Despite critical praise, Ghostface Killah’s Apollo Kids is the third consecutive fourth quarter Def Jam Records veteran release to debut in the bottom half of the Top 200. Meanwhile, Eminem climbed 14 spots, and David Banner & 9th Wonder appeared on the charts with their Death of a Pop Star.
Michael Jackson’s Michael maintained the Top 5, sliding two spots from last week’s #3 performance. The posthumous album that the King of Pop was working with prior to his death last year featured both Akon and 50 Cent, and has been widely criticized by fans, as well as will.i.am for its respect for the artist. The project has now surpassed 375,000 overall units.
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Actor and singer Jamie Foxx‘s fourth album, Best Night of My Life scored a #6 debut. The J Records release features Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Soulja Boy, Rick Ross, T.I. and Ludacris as the former In Living Color star continues as one of his label’s biggest stars. In its first week, the album surpassed 143,000 units.
With last week’s Christmas holiday packing retail and online stores, Eminem’s Recovery climbed 14 spots on the charts. As one of the year’s best-selling albums, the Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records release has now surpassed 3.35 million units sold domestically. The work features production from Alex da Kid, DJ Khalil, Just Blaze and Mobb Deep’s Havoc.
DXnext alum Nicki Minaj maintained a #8 with her Young Money Records debut Pink Friday. The effort out-sold the critically-acclaimed Kanye West album for a third straight week, which was released on the same November 22 date. Featuring both Nicki’s brand of singing and rapping, Pink Friday has appearances from will.i.am, Drake and Eminem.
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Keyshia Cole’s fourth album, Calling All Hearts, also scored a Top 10 debut. The Geffen Records sensation’s latest work features Nicki Minaj and Timbaland with Hip Hop producers lending a hand, such as J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Chink Santana and onetime K-Otix beat-supplier The ARE.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
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| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 5 | Michael Jackson | Michael | 150,000 | 378,000 |
| 6 | Jamie Foxx | Best Night of My Life | 144,000 | 144,000 |
| 7 | Eminem | Recovery | 137,000 | 3,352,000 |
| 8 | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday | 133,000 | 791,000 |
| 9 | Keyshia Cole | Calling All Hearts | 128,000 | 128,000 |
Like Eminem, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy saw a climb – three spots to #19. The album has now cleared well over 800,000 units for the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records star. The work, which has topped numerous Year-End lists, including HipHopDX’s, features Kid Cudi, Pusha T, and Raekwon, amoung a huge list of others.
T.I.‘s No Mercy fell just six spots in its third week. The emcee and label owner’s latest album was released while he was incarcerated for probation violations earlier this year, involving drugs. Officially crossing the 300,000 milestone, the latest album from Tip features Kid Cudi, Scarface and Rocko, with production by DJ Toomp, Kanye West and Jake One.
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After an impressive debut week on the charts, Diddy and Dirty Money’s Last Train To Paris fell 36 spots on the chart in its second week. Now at #43, Diddy’s first Interscope-backed album features Drake, T.I. and Rick Ross. The conceptual work is said to be soon getting remixes to popular tracks, featuring Lil Wayne, Mary J Blige and others.
Following Redman and Sheek Louch respectively, Def Jam saw a veteran act’s fourth-quarter album debut below the #100 mark. Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah‘s Apollo Kids appeared at #114, despite critical praises of the Staten Island, New York emcee’s ninth album. With vocal appearances from Game, Black Thought and Wu brethren, the album also features production from Pete Rock, Sean C & LV and Scram Jones.
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Following in the footsteps of Buckshot, Murs and Jean Grae, Mississippi’s David Banner chose to do his latest album with North Carolina Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder. Banner’s fifth album is a split-billing, Death of a Pop Star, and the championed work snuck into the charts at #184. Released on Big Face Entertainment and distributed by E1, the work which has been years in the making, features Ludacris, Erykah Badu and 9th’s artist Big Remo. Selling over 7,200 first week units, the album is being called Banner’s best work in some circles.
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 19 | Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 86,000 | 824,000 |
| 26 | T.I. | No Mercy | 72,000 | 301,000 |
| 43 | Diddy – Dirty Money | Last Train To Paris | 39,000 | 140,000 |
| 114 | Ghostface Killah | Apollo Kids | 13,000 | 13,000 |
| 184 | David Banner & 9th Wonder | Death of a Pop Star | 7,300 | 7,300 |
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The 2010 Gold & Platinum Plaques
With just hours left in 2010, we compiled a one-stop page for you to see who pulled in plaques this year from singles and albums. With Nelly, Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa and the usual suspects, the findings might surprise you.
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Check out “Precious Medals: The 2010 Hip Hop Gold and Platinum Plaques” →
