There’s no reason for Nas to be as commercially successful as he is. When you look at other rappers with multiple number one albums – Eminem, Jay Z, Kanye – it makes sense because their music is tailored for the masses.

Nas, on the other hand, has singles like “Made You Look”, “One Mic” and “Nas Is Like.” Definitely not in the same vein as “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)”, “Gold Digger” or “Lose Yourself.”

And yet, over the past 20 plus years, Nas has put out over 15 projects, including six number one albums, with over half of them going platinum. Now in 2022, the New York rap legend is still going strong. Rejuvenated by his newly-formed partnership with Hit-Boy, Nas has dropped three albums in under two years, starting a resurgence never seen before by a rapper 30 years deep in his career.

Here are the rankings for Nas’ first week album sales, from Illmatic to his latest released, 2022’s King’s Disease III .

Magic – first week album sales

Nas Magic

Released: December 24, 2021

Label: Mass Appeal

First week album sales: 22,000

Billboard 200 position: 27

Singles: N/A

Features: ASAP Rocky and DJ Premier.

The Lost Tapes 2 – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Lost Tapes Ii

Released: July 19, 2019

Label: Mass Appeal, Def Jam

First week album sales: 23,000

Billboard 200 position: 10

Singles: “Jarreau of Rap (Skatt Attack)”

Features: RaVaughn, David Ranier, Swizz Beatz, J. Myers, Al Jarreau and Keyon Harrold.

King’s Disease III – first week album sales

Nas Kings Disease Iii

Released: November 11, 2022

Label: Mass Appeal

First week album sales: 29,000

Billboard 200 position: 10

Singles: N/A

Features: N/A

King’s Disease – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Kings Disease

Released: August 21, 2020

Label: Mass Appeal

First week album sales: 47,000

Billboard 200 position: 5

Singles: “Ultra Black”

Features: Charlie Wilson, Hit-Boy, Big Sean, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, Anderson .Paak, Brucie B, The Firm, Fivio Foreign, and ASAP Ferg.

King’s Disease II – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Kings Disease Ii

Released: August 6, 2021

Label: Mass Appeal

First week album sales: 52,000

Billboard 200 position: 3

Singles: “Rare”

Features: Eminem, EPMD, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, YG, Lauryn Hill, Charlie Wilson, Blxst, and Hit-Boy.

Distant Relatives (with Damian Marley) – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Distant Relatives

Released: May 18, 2010

Label: Universal Republic, Def Jam

First week album sales: 57,000

Billboard 200 position: 5

Singles: “As We Enter”, “Strong Will Continue”, “My Generation”

Features: K’naan, Stephen Marley, Dennis Brown, Junior Reid, Joss Stone and Lil Wayne.

Illmatic – first week album sales

25 Greatest Years In Hip Hop History Illmatic

Released: April 19, 1994

Label: Columbia

First week album sales: 59,000

Billboard 200 position: 12

Singles: “Halftime”, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”, “Life’s a Bitch”, “The World Is Yours”, “One Love”

Features: AZ

The Lost Tapes – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Lost Tapes

Released: September 23, 2002

Label: Ill Will, Columbia

First week album sales: 70,000

Billboard 200 position: 10

Singles: N/A

Features: N/A

Nasir – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Nasir

Released: June 15, 2018

Label: Mass Appeal, Def Jam

First week album sales: 77,000

Billboard 200 position : 5

Singles: N/A

Features: Puff Daddy, 070 Shake, Kanye West, Tony Williams, and The-Dream.

The Album (as The Firm) – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales The Firm

Released: October 21, 1997

Label: Aftermath, Interscope

First week album sales: 147,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Firm Biz”, “Phone Tap”

Features: Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga and Half-a-Mill.

Life is Good – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Life Is Good

Released: July 13, 2012

Label: Def Jam

First week album sales: 149,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Nasty”, “The Don”, “Daughters”, “Cherry Wine”

Features: Large Professor, Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, Miguel, and, Amy Winehouse.

God’s Son – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Gods Son

Released: December 13, 2002

Label: Ill Will, Columbia

First week album sales: 156,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Made You Look”, “I Can”, “Get Down”

Features: Bravehearts, 2Pac, J. Phoenix, Alicia Keys, Lake, Jully Black, Kelis and Claudette Ortiz.

Untitled – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Untitled

Released: July 11, 2008

Label: Def Jam, Columbia, The Jones Experience

First week album sales: 187,078

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Hero”, “Make the World Go Round”

Features: Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Busta Rhymes, and The Game.

Street’s Disciple – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Streets Disciple

Released: November 30, 2004

Label: Ill Will, Columbia

First week album sales: 232,000

Billboard 200 position: 5

Singles: “Thief’s Theme”, “Bridging the Gap”, “Just a Moment”

Features: Kelis, Scarlett, Quan, Emily, Busta Rhymes, Olu Dara, Ludacris, Doug E. Fresh, Maxwell, Keon Bryce.

Nastradamus – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Nastradamus

Released: November 23, 1999

Label: Ill Will, Columbia

First week album sales: 232,000

Billboard 200 position: 7

Singles: “Nastradamus”, “You Owe Me”

Features: Ronald Isley, Nashawn, Mobb Deep, Bravehearts, Ginuwine.

It Was Written – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales It Was Written

Released: July 2 1996

Label: Columbia

First week album sales: 268,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”, “Street Dreams”, “The Message”

Features: Foxy Brown, AZ, Cormega, Dr. Dre, Havoc, Mobb Deep, Lauryn Hill, JoJo.

Stillmatic – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Stillmatic

Released: December 18 2001

Label: Ill Will, Columbia

First week album sales: 342,000

Billboard 200 position: 8

Singles: “Rule”, “Got Ur Self A…”, “The Flyest”, “One Mic”

Features: AZ, Millennium Thug, Amerie, Keon Bryce, Blitz The Ambassador.

Hip Hop is Dead – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Hip Hop Is Dead

Released: December 15, 2006

Label: Def Jam

First week album sales: 355,800

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Hip Hop Is Dead”, “Can’t Forget About You”

Features: Kelis, Kanye West, Jay-Z, will.i.am, Snoop Dogg, The Game and Chrisette Michele.

I Am… – first week album sales

Ranking Nas First Week Album Sales Nas I Am

Released: April 6, 1999

Label: Columbia

First week album sales: 470,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Nas Is Like”, “Hate Me Now”

Features: Puff Daddy, Scarface, Aaliyah, DMX.

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