L.L. Cool J Earns RIAA Platinum for "Around The Way Girl"

L.L. Cool J's 1990 hit single, "Around The Way Girl," has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The certification, dated 7. októbra 2025, recognizes 1,000,000 certified units for the Def Jam release. The single's enduring popularity is highlighted by this new milestone, achieved decades after its initial success.

Previously certified: Gold (1991-01-15).

Released on 31. októbra 1990, "Around The Way Girl" was the third single from L.L. Cool J's fourth studio album, Mama Said Knock You Out. Described as an "ode to the girl next door," the track became the rapper's first single to enter the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 9. The song also performed strongly on other charts, reaching No. 5 on the R&B chart and No. 7 on the dance chart. Its smooth, distinctive sound is built on samples from two R&B classics: Mary Jane Girls' 1983 hit "All Night Long" and Keni Burke's 1982 song "Risin' to the Top."

Born James Todd Smith, L.L. Cool J (an acronym for Ladies Love Cool James) emerged from Queens, New York, as one of hip-hop's first superstars. He was among the earliest rappers to achieve major commercial success, alongside fellow new school pioneers like Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. After signing with the fledgling Def Jam Recordings in 1984, his 1985 debut album, Radio, became a landmark release for the genre. Throughout a multi-decade career, he has earned two Grammy Awards, an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and has established a successful career as an actor, notably starring in the television series NCIS: Los Angeles.