It’s very likely that actor-turned-rapper Aubrey Drake Graham will sit atop the charts when official sales numbers are posted on Wednesday, June 23. Web site HitsDailyDouble.com reports that roughly a week after its proper release, Thank Me Later has sold 462,989 copies–just shy of RIAA Gold certification.
The success comes despite an early leak of the retail album, and with plenty of support from Hip Hop’s blog community. Many sites and blogs refused to post further leaks from Thank Me Later, and encouraged fans to buy the retail version of the album despite the fact that it leaked in early June. If the figures from HitsDailyDouble hold up, Drake will have 2010’s highest-selling debut album. On Monday, June 21, Canadian network Much Music reported via their blog that Thank Me Later has already been certified platnum in Canada.
