Grace Jones, BEAM Earn First Gold Certifications In The US

Jamaican icon Grace Jones and singer and producer BEAM, the eldest son of gospel-reggae artist Papa San, have earned their first Gold certifications in the United States for their contributions to Beyoncé’s 2022 album Renaissance.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced on Tuesday that ENERGY (featuring BEAM) and Move (featuring Grace Jones and Tems) were both certified Gold after surpassing 500,000 units in combined sales and streaming.

In the house track Energy, BEAM’s contribution is two-fold as he delivers his shape-shifting chorus atop the woozy instrumental that he co-produced with Beyoncé, Skrillex and Al Cres.

On Renaissance, he also supplied Beyonce with additional vocals on the songs  Cuff It , which became 3X Platinum on Tuesday, and  Heated , now certified Gold.  However, he was not credited as a featured artist on those songs.

Grace Jones’s commanding voice pierces through Move, partially recorded at Zak Starkey’s studio in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The Slave to the Rhythm singer delivers memorable lines such as “Brukup / It’s Brukup / It’s Brukup,” referencing Jamaican dancer George Adams, known for his contortionist dance style that captivated audiences from Kingston to Brooklyn.

The track’s production credits include Sean ‘MeLo-X’ Rhoden, a New York-born producer of Jamaican descent. MeLo-X’s contributions include “rudebwoy” adlibs heard throughout the song. Previously, he co-wrote Sorry and Hold-Up on Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade.

ENERGY spent two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 27, while Move charted for one week, reaching No. 55.

Another Renaissance track, the penultimate PURE/HONEY, was also certified Gold on Tuesday. It samples Miss Honey (1992), a dance classic by Jamaican-born Moi Renee. Miss Honey, produced by Frank Fuentes, was the
late drag queen’s sole recording, initially released as a 12-inch vinyl single under Project X Records. In PURE/HONEY, Beyoncé incorporates Moi Renee’s line, “I know you hear me calling you, Miss Honey!”

With the latest certifications, Beyoncé has solidified her status as the most RIAA-certified female artist of all time, boasting 103 certified titles across her discography, according to Variety magazine.

“We are so excited to recognize the incredible talent, hard work and creative spirit reflected across diverse genres,” said RIAA President & COO Michele Ballantyne. “Beyoncé’s iconic catalogue has earned the achievement of most certified titles for a female artist in RIAA’s history. Congratulations on this crowning milestone, Beyoncé, Parkwood Entertainment, Columbia Records — and we see you, BeyHive, streaming on repeat!”