Despite crying “blackball” (and then deleting records of it) last week, Pop/R&B sensation led the urban charts last week. Coming in at #7, his warmly-received Graffiti has been the second Jive/Sony Records chart-topper, following last week’s peak performance from R. Kelly in Untitled.
One of the biggest comebacks of 2009 has been Gucci Mane. Although he spent his release date behind bars, the Warner/Asylum star gained a lot of momentum this year through mixtapes like Guccimania
and Writing’s On The Wall. His collaboration heavy comeback album, The State Vs. Radric Davis is already gaining critical praise as his best major label work. The release sold just under six figures, and was the top-selling Rap album in the country.
Meanwhile, the King of Pop got his posthumous platinum plaque, and certainly not his first. Michael Jackson’s This Is It soundtrack gave Epic Records another toast off of the pride of Gary, Indiana. The Black Eyed Peas remained at #20 on the charts, their comfort area for almost two months. Fergie, will.i.am and company tail Eminem’s Relapse by 50,000 units for top-selling Rap album of 2009 with the continued push of The E.N.D.
Resurrecting the sacred gangsta Rap imprint Priority Records via EMI Records, Snoop Dogg and his Malice N’ Wonderland garnered a Top 25 debut. The release, assisted by a Poppier, more R&B crowd than most Doggfather releases, has been challenged by critics. The release has gained first week momentum through an $8 sales promotion with Amazon, countless media appearances and endorsements, and the emerging hit “I Wanna Rock”.
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* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandeth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 7 | Chris Brown | Graffiti | 102,000 | 102,000 |
| 10 | Gucci Mane | The State Vs. Radric Davis | 90,000 | 90,000 |
| 12 | Michael Jackson’s | This Is It | 83,000 | 1,048,000 |
| 20 | The Black Eyed Peas | E.N.D. | 63,000 | 1,554,000 |
| 21 | Snoop Dogg | Malice N Wonderland | 59,000 | 59,000 |
Virginia Hip Hop returned to the charts this week. Veteran super-producer Timbaland is another Rap act that is currently in critical crossfire for going too Pop. Shock Value 2 is a follow-up to Tim’s hugely-successful 2007 comeback album, but features Shakira and Miley Cyrus. The album sold just under 40,000 first week. The Clipse came in less than 10 spots behind with their Columbia Records debut Till The Casket Drops. After two championed albums, the release has been a critical departure for the duo. The album remains praised for its singles “Popular Demand (Popeye’s)” and “Kinda Like A Big Deal” with Kanye West.
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50 Cent slid past #50 with Before I Self Destruct. The album is already projected that it will not reach gold status within a year of release, something that peers Jay-Z and Eminem both accomplished quickly with their respective 2009 releases.
The Cash Money Records family of yesterday and today joined arms on the charts again last week – with new faces. Juvenile‘s Cocky & Confident fell 92 places to #135. The release sees Juvy use his major label distribution at Atlantic with marketing done by E1 Entertainment. Fellow Hot Boy B.G. debuted at #65 with Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood. Executive produced by T.I., this project was also an E1/Atlantic collaboration. Moreover, Gizzle reunited with Mannie Fresh as well as Juvenile and Lil Wayne on his release. It’s been rumored for over a year, that the trio (with Turk if available) will give Cash Money another group album – something that reportedly may have already been paid for.
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 32 | Timbaland | Shock Value 2 | 39,000 | 40,000 |
| 41 | Clipse | Til The Casket Drops | 31,000 | 32,000 |
| 57 | 50 Cent | Before I Self Destruct | 23,000 | 279,000 |
| 65 | B.G. | Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood | 19,000 | 19,000 |
| 135 | Juvenile | Cocky N’ Confident | 8,200 | 31,000 |
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Will Alicia Keys and Robin Thicke make December to R&B what it used to be to Hip Hop? Will Gucci Mane go to 250,000 by year’s end? Stay tuned to HipHopDX to find out.
