Kranium earns second RIAA gold certification as lead artist with ‘We Can’

NEW YORK, United States. Jamaican dancehall artist Kranium has earned his second RIAA Gold certification as a lead artist, after his single “We Can”, featuring Tory Lanez, was certified gold in the United States.

The milestone comes after a decade in which Kranium has bridged dancehall, reggae and R&B for international audiences, building more than a billion global streams across his catalogue, according to Jamaican-born, Brooklyn-based publicist Ronnie Tomlinson, chief executive of Destine Media.

“The achievement makes Kranium one of the few contemporary dancehall artists to secure multiple RIAA Gold certifications as the lead artist on his own records,” Tomlinson told Caribbean Life on Tuesday, June 30.

She said lead dancehall records rarely achieve gold certification in the US market, “where Caribbean music has long influenced mainstream culture.”

Two plaques as lead artist

Tomlinson said both of Kranium’s US gold plaques recognise songs he led as primary artist, rather than guest appearances: “Nobody Has To Know” and “We Can”.

“Nobody Has To Know” was the breakout single that introduced his blend of dancehall, reggae and R&B to audiences worldwide, and earned RIAA Gold status earlier.

‘A win for dancehall’

“Coming from Jamaica, you dream about taking our music to every corner of the world, but you also carry the responsibility of representing the culture the right way,” Kranium said.

“To receive a second RIAA Gold plaque as the lead artist means everything, because these are records that started with my vision and my story,” he said.

“This isn’t just my win. It’s a win for dancehall, for Jamaica and for every young artist who believes our music deserves to stand alongside any genre in the world,” he added.

Tomlinson said the certification reflects Kranium’s sustained commercial success across North America and the United Kingdom.