With Eminem’s latest album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, moving 793,000 units in its first week and topping the highest first week sales for hip-hop albums in 2013, I want to take a look back to see how this compares with previous first week album sales records.
I compiled the top 5 biggest first week sales in hip-hop history and there were no surprises there – 50 Cent, Lil Wayne and Kanye West show up twice while Eminem clinches the top spot.
5. Kanye West, Graduation
Release Date: 9/11/2007
First week album sales: 957,000
Label: Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
4. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV
Release Date: 8/29/2011
First week album sales: 964,000
Label: Young Money / Cash Money / Universal Republic
3. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
Release Date: 6/10/2008
First week album sales: 1,006,000
Label: Cash Money / Universal Motown
2. 50 Cent, The Massacre
Release Date: 3/8/2005
First week album sales: 1,141,000
Label: Aftermath / Interscope / Shady
1. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP
Release: 5/23/2000
First week album sales: 1,760,000
Label: Aftermath / Interscope / Shady