Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, together known as Silk Sonic, were awarded a new certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Their collaborative 2021 album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, is now certified platinum, with U.S. sales surpassing more than one million equivalent units. Released in November 2021, the celebrated body of work entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2, and atop the Top R&B Albums chart, with 104,000 equivalent units. It held the latter title for two weeks.
Before year-end, An Evening with Silk Sonic placed No. 7 on Rated R&B’s Best R&B Albums of 2021 list. Editor Keithan Samuels described it as “a concept album arranged like an intimate live show.”
Nearly every song on An Evening with Silk Sonic was co-produced by Mars and D’Mile, including the duo’s debut single “Leave The Door Open,” released in March 2021. Silk Sonic’s breakout hit soared up Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart in four weeks, a record for a duo.
It would also take possession of Hot 100’s top spot for two non-consecutive weeks. A few months later, “Leave The Door Open” became certified 2x multi-platinum, exceeding sales of two million equivalent units.
The Motown-inspired jam would eventually win Silk Sonic a truckload of other accolades, including four 2022 Grammys, two of which were in the big four categories (Song and Record of the Year).
An Evening with Silk Sonic produced other notable singles, including “Skate,” “Smokin Out the Window,” and “After Last Night.” The latter serenade, rising on R&B radio, features the legendary Bootsy Collins and Thundercat. It currently stands at No. 14 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, following in the footsteps of their successful Con Funk remake “Love’s Train.”
On Aug. 26, Silk Sonic will release the long-awaited vinyl for An Evening With Silk Sonic. They’re available as three separate exclusives via their official webstore, Target and Wal-Mart. Standard versions will also be made available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Then, on Aug. 28, Silk Sonic will find out if they’ll be carrying home Group of the Year at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. The ceremony, anchored by LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, airs live at 8 p.m. local time.
Revisit Silk Sonic’s latest single “After Last Night” below.