Hip-hop, for the most part, has always been about the commercial. Which debut sold the best? Which rapper had the highest first week sales? Which mixtape had the most downloads? Which album moved the most units? You can think what you want but from the very beginning, hip-hop has been about flashing your money and stunting on people.
From Jay-Z to Eminem, Lauryn Hill to 2Pac, 50 Cent to Nelly; let’s take a look at the best selling hip-hop albums of all time.
20. Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Released: September 29, 1998
Label: Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam Recordings
Units sold: 5.4 million
19. Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
Released: February 23, 1999
Label: Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
Units sold: 5.4 million
Released: November 23, 1993
Label: Death Row/Priority Records
Units sold: 5.5 million
17. 2Pac – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Released: November 5, 1996
Label: Death Row/Interscope Records
Units sold: 6 million
Released: February 13, 1996
Label: Columbia Records
Units sold: 6.1 million
Released: June 25, 2002
Label: Universal Records
Units sold: 6.5 million
14. Vanilla Ice – To the Extreme
Released: August 28, 1990
Label: Capitol Records
Units sold: 7 million
13. Dr. Dre – 2001
Released: November 16, 1999
Label: Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
Units sold: 7.6 million
12. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Released: August 25, 1998
Label: Ruffhouse/Columbia Records
Units sold: 8 million
11. Nelly – Country Grammar
Released: June 27, 2000
Label: Universal Records
Units sold: 8.5 million
10. 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Released: February 6, 2003
Label: Shady/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
Units sold: 8.9 million
Released: February 13, 1996
Label: Death Row/Interscope Records
Units sold: 9 million
8. Will Smith – Big Willie Style
Released: November 25, 1997
Label: Columbia Records
Units sold: 9 million
7. Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
Released: November 15, 1986
Label: Def Jam Recordings
Units sold: 9 million
Released: November 24, 1998
Label: Death Row/Interscope Records
Units sold: 10 million
5. MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em
Released: February 12, 1990
Label: Capitol Records
Units sold: 10 million
Released: May 28, 2002
Label: Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
Units sold: 10.1 million
3. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Released: March 25, 1997
Label: Bad Boy Records
Units sold: 10.2 million
2. OutKast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Released: September 23, 2003
Label: LaFace/Arista Records
Units sold: 11 million
1. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Released: May 23, 2000
Label: Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
Units sold: 11 million
