Black History Month: A Celebration of the World’s All-Time Best-Selling Albums by Black Artists

As part of our continued coverage for Black History Month, American Songwriter wants to take a moment to highlight a list of the world’s best-selling albums of all time by Black artists.

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Some of these names may be familiar, some of the albums might be in your musical Rolodex, but some may be unfamiliar—heck, some may become your new favorites!

But let’s dive in and check out who made the albums, how many they sold, and above all else, who is on the list?

1. Michael Jackson

Thriller (No. 1 all time of any artist): over 70 million sold.

Buy Thriller now on Amazon

2. Whitney Houston and Various Artists

The Bodyguard Soundtrack (No. 3 all time): over 45 million sold

Buy The Bodyguard now on Amazon

3. Michael Jackson

Bad (No. 12 all time): over 35 million sold

Buy Bad now on Amazon

4. Michael Jackson

Dangerous (No. 14 all time): over 32 million sold

Buy Dangerous now on Amazon

5. Mariah Carey

Music Box (No. 34 all time): over 28 million sold

Buy Music Box now on Amazon

6. Bob Marley & The Wailers

Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers (No. 40 all time): 25 million sold

Buy Legend now on Amazon

7. Prince and The Revolution

Purple Rain (No. 47 all time): 25 million sold

Buy Purple Rain now on Amazon

8. Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston (No. 55 all time): 22 million sold

Buy Whitney Houston now on Amazon

9. The Fugees

The Score (No. 56 all time): 22 million sold

Buy The Score now on Amazon

10. Michael Jackson

HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1 (No. 58 all time): 22 million sold

Buy HIStory now on Amazon

11. Michael Jackson

Off The Wall (No. 62 all time): 20 million sold

Buy Off The Wall now on Amazon

12. Lauryn Hill

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (No. 63 all time): 20 million sold

Buy The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill now on Amazon

13. Lionel Richie

Can’t Slow Down (No. 70 all time): 20 million sold

Buy Can’t Slow Down now on Amazon

14. Mariah Carey

Daydream (No. 71 all time): 20 million sold

Buy Daydream now on Amazon

15. Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman (No 75 all time): 20 million sold

Buy Tracy Chapman now on Amazon

16. Whitney Houston

Whitney (No. 77 all time) 20 million sold

Buy Whitney now on Amazon