Veteran Philadelphia/Camden underground Hip Hop juggernauts the Jedi Mind Tricks proved to be yet another 2011 independent success story. The collective snapped a Top 100 debut with their latest, Violence Begets Violence. Jay-Z & Kanye West crossed the million mark with Watch The Throne, giving each their latest platinum plaque. Meanwhile, two foes of each rapper respectively also crossed key benchmarks with their own 2011 releases.
Lil Wayne‘s Tha Carter IV fell five spots, leaving the Top 10 vacant of any Rap releases. The platinum works features the likes of Tech N9ne, Andre 3000 and Nas, as the top-selling 2011 Hip Hop/Rap release.
J. Cole’s Cole World: The Sideline Story sold just under 20,000 units in its fifth week available. Backed by Sony Records, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation flagship fell five spots like Weezy. Largely self-produced, the Fayetteville, North Carolina native’s album featured Drake and Missy Elliott, in addition to Jay.
Jay-Z & Kanye West’s Watch The Throne slipped fell three spots to #19, but grabbed a platinum plaque in doing so. The Def Jam Records release features production contributions from 88-Keys, RZA and Lex Luger.
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Dance/Pop/Rap group LMFAO’s sophomore album, Sorry For Party Rocking is just units away from 200,000 units sold. The Interscope Records group, co-founded by the iconic Motown Records’ Barry Gordy’s grandson, worked with will.i.am and Busta Rhymes on their latest album fell three spots to #25.
Beyonce and her4 fell eight spots. The pregnant Pop/R&B superstar’s fourth solo offering 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.
* 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 |
| 11 | Lil Wayne | Tha Carter IV | 29,000 | 1,615,000 |
| 16 | J. Cole | Cole World: The Sideline Story | 20,000 | 348,000 |
| 19 | Jay-Z & Kanye West | Watch The Throne | 19,000 | 1,013,000 |
| 25 | LMFAO | Sorry For Party Rocking | 16,000 | 199,000 |
| 28 | Beyonce | 4 | 14,000 | 877,000 |
Jedi Mind Tricks’ seventh studio album, Violence Begets Violence earned a Top 100 debut. The crew of Vinnie Paz, Jus Allah and DJ Kwestion no longer worked with founding member/producer Stoupe The Enemy of Mankind on this release. Stoupe was replaced by the likes of Shuko, C-Lance and others, as vocal guests include The Outsidaz’ Pacewon and Young Zee, and Blacastan. The album is released on JMT’s own Enemy Soil Records after a lengthy (and reportedly difficult) tenure at Babygrande Records.
Wiz Khalifa crossed the 600,000 mark with his major label debut, Rolling Papers. The DXnext alum from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Rostrum/Atlantic Records release features hits “Roll Up” and “Black and Yellow.”
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Another album milestone came from Compton, California’s Game. The R.E.D. Album, Game’s reunion with Aftermath Entertainment and its founder Dr. Dre, crossed the 200,000 mark. R.E.D. features Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar and Big Boi.
In his third week on the charts, Aphilliates Music Group co-founder DJ Drama‘s Third Power fell 56 spots. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania deejay who has been in Atlanta for over a decade released his third solo album, and first in over two years. Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole and Wale are among the guests on “Mr. Thanksgiving’s” first studio album since leaving Atlantic Records after two works with T.I.’s Grand Hustle subsidiary.
Drama’s E1 Entertainment label-mate Styles P held onto the charts for a fourth week with Master of Ceremonies. The L.O.X./D-Block alum’s fourth studio album features production from Warren G, Ty Fyffe and Reefa, with Jadakiss and Sheek Louch appearing. At #198, this may Styles’ last appearance depending on next week’s results.
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| Rank | Artist | Album | This Week | Est. Total |
| 92 | Jedi Mind Tricks | Violence Begets Violence | 4,400 | 4,400 |
| 109 | Wiz Khalifa | Rolling Papers | 3,700 | 602,000 |
| 124 | Game | The R.E.D. Album | 3,400 | 201,000 |
| 146 | DJ Drama | Third Power | 2,900 | 17,000 |
| 198 | Styles P | Master of Ceremonies | 2,100 | 21,000 |
Will Wale score a Top 5 debut with his well-received debut Ambition? Will Torae, Rapper Big Pooh, Black Milk & Danny Brown or Talib Kweli’s Idle Warship show out for the charts? Stay tuned to HipHopDX to find out.
