There was more new Urban releases shaking up the charts than typically seen in 2010, last week. For starters, Usher‘s divorce ode, Raymond v. Raymond took the number one spot. The LaFace Records project cleared 330,000-plus units collectively as the Atlanta veteran sensation put his personal experiences over the last year to music. The work sold nearly 40,000 more units than the #2 spot holder, Justin Bieber and his My World 2.0.
Another R&B veteran, ErykahBadu, followed close behind. Entering the charts at #4, the Universal Motown “part two” in her New Amerykah series stirred controversy last week with her provocative “Window Seat” video shot in Badu’s Dallas, Texas hometown. The acclaimed follow-up maintains her production roster Hip Hop-based luminaries such as 9th Wonder, Madlib, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Georgia Anne Muldrow and the late J. Dilla.
After last week’s strong showing, another ’90s R&B alum, Monica, held #6 with her Still Standing. The J Records artist crossed the 250,000 mark, with an album that features production from Missy Elliott and Jim Jonsin. Monica’s Atlanta neighbor Ludacris, who appears on Still Standing, also crossed the 250,000 mark Battle of the Sexes. The DTP/Def Jam release fell out of the Top 10 last week just barely, going to #11.
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The Black Eyed Peas held the #10 spot withThe E.N.D. The release is soon to turn a year old, having already found double-platinum domestic status for the veteran Interscope Records group.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 1 | Usher | Raymond v. Raymond | 329,000 | 330,000 |
| 4 | ErykahBadu | The New Amerykah Part Two | 110,000 | 110,000 |
| 6 | Monica | Still Standing | 81,000 | 266,000 |
| 10 | Black Eyed Peas | The E.N.D. | 43,000 | 2,387,000 |
| 11 | Ludacris | Battle of the Sexes | 40,000 | 284,000 |
Four new Rap releases found their way to the charts last week. The highly-publicized Def Jam release of Wu-Tang Clan member trio GhostfaceKillah, Method Man and Raekwon, Wu-Massacre, entered the charts at #12. Raekwon’s first dealing with the famed New York imprint sold just under 40,000 units, with special packaging and production from RZA and Mathematics.
A west coast veteran, E-40 had three chart entries. After a career with Jive and more recently Reprise/Warner Brothers Records, the Vallejo, California slang-master went to EMI to distribute his companion albums, Revenue Retrievin’ Day Shiftand Night Shift. Released separately, both editions sold approximately 12,000 units. Additionally, in a double packaging, the Sick Wid It founder sold 5,000 more of each release, which feature numerous guests.
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Neighbor to E-40, Sacramento’s Brotha Lynch Hung returned for a second week of his Strange Music debut, Dinner and a Movie. After reports published on DX yesterday that the comeback album was under-bought by retailers, the veteran emcee cleared 10,000 units.
Lastly, led by Jedi Mind Tricks’ Vinnie Paz, super-group Army of the Pharaohs charted with their third release, The Unholy Terror. With members including Apathy, Reef The Lost Cauze, Celph Titled and Esoteric, this release marked the group addition of former Canibus protege Journalist. Released through Babygrande Records/Enemy Soil, the AOTP album coincides with the group’s ongoing tour with JMT.
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 12 | Method Man, GhostfaceKillah & Raekwon | Wu-Massacre | 38,000 | 38,000 |
| 47 | E-40 | Revenue Retrievin’: Day Shift | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| 49 | E-40 | Revenue Retrievin’: Night Shift | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| 179 | Jedi Mind Tricks Present: Army of the Pharaohs | The Unholy Terror | 3,200 | 3,200 |
| 184 | Brotha Lynch Hung | Dinner and a Movie | 3,100 | 11,000 |
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Can Too Short’s digital debut Still Blowin’ crack the charts and keep the Nor Cal success going? Stay tuned for next week on DX…
