Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/12/2010

by Allen Jacobs

posted September 15, 2010 at 6:32AM MST

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Eminem's "Recovery" officially out-sells "Relapse," while Atmosphere, Young Buck, Fabolous and Dorrough all crack the charts.

Eminem's Recovery officially outsold Relapse this week. Although Recovery's critical response and awards have far exceded the emcee/producer's 2009 return album, the numbers now suggest the same. Earlier this week, Eminem spoke to The New York Post about the two releases, noting his own disapproval of some of Relapse's deliveries. Recovery came in at #2 this week, behind singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles' Kaleidoscope Heart. The Aftermath/Interscope release has now cleared 2.5 million units.

Drake's Thank Me Later sat at #13 last week, three units higher than the previous. The Toronto emcee, along with Eminem, B.o.B. and Kanye West was among Rap's performers at Sunday night's MTV 2010 Video Music Awards. TML's "Fancy," featuring Mary J Blige and Swizz Beatz was Drake's song of choice.

Usher's EP, Versus held the #15 spot. The supplementary release to this year's Raymond v. Raymond fell just two spots. Drumma Boy, Polow Da Don and Jim Jonsin are amoung the producers on the EP, which cleared 85,000 units. Another R&B star, Lyfe Jennings has released his final album in I Still Believe. The Toledo, Ohio singer's latest release from Warner Brothers/Asylum Records features Anthony Hamilton. Jennings has previously indicated he will leave music after this year, after a meaningful-yet-short six-year career.

Rick Ross approaches 400,000 units sold with Teflon Don. The Def Jam rapper's fourth official album features work from veterans such as No I.D., DJ Clark Kent and Cee-Lo. The Miami, Florida rapper also made a brief cameo at the MTV VMA's this past week, in a sketch with host Chelsea Handler.

* 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	Eminem	Recovery	81,000	2,501,000
13	Drake	Thank Me Later	18,000	1,051,000
15	Usher	Versus	17,000	85,000
22	Lyfe Jennings	I Still Believe	14,000	50,000
24	Rick Ross	Teflon Don	13,000	382,000

New releases dominated the 35-100 place of the charts.

Veteran Minneapolis, Minnesota duo Atmosphere released a digital-exclusive 12-track collection called To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy. Released on their own Rhymesayers Entertainment imprint, the work is billed as a double EP. The work sold nearly 10,000 first week units, despite little marketing, further solidifying the RSE strength with fans.

New material from Young Buck surfaced in Rehab. Released on Real Talk Entertainment, and distributed my Fontana, the collection of songs have been officially licensed by the onetime G-Unit member, however sources close to the Nashville, Tennessee star assert that this is not to be considered his third album, after two previous big budget releases through Interscope. Veteran Bad Azz and Bizzy Bone producer Big Hollis handled a bulk of the beats for this collection of songs that sold over 6,000 first week units.

The latest in the retail mixtape movement, Brooklyn, New York star Fabolous released There Is No Competition 2: The Grieving Mixtape through Def Jam Records. The Street Fam head's EP release features Cam'ron, Red Cafe, Vado and production from Ryan Leslie. After two weeks on the charts, the sequel to Fab's acclaimed No Competition installement has sold nearly 20,000 units.

Dallas, Texas rapper Durrough sold over 5,000 units of his sophomore album, Get Big. The E1 Entertainment homegrown sensation featured label-mates on his release such as Juvenile, Slim Thug and Jim Jones.

Rank	Artist	Album	This Week	Est. Total
37	Atmosphere	To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy	9,400	9,400
55	Young Buck	The Rehab	6,400	6,400
61	Fabolous	There Is No Competition 2: The Grieving Mixtape	5,700	18,000
67	Durrough	Get Big	5,500	5,500
86	Eminem	Relapse	4,600	2,049,000

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12233/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-9-12-2010

Young Buck Released From G-Unit Contract, Sources Say

News: Young Buck Released From G-Unit Contract, Sources Say


Sunday, Aug 29, 2010 9:38PM



Written by Cyrus Langhorne

Former G-Unit member Young Buck has reportedly been released from contractual obligations to G-Unit Records according to inside sources.



While an official confirmation has yet to surface, reports have begun circulating online.



A 100% reliable source just told us that 50 Cent has let Young Buck out of his contract with G-Unit. In April 2008 50 Cent announced on Hot 97 that Young Buck was kicked out the group, but was still contractually signed to G-Unit. Since that time, Buck has been unable to release any commercial music. Buck is currently working his new single "My Campaign", produced by Drumma Boy. It will be interesting what he does with his new position. If he can get singles reacting on the radio, he get into a good position. But considering the amount of time that he's been off the radar, it will be an uphill climb for Young Buck. (57th Ave)

Early Sunday afternoon, Buck promised to make a forthcoming announcement.



"The Official Annoucement COMING SOON!!!," he tweeted. (Young Buck's Twitter)

Buck recently said he believed 50 is solely focused on forcing him to financially crumble.



"Listen, in those three years since I've been away from G-Unit, have you once heard 50 Cent say 'I want this much for Buck to get out of his contract or anything like that?' No! So that right there should be enough to understand the kind of situation that I'm in," Buck pointed out in an interview. "All I need is the support of the people right now. 50's been on a mission to starve me out...I'm still stuck contractually. I haven't spoken to anyone from G-Unit in three years including 50 and I still have albums left over there." (VIBE)

Buck is currently preparing the release of his new album, The Rehab.



This new street album from Young Buck features 14 brand new tracks, which are all produced by Big Hollis, Cozmo and Vince V. This album has been highly anticipated for the last few years, with Young Buck stating to MTV that this album would sell over a million copies in its first week. "The Rehab" is being released on September 7th by Real Talk Entertainment and is executive produced by its CEO, Derrick "Sac" Johnson, who had the following to say regarding its release: "We are very excited about working with Young Buck on this project. This project has been in the works for years, before 50 Cent and G-Unit. Young Buck is an international superstar and we are extremely proud to be releasing his street album, The Rehab. (Press Release)
 
From SOHH.com
 
http://www.sohh.com/2010/08/young_buck_released_from_g-unit_contract.html