Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/18/2010
April 21, 2010 01:04:00 PM CDT | by Allen Jacobs
Sony's Electro-Pop duo MGMT were surprise chart climbers on their last album. However, the Brooklyn-based group that's worked with Kid Cudi and Jim Jones saw Congratulations debut at #2 behind Justin Bieber. Usher and his divorce ode Raymond v. Raymond fell to #4, making the LaFace release a prime suspect to cross the gold 500,000 unit mark next week.
Monica slid to #9 with her Still Standing. The J Records artist maintained a Top 10 position with an album that features production from Missy Elliott and Jim Jonsin. Monica's Atlanta neighbor Ludacris, who appears on Still Standing, went to #13 with Battle of the Sexes.
Sade bounced back in a major way. The Epic Records release shot back to #12, having already taken a platinum tour through the charts with her latest album, Soldier of Love.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
2
MGMT
Congratulations
66,000
67,000
4
Usher
Raymond v. Raymond
64,000
486,000
9
Monica
Still Standing
30,000
334,000
12
Sade
Soldier of Love
25,000
1,100,000
13
Ludacris
Battle of the Sexes
25,000
335,000
Gucci Mane's retail mixtape, Burrrprint [2] HD sold just under 20,000 units for Warner Brothers/Asylum. The Brick Squad 1017 release made a Top 20 debut, giving the incarcerated Atlanta rapper two charted album, with his State vs. Radric Davis also at #89.
Wu-Tang Clan member trio Ghostface Killah, Method Man & Raekwon's Wu-Massacre skidded 30 more spots to #67. As predicted, the Def Jam album did cross the 50,000 unit mark. The warmly-received project features special packaging and production from RZA and Mathematics.
With their fourth installment together, Fornever, Murs & 9th Wonder exceeded the 5,000 mark. Debuting at #84, this release through SMC Recordings was made in Los Angeles, featuring native sons such as Kurupt, Suga Free and Sick Jacken.
E-40 crossed the 20,000 mark individually with both Revenue Retrievin' Night Shift and Revenue Retrievin' Day Shift. With the latter pulling ahead, 40 Water's first album with EMI Records proves to be a success when looked at collectively.
Lastly, Snoop Dogg's leftovers/companion release to Malice N' Wonderland, More Malice inches towards 50,000. The Priority/EMI Records release features Jay-Z, Soulja Boy and Bun B.
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
19
Gucci Mane
Burrrprint [2] HD
19,000
20,000
67
Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Wu Massacre
6,600
56,000
84
Murs & 9th Wonder
Fornever
5,400
5,500
126
E-40
Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift
3,700
21,000
142
Snoop Dogg
More Malice
3,400
34,000
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11085/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-4-18-2010
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/28/2010
March 03, 2010 10:03:00 AM CST | by Allen Jacobs
Sade battled off Lady Antebellum for another week to maintain her #1 spot for a third week with Soldier Of Love. With more television appearances coming, the veteran Jazz/Soul vocalists is enjoying a comeback after nearly a decade hiatus. Her Epic Records project is also a celebrated success to the label who's biggest enjoyment last year was a posthumous Michael Jackson compilation. The 51 year-old singer is likely to reach platinum by month's end.
The Black Eyed Peas enjoyed their 38th week on the charts. The group fell one spot of their Interscope Records release The E.N.D. Already at double platinum, a new video "Imma Be Rocking That Body," has will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and Apl.De.Ap staying as close to the top of the charts as they've been in months. will.i.am will soon be working on Usher's Raymond v. Raymond.
Lil Wayne's Rebirth slipped one spot too, as Wayne suggests that a video will surface within a month of his collaboration with Eminem for "Drop The World" . With radio support and Wayne remaining free indefinitely, Rebirth could have platinum potential. Alicia Keys' Element Of Freedom fell out of the Top 10 last week. The platinum release was rivaled in week sales by Rihanna's dark outcry, Rated R.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandeth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
1
Sade
Soldier Of Love
127,000
820,000
4 Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
50,000
2,181,000
6
Lil Wayne
Rebirth
38,000
361,000
13
Alicia Keys
Element of Freedom
24,000
1,102,000
14
Rihanna
Rated R
24,000
688,000
Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 and Eminem's Relapse remain cemented on the Top 200, with 25 and 41 weeks on the chart respectively. Jay-Z already began speaking about his next album, reportedly his first with Sony Records, two weeks ago.
50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct has crossed the 400,000 mark and heads towards platinum in what appears to be his final Interscope album after a tremendous eight year run. Close behind, Drake hopes to take his debut EP, So Far Gone to 400,000 next week, which remains groundbreaking for an album that few people are recognizing as "official," based on its free download beginnings.
Freeway & Jake One's The Stimulus Package fell nearly 100 places between its debut and sophomore week. Free's first "official" independent album, this on the Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers label was supported with a whole album's worth of production from Seattle's most prolific producer, Jake One. The album features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, Raekwon and Freeway's latest label employer, Birdman. More videos from the project are expected soon, though radio has not embraced the independent project.
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
37
Jay-Z Blueprint 3
13,000
1,645,000
52
Eminem Relapse
11,000
1,864,000
63
50 Cent
Before I Self Destruct
8,400
411,100
78
Drake
So Far Gone
7,100
394,000
158
Freeway & Jake One
The Stimulus Package
3,500
13,000
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10753/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-2-28-2010
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/21/2010
February 24, 2010 11:02:00 PM CST | by Allen Jacobs
Sade defended her #1 turf for a second straight week with Soldier Of Love. With more television appearances coming, the veteran Jazz/Soul vocalists is enjoying a comeback after nearly a decade hiatus. Her Epic Records project is also a celebrated success to the label who's biggest enjoyment last year was a posthumous Michael Jackson compilation. The 51 year-old Nigerian-born singer also owned her spot by a margin of nearly 50,000 units.
The Black Eyed Peas have impressed the charts for close to nine months. Still, the group's return to #3 suggests that their June of 2009 Interscope Records release The E.N.D. isn't anywhere close to losing momentum. Already at double platinum, a new video "Imma Be Rocking That Body," has will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and Apl.De.Ap staying as close to the top of the charts as they've been in months. Later this year, will.i.am and his label are going to be releasing Kelis' first album since her highly-publicized split with Nas.
Lil Wayne's Rebirth may reach gold before the New Orleans-born super-star sees jail-time. The Cash Money/Universal Motown release remains in the Top 5, as Wayne suggests that a video will surface within a month of his collaboration with Eminem for "Drop The World" . With radio support for that as a single, Rebirth could have platinum potential.
Two R&B acts closed out the Top 10 last week. Alicia Keys' Element Of Freedom readies for a new single and perhaps more traction while Jaheim's Another Round heads towards 200,000 units. The 31 year-old New Jersey native's album features Jadakiss on the "Ain't Leavin' Without You (Remix)" from his fifth album.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandeth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
1
Sade
Soldier Of Love
190,000
694,000
3 Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
65,000
2,131,000
5
Lil Wayne
Rebirth
58,000
324,000
7
Alicia Keys
Element of Freedom
39,000
1,078,000
8
Jaheim
Another Round
36,000
148,000
Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 and Eminem's Relapse both remained in the Top 50 for another week. Jay-Z already began speaking about his next album, reportedly his first with Sony Records, last week.
Freeway & Jake One's The Stimulus Package entered the charts at #61. Free's first "official" independent album, this on the Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers label was supported with a whole album's worth of production from Seattle's most prolific producer, Jake One. The album features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, Raekwon and Freeway's latest label employer, Birdman.
Gold Dust/K7 Records released a compilation of largely recycled and alternate tracks from various Wu-Tang Clan members. All produced by longtime Method Man deejay and "Mighty Healthy" producer Mathematics, Return of the Wu & Friends was a notable appearance from the label home to Zion I, Soul Asssasins and Crown City Rockers. The compilation, which includes rare work from Ol' Dirty Bastard, scanned nearly 3,500 first week units on the indie.
New Orleans Funk/Jazz outfit Galactic's eighth album Ya Ka May fell 48 spots to close out the Top 200. The Anti Records group told DX that they are soon to be at work on a full length album with former Jurassic 5 emcee Chali 2na.
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
32
Jay-Z Blueprint 3
16,000
1,631,000
45
Eminem Relapse
14,000
1,853,000
61
Freeway & Jake One
The Stimulus Package
9,000
9,100
163
Mathematics
Return of the Wu & Friends
3,400
3,400
200
Galactic
Ya-Ka-May
2,700
7,800
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10702/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-2-21-2010
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/14/2010
February 17, 2010 03:02:00 PM CST | by Allen Jacobs
Sade soldiered through with her Soldier Of Love. The 51 year-old Nigerian singer not only debuted at #1, but she scanned over 500,000 first week domestic units. The Sony release, her first album in a decade shocked the charts this week, as Sade is still getting radio adds and doing limited press. The Soul/Jazz vocalist is said to be appearing on Drake's Thank Me Later later this year, her first Rap album appearance since 2001's "Hard Time Hustlin'" with Krayzie Bone.
Split between bumped Country/Pop act Lady Antebellum, another R&B star debuted at #3. Atlantic Records' Jaheim's Another Round performed strongly, selling over 100,000 copies. The 31 year-old New Jersey native's album features Jadakiss on the "Ain't Leavin' Without You (Remix)" from his fifth album.
Lil Wayne's Rebirth sold under 100,000 second-week units. The Cash Money/Universal Motown artist will remain a free man from a postponed sentencing to Riker's Island Correctional Facility, but Wayne's limited in marketing the Rock-inspired album largely produced by Cool & Dre.
The Black Eyed Peas are officially double platinum. The E.N.D. just introduced a new single, "Imma Be Rocking That Body," as Interscope may find a new one-two punch to go along with Eminem in Rap/Pop sales. Alicia Keys' Element Of Freedom also officially crossed the platinum mark, which all three of her previous albums have done.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandeth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
1
Sade
Soldier Of Love
502,000
503,000
3 Jaheim
Another Round
112,000
112,000
4
Lil Wayne
Rebirth
89,000
265,000
8
Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
67,000
2,066,000
12
Alicia Keys
Element of Freedom
40,000
1,039,000
Lil Wayne and teammates' We Are Young Money crossed the 300,000 line. The album, along with Rebirth, will likely remain on the charts through to Drake's Thank Me Later, presently due in April or May.
Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 and Eminem's Relapse both remained in the Top 50. Both releases have double-platinum aspirations, particularly Jay-Z's one-album distribution deal with Atlantic Records, who's biggest star, T.I., was unable to release a 2009 album due to his jail sentence.
Two Rap-related releases cracked the charts last week. New Orleans Funk/Jazz outfit Galactic's eighth album Ya Ka May debuted at #152. The Anti Records group has frequently worked with The Coup, and may have a full-length on the way with a Jurassic 5 member. HipHopDX will report more on that this month. Poet/singer and Rap pioneer Gil Scott-Heron's I'm New Here sold just under 4,000 debut week units. The XL Records album features Kanye West soundbeds, as well as some public support from Mos Def.
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
41
Young Money
We Are Young Money
20,000
311,000
43
Jay-Z Blueprint 3
19,000
1,615,000
48
Eminem
Relapse
16,000
1,840,000
142
Galactic
Ya-Ka-May
4,900
5,100
181
Gil Scott-Heron
I'm New Here
3,700
3,900
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10652/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-2-14-2010
Hip Hop Reacts To Sade's Return, Soldier Of Love
February 12, 2010 08:53:00 AM CST | by Slava Kuperstein
With Sade's return coming in the form of Soldier of Love, her first album in a decade, nearly everyone had a reaction of some sort.
As such, a number of rappers recently shared their thoughts on the singer's momentous return with NYMag.com.
Legendary rapper Rakim spoke on Sade's influence on him. "I grew up on soul music, but when my pops introduced me to Sade just before Diamond Life hit, it was a revelation. That voice and her style just took out even the hardest hood at the knees. 'Smooth Operator' may have been a smash for everyone worldwide, but that was my track, and you can catch me referencing what she was trying to get across from Paid in Full up to my new album."
Both members of the Clipse also spoke in the matter. Pusha T chose to look back on his introduction to Sade's music. "I remember being turned on to Sade by an older cousin I used to break dance with ... me still being young, [I] couldn't understand why in the hell he was listening to 'old people music.' He used to cook me steak-ums and play Sade on repeat!!!!!! After a summer of that, I was hooked ... Thanks, Why!!" Malice spoke of his "favorite Sade moment," which "was when Julie Knapp brought me into her office and showed me the album cover, and I was like, "She looks better than ever, her face, complexion, the body, the hair ... " Then Julie played the single and the voice was just as melodic, soothing, and hypnotizing as I had remembered. I guess God-given talent never misses a step. Guess who's back?"
Joell Ortiz intimated his emotional reaction to Sade's music, revealing that it reminded him of difficult times. "I always think of the song 'Ordinary Love' whenever someone brings up Sade, because that song came out around the time my dad bounced. After he left, my mom used to sit in her room, getting high while listening to 'Ordinary Love' over and over again for weeks. That was saddest time of my young life. Whenever I hear that song, I well up with tears."
Others who spoke on the singer's return included Missy Elliott, Talib Kweli, Keri Hilson, and Freeway.
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10617/title.hip-hop-reacts-to-sades-return-soldier-of-love
