Chris Brown has become the best-selling black male vocalist in RIAA history, surpassing Michael Jackson’s US sales of 158.5 million records. Brown’s total US sales stand at over 163 million.
Jackson held on to the title for best-selling black male vocalist even after his death at the age of 50 in 2009.
According to Parade.com, streaming is the reason behind Brown’s record sales overtaking Jackson’s, which did not exist during Jackson’s career.
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has given Brown nine new certifications, including one for his single, Run it!, which featured rapper Juelz Santana.
This accolade coincides with the 20-year anniversary of Brown’s self-titled debut album, which introduced the singer with the multi-platinum single, which on 1 December was notably certified five times platinum with five million digital units sold.
This is in addition to the 2019 three-times platinum, the 2017 two-times platinum, the 2006 platinum and the 2005 gold certifications.
Brown’s massively successful South African Tour
Brown showed some love and appreciation to his South African fans last year when he performed two shows in Johannesburg’s FNB stadium for his Live in Johannesburg, Breezy in South Africa tour, which caused a stir when a few organisations moved to block his performance in connection with the 2009 highly publicised assault on his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna.
But fans came in droves to support the singer, selling out the 94,000-capacity venue for both days in just a few hours.
Brown courts controversy
Brown, in recent times, has been embroiled in a court case involving an assault that occurred in a London nightclub in 2023, with charges that include assault occasioning actual bodily harm to music producer Abraham Diaw, possessing an offensive weapon (a bottle), and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.
The singer is out on bail, with the trial set for October 2026.
