Out with the old, in with the new. Six new urban releases hit the charts this week, with plenty of impressive surprises.
For the second straight week, R&B topped the charts. Beyonce’s 4 album sold over 300,000 units. The Destiny’s Child front-woman’s fourth solo album features an appearance by Outkast’s Andre 3000, along with production from Kanye West and his production team – including Jeff Bhasker, as well as a writing credit to former G.O.O.D. Music artist Consequence.
Speaking of G.O.O.D., their latest artist, Detroit, Michigan’s Big Sean snagged a Top 3 debut. The Def Jam Records-backed emcee sold over 85,000 first-week units on his solo debut, which shared a title with his promotional mixtape series. Finally Famous: The Album was largely produced by longtime Common mentor No I.D., and featured appearances from DXnext alumni Chiddy Bang and Wiz Khalifa, along with Lupe Fiasco.
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Jilly from Philly remained Top 5 in her second week on the charts, nearly reaching the 200,000 marker. The Soul singer’s fourth studio album, The Light of the Sun topped the charts in its first week, featuring Hip Hop artists such as Paul Wall, Eve and the legendary Doug E. Fresh. The Warner Brothers Records project has production from Roots affiliate Khari Mateen as well as Dre & Vidal.
Royce Da 5’9 and Eminem’s Bad Meets Evil project Hell: The Sequel remained a Top 10 placer. The project is over halfway to gold status, with production by Havoc, Mr. Porter and veteran underground Hip Hop producer Joey Chavez.
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Pitbull‘s sixth album, Planet Pit fell seven spots to #14. The Miami, Florida emcee’s J Records project features T-Pain, Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx, selling another 28,000 units. Clinton Sparks and longtime Pit producer Jim Jonsin contributed to the album musically.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.
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Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 1 | Beyonce | 4 | 310,000 | 311,000 |
| 3 | Big Sean | Finally Famous: The Album | 87,000 | 87,000 |
| 5 | Jill Scott | Light of the Sun | 55,000 | 190,000 |
| 9 | Royce Da 5’9 & Eminem (Bad Meets Evil) | Hell: The Sequel | 42,000 | 276,000 |
| 14 | Pitbull | Planet Pit | 28,000 | 83,000 |
Former Young Money Records hopeful Curren$y made the charts for the third time since 2010. Now backed by Warner Brothers Records, the #Jets leader’s retail mixtape Weekend At Burnies scored a Top 25 debut. The label has found similar success with Gucci Mane in the mixtape lane. Burnies, taking its name from a 1989 film. Largely produced by Monsta Beatz, the project features former No Limit Records star Fiend, and #Jets members Trademark (Da Skydiver) and Young Roddy.
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Veteran Brooklyn, New York duo Smif-N-Wessun added legendary producer Pete Rock to the group for Monumental. Released on Tek & General Steele’s lifelong group label Duck Down Records, the project very nearly scored a Top 100 debut, selling over 5,000 units. The project has been highlighted in the midst of controversy of a NYPD beating during the trio’s album release party. Freeway, Bun B and Hurricane G are featured on Monumental.
Compton, California Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment opted to release his latest project digitally to iTunes. Section. 80. K. Dot’s project features production by J. Cole, and an appearance from G.O.O.D. Music veteran GLC.
On record store shelves for over a year, Drake had a strong week with his Thank Me Later. The Young Money/Universal Motown Records project climbed 22 spots to #119. The Toronto, Ontario native is at work on his sophomore studio album, Take Care, reportedly planned for October, 2011.
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Another early 1990s veteran, Ish (f/k/a Butterfly) of Digable Planets fame, popped onto the charts with his band Shabazz Palaces. The group’s latest album, Black Up, sold just under 3,000 units to debut on the Top 200. The album is out on the legendary Sub Pop Records.
| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 22 | Curren$y | Weekend At Burnies | 23,000 | 23,000 |
| 102 | Smif-N-Wessun & Pete Rock | Monumental | 5,400 | 5,600 |
| 104 | Kendrick Lamar | Section.80 | 5,300 | 5,300 |
| 119 | Drake | Thank Me Later | 4,500 | 1,417,000 |
| 175 | Shabazz Palaces | Black Up | 2,900 | 2,900 |
Will Lloyd make it three straight weeks of R&B chart-toppers? Can Molemen’s Vakill get chart recognition next week? Stay tuned to HipHopDX.
