Chris Brown Just Passed Michael Jackson In U.S. Music Sales

For years people said no one would ever touch Michael Jackson’s numbers in the United States. Today, Chris Brown is the one who quietly crossed that line and kept going.

The RIAA has now certified Chris Brown for a huge 163 million units in the U.S., which includes both albums and singles. That is more than Michael Jackson’s 158.5 million and it makes Brown the best selling Black male vocalist in RIAA history. He now sits at number three on the all time male list in America, just behind Elvis Presley and Luke Combs, and he is less than one million units away from that number two spot.

What pushed him over the edge was a new wave of plaques that arrived right as his debut album turned twenty. “Run It!” is now 5x Platinum, his self titled album and “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” are 4x Platinum, “Say Goodbye” is 3x Platinum, “Gimme That” is 2x Platinum and even deep cuts like “Poppin’,” “Ain’t No Way” and “Ya Man Ain’t Me” just picked up new certifications.

All of this comes right after his XX Breezy Bowl Stadium Tour, which packed out arenas and lit up social media all August.

Historic! Chris Brown Surpasses Michael Jackson in RIAA Sales Rankings

Before the 163 million units and the stadium tours, there was a 16 year old kid with a breakout single called “Run It!”. Released in 2005, it shot straight to number one and later earned the biggest upgrade in the new plaque announcement at 5x Platinum.

Run It!

On the XX Breezy Bowl Stadium Tour, “Run It!” turns SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles into one huge singalong, with fire, lights, and thousands of fans moving in sync to choreography he first made famous as a teenager. It is the clearest proof that this hit never faded. The crowd scream for every beat, every hook, every dance break.

[4K] Chris Brown – Run It! (Live in Los Angeles) | Breezy Bowl XX Stadium Tour