Sade defended her #1 turf for a second straight week with Soldier Of Love. With more television appearances coming, the veteran Jazz/Soul vocalists is enjoying a comeback after nearly a decade hiatus. Her Epic Records project is also a celebrated success to the label who’s biggest enjoyment last year was a posthumous Michael Jackson compilation. The 51 year-old Nigerian-born singer also owned her spot by a margin of nearly 50,000 units.
The Black Eyed Peas have impressed the charts for close to nine months. Still, the group’s return to #3 suggests that their June of 2009 Interscope Records release The E.N.D. isn’t anywhere close to losing momentum. Already at double platinum, a new video “Imma Be Rocking That Body,” has will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and Apl.De.Ap staying as close to the top of the charts as they’ve been in months. Later this year, will.i.am and his label are going to be releasing Kelis’ first album since her highly-publicized split with Nas.
Lil Wayne‘s Rebirth may reach gold before the New Orleans-born super-star sees jail-time. The Cash Money/Universal Motown release remains in the Top 5, as Wayne suggests that a video will surface within a month of his collaboration with Eminem for “Drop The World”
. With radio support for that as a single, Rebirth could have platinum potential.
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Two R&B acts closed out the Top 10 last week. Alicia Keys‘ Element Of Freedom readies for a new single and perhaps more traction while Jaheim’s Another Round heads towards 200,000 units. The 31 year-old New Jersey native’s album features Jadakiss on the “Ain’t Leavin’ Without You (Remix)” from his fifth album.
* 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 |
| 1 | Sade | Soldier Of Love | 190,000 | 694,000 |
| 3 | Black Eyed Peas | The E.N.D. | 65,000 | 2,131,000 |
| 5 | Lil Wayne | Rebirth | 58,000 | 324,000 |
| 7 | Alicia Keys | Element of Freedom | 39,000 | 1,078,000 |
| 8 | Jaheim | Another Round | 36,000 | 148,000 |
Jay-Z‘s Blueprint 3 and Eminem’s Relapse both remained in the Top 50 for another week. Jay-Z already began speaking about his next album, reportedly his first with Sony Records, last week.
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Freeway & Jake One‘s The Stimulus Package entered the charts at #61. Free’s first “official” independent album, this on the Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers label was supported with a whole album’s worth of production from Seattle’s most prolific producer, Jake One. The album features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, Raekwon and Freeway’s latest label employer, Birdman.
Gold Dust/K7 Records released a compilation of largely recycled and alternate tracks from various Wu-Tang Clan members. All produced by longtime Method Man deejay and “Mighty Healthy” producer Mathematics, Return of the Wu & Friends was a notable appearance from the label home to Zion I, Soul Asssasins and Crown City Rockers. The compilation, which includes rare work from Ol’ Dirty Bastard, scanned nearly 3,500 first week units on the indie.
New Orleans Funk/Jazz outfit Galactic‘s eighth album Ya Ka May fell 48 spots to close out the Top 200. The Anti Records group told DX that they are soon to be at work on a full length album with former Jurassic 5 emcee Chali 2na.
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| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 32 | Jay-Z | Blueprint 3 | 16,000 | 1,631,000 |
| 45 | Eminem | Relapse | 14,000 | 1,853,000 |
| 61 | Freeway & Jake One | The Stimulus Package | 9,000 | 9,100 |
| 163 | Mathematics | Return of the Wu & Friends | 3,400 | 3,400 |
| 200 | Galactic | Ya-Ka-May | 2,700 | 7,800 |
Will k-os’ stateside release of Yes get affirmation? Can legendary deejays Rob Swift or DJ Babu get chart love? Stay tuned to next week at HipHopDX.
