Nelly’s debut record, Country Grammar, sits in our contemporary music culture as both a huge milestone for his personal career and for hip-hop in general.

In the early 2000s, Nelly secured himself a permanent place within music history with that project putting him on the map, and 16 years later, he has yet another monumental achievement to celebrate.

Last night (July 25) the rapper was surprised with a plaque during a Musicians On Call event in Philadelphia, signifying that his debut album has since gone on to sell over 10 million records and thus is no longer is considered platinum, but in fact is certified diamond.

There are only 7 other rap albums in history that share the same status, as certified by the RIAA, including projects from 2Pac, Eminem, Outkast, The Notorious B.I.G. and MC Hammer.

For those curious, Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the best-selling album of all-time, and has been awarded triple diamond status, selling over 32 million records to date.

Congrats to Nelly on this much-deserved recognition and success!