Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album and was released on September 24, 1991. It was certified gold just over two months later on November 26, 1991, and certified platinum on April 1, 1992; since then it has gone seven times multi-platinum in the United States.  Produced by Rick Rubin, it was the band's first record released on Warner Bros. Records.

The album became the Chili Peppers' introduction into popularity and critical acclaim. Blood Sugar Sex Magik produced many hits for the band. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was praised as a foundation for alternative rock in the 1990s.