singer Garth Brooks round out the top five on the list, while the other half includes Kanye West, Elton John, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Lil Wayne.
Highest certified male artists by the RIAA (singles, features and albums)
#1 @Drake 226M
#2 @ElvisPresley 191M
#3 @Eminem 173M
#4 @michaeljackson 140M
#5 @garthbrooks 136M
#6 @kanyewest 134.5M
#7 @eltonofficial 123M
#8 @justinbieber 115M
#9 @BrunoMars 110M
#10 @LilTunechi 100.5M— chart data (@chartdata) March 25, 2019
