Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/16/2010

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/16/2010
May 19, 2010 11:05:00 PM CDT

by Allen Jacobs

Urban music made it back into the Top 10 last week, as Usher's Raymond v. Raymond crept back up for a #7 appearance. Pop sensation Justin Bieber, Country-Poppers Lady Antebellum and Indie Rock outfit The National held down the Top 3 respectively.
B.o.B. Presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray went to #13, still keeping the top of the charts dominated by Georgia talent. The Black Eyed Peas climbed back into the Top 20 with The E.N.D. as they have time and time again throughout the last year. The Interscope release has now cleared 2.5 million copies sold.
Ludacris and Monica returned to the Top 40, both neck-in-neck as they've been throughout their album campaigns with Battle of the Sexes and Still Standing respectively. Both efforts stand a chance at gold within the next couple months, as both just cleared the often-challenging 400,000 milestone

* 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

7

Usher

Raymond v. Raymond

43,000

680,000



13

B.o.B. Presents

The Adventures of Bobby Ray

27,000

148,000



19

Black Eyed Peas

The E.N.D.

19,000

2,518,000



29

Ludacris

Battle of the Sexes

14,000

405,000



32

Monica

Still Standing

13,000

406,000
Trina's Pop-inspired album, Amazin' and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Uni5: The World's Enemy closed out the Top 50. The Slip-N-Slide princess cleared 40,000 overall units, while a seemingly reunited Bone Thugs (complete with a freed Flesh-N-Bone and a semi-supportive Bizzy Bone) sit just under the mark. Both releases feature major label distribution, from EMI and Warner Brothers respectively.
Memphis veteran duo 8Ball & MJG went from working on Diddy's Bad Boy label to working on T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint with Ten Toes Down. Distributed through E1 Entertainment, the group's first official album in three years features Slim Thug, Soulja Boy, Bun B and of course T.I. The work sits just under 25,000 as their label-mate, B.o.B., reigns near the top of the charts.

One of B.o.B.'s album sidekicks, Bruno Mars, debuted at #99 with his EP It's Better If You Don't Understand. The Atlantic Records hopeful gained a lot of exposure through the hit of "Nothin' On You." Providence, Rhode Island's Sage Francis made a Top 200 debut with L(i)fe. Released on Anti Records (who works with The Coup and Busdriver), the release sees the former Anticon/Non-Prophets affiliate combine his dense, lyrical songwriting with musical backdrops courtesy of members of bands, Death Cab For Cutie, Granddaddy, DeVotchKa and others.


Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total

48

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Uni5: The World's Enemy

9,400

39,000



49

Trina

Amazin'

9,400

42,000



62

8Ball & MJG

Ten Toes Down

7,300

23,000



99

Bruno Mars

It's Better If You Don't Understand

5,400

5,400



137

Sage Francis L(i)fe 3,900

3,900

From HipHopDX.com
 
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11284/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-5-16-2010

Rick Ross' "Teflon Don" Pushes Back To July 6

Rick Ross' "Teflon Don" Pushes Back To July 6
May 18, 2010 02:05:00 PM CDT

by Allen Jacobs

Rick Ross announced recently that his fourth official album, Teflon Don was due on June 29. As of this morning, that album is now planned for July 6 release.
Teflon Don, named partially after Ross' Rap moniker (Tephlon Da Don) from his late '90s work with Erick Sermon and others, including an appearance on "Ain't Shit To Discuss" from the EPMD member's 2000 album, Def Squad Presents: Erick Onasis.
Although confirmations have yet to be made, Jay-Z and Kanye West reportedly worked on the Def Jam rapper's latest album. The single "Super High" featuring Ne-Yo, released over a week ago.
 
From HipHopDX.com
 
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11278/title.rick-ross-teflon-don-pushes-back-to-july-6

Game's "R.E.D." Album Delayed To July 6

Game's "R.E.D." Album Delayed To July 6
May 17, 2010 08:05:00 AM CDT | by Allen Jacobs

Tomorrow, iTunes is expected to begin selling Game's single "Ain't No Doubt About It" , but fans of the Compton emcee will have to wait another seven days to purchase his fourth major label album, R.E.D. Announced this past weekend, the album has moved from June 29 to July 6.

No longer sharing a release week with Diddy and Paul Wall, Game will now hit the shelves on the same planned week as Big Boi's Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty.



R.E.D. is co-executive produced by Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams, to be released on Aftermath/Star Trak/Interscope Records.

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11266/title.games-red-album-delayed-to-july-6

Pitbull Cancels Shows Due to Immigration Law

Pitbull Cancels Shows Due to Immigration Law
May 14, 2010 11:05:00 AM CDT | by Andres Tardio

Miami's Pitbull is heading out on his "Mr. Worldwide's Carnaval" tour but he will not make any stops in Phoenix. The artist known as Mr. 305 will do this protest Arizona's new, controversial immigration law.

“I am canceling my concert in Phoenix on May 31... How is the country we enjoy and love bcuz of its human rights, freedom, opportunity and that has been built by immigrants, now start 2 deny them??.. It is contradicting 2 everything the USA stands 4,” he announced on his Twitter page.

He will begin this "Worldwide" tour on May 25 and it will go through the end of June.

He isn't alone in doing this. Cypress Hill and others have also canceled shows due to this law. Pitbull is prepping the release of his first Spanish-only album, Armando, a tip of the hat to his real name Armando Perez. Fans can expect that album in the summer and another album, PlanetPit, in the Fall.

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11255/title.pitbull-cancels-shows-due-to-immigration-law

Juvenile Moves "Beast Mode" To July, Declares It A Summer Album

Juvenile Moves "Beast Mode" To July, Declares It A Summer Album
May 13, 2010 10:05:00 AM CDT | by Jake Paine

After last year's Cocky and Confident Atlantic Records release that was completely distributed by E1 Entertainment, veteran New Orleans rapper Juvenile is fully independent. E1 will solely handle Juvy's second release in less than a year, July 6's Beast Mode.

“The main reason for putting out this record in the summer is that it’s a summer album. I made this album for my fans, especially for my female fans out there," said Juvenile of the release.

Although details are still emerging, Juvenile will also use this opportunity to launch his UTP Records, who joins E1 in releasing the ninth official album from the platinum '90s and '00s emcee.

Juvenile's first single from Beast Mode is "Drop That Azz" .

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11246/title.juvenile-moves-beast-mode-to-july-declares-it-a-summer-album

Jay-Z and Eminem To Collaborate On New York and Detroit Shows

Jay-Z and Eminem To Collaborate On New York and Detroit Shows
Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:13 AM
By Houston Williams

(AllHipHop News) Jay-Z and Eminem are all set to join forces in a pair of concerts in each entertainer’s hometown

. At the New York show, the two rap giants will play the very first concert at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. That show is September.

A couple weeks before the New York show is the Detroit show on September 2 at Comerica Park.

Eminem made the announcement at game two of the Yankees and Detroit Tigers doubleheader in Detroit.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime set of shows, and I know we're both really going to bring it to our hometowns," Eminem said Wednesday. "The fans are going to love this and so am I. It's going to be historic."

The pair also collaborated on the popular DJ Hero video game earlier this year.

From AllHipHop.com

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/05/13/22215661.aspx

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/9/2010

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/9/2010
May 12, 2010 10:05:00 AM CDT | by Allen Jacobs

After reclaiming the #1 spot last week with B.o.B. Presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray, urban releases lost the first 10 places on the charts this week. The Atlantic Records sensation's debut even gave way (by two spots) to Usher's Raymond v. Raymond, who claimed the #10 spot. Usher's conceptual "divorce album" is marching towards platinum for the LaFace legend.



Two new Rap releases took the Top 15, both from veterans. Trina's Pop-inspired album, Amazin' sold over 30,000 first week units. The Miami mami's latest record featured Nicki Minaj, Keri Hilson and Diddy, giving the Slip-N-Slide Records diamond princees a musical makeover after two dismal releases. The top-selling Rap group of all time, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony fell one spot behind, at #14, with their Warner Brothers debut. Another more Top 40-minded effort, this release, Uni5: The World's Enemy marked the full reunion with Bizzy Bone and Flesh-N-Bone rejoining the constant three members. Despite its radio intentions, the effort was largely produced by core Bone producer, DJ U-Neek.

Another Ruthless Records alumni group, The Black Eyed Peas, fell to #27 with The E.N.D. after the swarm of new album debuts.

* 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
10
Usher
Raymond v. Raymond
51,000
637,000

12
B.o.B. Presents
The Adventures of Bobby Ray
36,000
120,000

13
Trina
Amazin'
32,000
32,000

14
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Uni5: The World's Enemy
29,000
30,000

27
Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
23,000
2,499,000




Memphis veteran duo 8Ball & MJG went from working on Diddy's Bad Boy label to working on T.I.'s Grand Hustle imprint with Ten Toes Down. Distributed through E1 Entertainment, the group's first official album in three years features Slim Thug, Soulja Boy, Bun B and of course T.I. The group entered the Top 40, selling over 15,000 first week units.

DXnext artist and Los Angeles-based producer Flying Lotus saw his latest release, Cosmogramma debut in the Top 100. This third LP sees work with tour buddy, Thom Yorke of Radiohead as well as frequent collaborator Laura Darlington. The Warp Records artist has previously produced for Hip Hop acts such as Detroit's Finale and others.

Cypress Hill's first group album in six years, Rise Up, fell out of the Top 100. The trio (along with percussionist Eric Bobo) released the album on the revamped Priority Records, boasting collaboration with Pete Rock and Pitbull.

Drake's So Far Gone may see a push to gold with his June release of Thank Me Later. Widely considered an EP, The Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown release cleared 450,000 units last week. Wu-Tang Clan member trio Ghostface Killah, Method Man & Raekwon's Wu-Massacre hung on to the Top 200 at #199. The critically-praised collaboration was released on the Def Jam imprint, and boasts production from Scram Jones and RZA. The work has cleared 65,000 units to date.

Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
36
8Ball & MJG
Ten Toes Down
16,000
16,000

87
Flying Lotus
Cosmogramma
6,400
6,800

105
Cypress Hill Rise Up 5,900
31,000

119
Drake
So Far Gone
5,200
453,000

199
Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon Wu Massacre 2,900
67,000

From HipHopDX.com

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11235/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-5-9-2010

Tupac's Mom Catches Break In Drug Arrest, Court Hearing Delayed Through Summer

News: Tupac's Mom Catches Break In Drug Arrest, Court Hearing Delayed Through Summer
Monday, May 10, 2010 6:00PM

Written by Biz Jones

Late rapper Tupac Shakur's mother, Afeni, reportedly caught a break in her recent drug arrest as today's court hearing was delayed until August.

According to reports, the court appearance has been rescheduled.

A court hearing for the mother of slain rapper Tupac Shakur has been rescheduled. Agents with the state division of Alcohol Law Enforcement charged 63-year-old Afeni Shakur Davis on April 16 with felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance and simple possession of a controlled substance. A hearing scheduled for this morning in Robeson County District Court was continued until Aug. 24. (Fay Observer News)
Afeni was reportedly arrested on April 16 in North Carolina.

The mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur was arrested earlier this month by state alcohol agents. Afeni Shakur Davis, 63, of the 2900 block of Crystal Lane in Lumberton, was charged April 16 with felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance and simple possession of a controlled substance. (Fay Observer)
Afeni later posted a jail bond to avoid spending time behind bars.

She is out of jail on a $10,000 bond, and her court date is scheduled for May 10. Shakur is a Lumberton native who is best known for her work as a political activist and former Black Panther. She also is the mother of rapper Tupac, who was gunned down in Las Vegas in 1996. His murder remains unsolved. Since her son's death, Afeni has managed Tupac's unreleased music and poetry, selling millions of albums since his death. (ABC News)
Last year, Ms. Shakur was involved in a legal suit based on an alleged pre-planned Tupac biopic.

According to the complaint, a written contract was in place for life rights, with Morgan Creek claiming that Amaru is "refus(ing) to honor and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur." The company seeks damages and other relief. But late Wednesday (February 18), Amaru's lawyers denied the existence of a deal. (Billboard)

From SOHH.com

http://www.sohh.com/2010/05/tupacs_mom_catches_break_in_drug_arrest.html