Sean Paul Is The First Dancehall Artist To Have 3 Albums Surpass A Billion Streams On Spotify

Sean Paul, 50, becomes the first Jamaican dancehall artist to have three albums surpass one billion streams on Spotify according to data obtained and curated by WMV from the platform.

At the top of the data ranking is the Billboard No. 1 artist’s 18 track Dutty Classics Collections which also has a deluxe version with three additional songs which has been streamed 2,188,284,523 times as of June 30, 2023. The album is a mainstay on the weekly U.S. Billboard Reggae albums chart at No. 3 each week and has been on the chart for 152 weeks (pk No. 2).

Dutty Classics Collection is the first album by a dancehall artist to surpass two billion streams on Spotify. The compilation is distributed by Warner Music Group’s catalog division Rhino Entertainment Company but the tracks that make up the collection were originally released by VP Records/Atlantic such as Gimme The Light, She Doesn’t Mind, Get Busy, I’m Still In Love With You. 

Sean’s second most streamed project of Spotify is his Island records debut EP “Mad Love The Prequel” which has 1,553,412,635 streams as of June 30, 2023. Released June 29, 2028, the Ep is driven by the top selling pop-dancehall single No Lie Ft. Dua Lipa which has 943,302,289 streams on Spotify.

Dutty Rock which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year rounds out Sean current Billion streaming projects on Spotify with 1,091,060,636 as of June 30, 2023. Dutty Rock has a line up of all Billboard top 15 dancehall tracks including “Like Glue”, “Get Busy”, “I’m Still In Love With You” and the smash hit “Gimmi The Light.” The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and is the first album by a Jamaican released this century to be certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA).

All three projects made Billboard’s Year End Reggae Chart last year. Sean, who has sold over 30 million records worldwide told WMV that he had given up the ownership of the masters for his early recordings in exchange for the backing of a record label’s marketing and promotions. He said although he doesn’t own his early hits, relinquishing them was a stepping stone for his career. He says now with many years in the business he is able to re-record the songs and have ownership of the new masters but it has been an uphill climb.