Coming off an incredible 2024, when Kendrick Lamar rocked the music world with his GRAMMY-winning Drake diss track, "Not Like Us," he is well on his way to making 2025 another momentous twelve months. His smash hit, "HUMBLE.," has officially crossed 20 million sold units, making it eligible for a double-diamond certification, the first in rap history.
Not a single rap song has ever been to this many sales, and when it gets certified officially, Kendrick Lamar will still be the only rapper with a double-diamond single. From winning a Pulitzer Prize for "DAMN." to transforming diss tracks into cultural milkshakes, his career has been a master class in artistic impact. And while 'DAMN.' was already established as one of the dominant albums of the year 2017, "HUMBLE." has proven its staying power nearly eight years after its release.
First released in 2017 as the lead single from 'DAMN.,' "HUMBLE." was an instant phenomenon. Built around its production, recognizable piano riff, and Kendrick's serrated flow, the song rapidly emerged as a top-of-the-charts anthem. It entered at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (a rare arrival at that height for a rap song at the time) and eventually reached No. 1, Kendrick's first solo single to hit the top. The track would win Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video at the 2018 Grammys, cementing its place in history.
It's back in the headlines, but not due to an anniversary, a remix, or a renaissance on TikTok. It has long since become a perennial in hip-hop culture, a record still streaming at extraordinary levels, which shows that true classics do not age.
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