Tay-K's "The Race" Is Now Platinum Certified

Tay-K's single about being on the run has resonated with over a million people.

BYAron A.
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Tay-K's rise to the top has been a peculiar case. While incarcerated on a murder charge, the teenage rapper single "The Race" propelled into internet virality. Shortly after, the song spawned several remixes from some of the biggest artists in hip hop including Tyga, Lil Yachty and even professional boxer, Adrien Broner. Despite being locked up, his fellow rappers (and athletes) have shown support for the young emcee while incarcerated, even calling for his freedom. Today, news emerges as his single "The Race" hits another milestone in his career.

Tay-K is officially a platinum selling artist, according to RIAA standards. The rapper's breakthrough single "The Race" officially went platinum on January 12th, six months after the song's release. The song and visual became viral after it became known that he recorded the song and shot the video while on the run from house arrest. The rapper would later peak at no. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September. It's a solid win for Tay-K but it's unfortunate that he isn't free to be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Tay-K's currently awaiting trial for two murder charges and a count of aggravated robbery where he'll be tried as an adult. Despite his incarceration and pending case, his team has been releasing new music from him including a re-issue of his debut project #SantanaWorld which included additional features from 21 Savage and Young Nudy for the official remix of "The Race." He also had Maxo Kream on the project for the official remix of "I <3 My Choppa." 


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About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise &amp; Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.