Fabolous’ Street Classic “Breathe” Goes Platinum 20 Years After Its Release

Fabolous is finally receiving long-overdue recognition for one of his most iconic tracks, “Breathe,” which has officially gone platinum two decades after its release.

The song, originally released in 2004, was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 27th, 2024, after reaching one million units sold. It’s an incredible milestone for a track that has withstood the test of time, with its success peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for 20 weeks.

Produced by Just Blaze, “Breathe” was the lead single from Fabolous’ “Real Talk” album. Complex even ranked it as the 60th greatest song of the 2000s. Despite its longevity, it took an impressive 20 years for the track to achieve platinum status, proving the staying power of this fan favorite.

The certification came just days after Fabolous’s 47th birthday, November 18th, serving as the perfect gift to help him celebrate. Fab previously shared with Carmelo Anthony and Mero on “7PM in Brooklyn” that he initially recorded “Breathe” in an effort to break away from his female-friendly commercial hits, such as “So Into You” and “Can’t Let You Go.” Unbeknownst to Fab, the gritty street banger would become one of his biggest releases to date.