Which album by MC Hammer became the first hip hop album certified diamond in the United States?

MC Hammer’s Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ’Em became the first hip hop album certified diamond in the United States.

Released in 1990, the album became a huge commercial success, driven by songs such as “U Can’t Touch This,” “Have You Seen Her,” and “Pray.” Its polished production, dance-focused presentation, and accessible hooks brought rap to a broad pop audience.

The Recording Industry Association of America awards diamond certification for shipments of at least 10 million album-equivalent units in the United States. Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ’Em reached that milestone during the early 1990s, making it a landmark in hip hop’s commercial history.

The album’s signature single, “U Can’t Touch This,” prominently samples Rick James’s 1981 song “Super Freak.” That sample helped create the song’s instantly recognizable bass line, while Hammer’s choreography made the track equally notable as a visual performance. The album’s success helped demonstrate that a rap release could become one of the biggest pop albums of its era.