Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/26/2013

For the second week in a row, there was a new #1 album. Daft Punk, while not a Hip Hop group, has ties to the culture by way of Kanye West and J Dilla sampling and praises. The French group’s fourth album, Random Access Memories featured strong involvement from N*E*R*D’s Pharrell Williams. The Columbia Records effort sold approximately 340,000 units. This is the group’s first with the new label home, after a lengthy tenure at Virgin/EMI Records.

On the Hip Hop side, French Montana’s studio debut, Excuse My French scored a Top 5 debut. The album is notably a joint effort between Bad Boy Worldwide/Interscope Records, with involvement from Maybach Music Group. The Morrocan-born rapper sold over 50,000 units. Still, this is Bad Boy’s lowest first-week sales since Janelle Monae’s 2010 debut, The ArchAndroid, which sold approximately 21,000 copies despite critical praise.

Also debuting on the charts was Gucci Mane’s Trap House III. The third volume in the trilogy dating back to Gucci’s 2005 Tommy Boy Records-backed debut was also his least-selling. Released independently, the legally-troubled Atlanta, Georgia Rap vet squeezed into the Top 200 selling 2,500 units.

French Montana Makes No Excuses

French Montana’s Excuse My French was a benchmark to the independent veteran. Though selling considerably less than MMG releases from Wale or Meek Mill, as well as Bad Boy’s recent releases, French did achieve Top 5 status. The LP boasts appearances from Drake, Rick Ross, and longtime affiliate Max B. Additionally, French enlisted vets Scarface and Snoop Lion on his major label debut.

The Coke Boyz head also recruited production from Rico Love, Cardiak and “One Blood” producer Reefa. Low sales may be the product of some strong criticism on the album’s cohesion and depth.

When He’s Not In The Big House, Gucci Mane Stays In The Trap House

Eight years after Gucci Mane released Trap House on Big Cat/Tommy Boy Records, the Atlanta, Georgia rapper dropped the third volume. Sneaking into the charts at #175, this is the lowest-charting effort in the trilogy. Self-released, Gucci sold less than 3,000 first-week units on the digital-only effort.

Guests include Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz and Rick Ross on the Brick Squad release. Gucci, who is awaiting trial for aggravated assault, worked extensively with Memphis, Tennessee producer Drumma Boy, with involvement from Southside, Lex Luger and longtime collaborator Zaytoven. The album’s closer, “Birds Of A Feather,” takes shots at Yo Gotti, T.I. and Young Jeezy—which Gucci displayed on his Bandcamp page—where the entire album is available for stream and purchase.