The late, great Ol’ Dirty Bastard once rhymed about “the gold and platinum frisbees on the wall, lookin’ properly,” on Wu-Tang Forever’s “Reunited.” Nearly 15 years later, it’s a lot harder to earn these medals of commercial success. However, in 2011 a handful of artists did just that, several times over.

With a new year upon us, HipHopDX presents this breakdown of plaque-earners to you, featuring first-timers Big Sean and J. Cole, along with superstars like Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne and Drake. With digital albums and singles a growing trend, last year was defined by artists with dedicated fan-bases and carefully-built movements.

2011 Rap Albums And Singles That Went Gold And Platinum

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RELATED: Infographic – Precious Medals: The 2010 Hip Hop Gold & Platinum Plaques