After releasing a surprising self-titled visual album, Beyonce stole the show. Without warning, Bey took the top slot this week, while R. Kelly and Childish Gambino debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart with Black Panties and because the internet, respectively. 

Beyonce’s Record-Breaking Self-Titled Album Hits #1

It appears Beyonce’s decision to drop an unexpected album on Friday (December 13) without pre-release promotion is paying off for the singer. Her self-titled visual album iTunes exclusive may not have had a full week to chart, but the project still managed to find its way to the top of this week’s list. The album sold more than 600,000 units this week, her highest first-week sales of all time. This total beats her previous best, which she earned in 2006, when B’day sold approximately 541,000 units in its first week. Beyonce also became the fastest-selling project to debut on iTunes. Beyonce was released as a visual album, featuring 14 selections and 17 videos. The project is being sold for $15.99. Songs are not scheduled to be available for individual purchase until December 20. Along with the album, Beyonce also released a two-part art feature this week

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R. Kelly’s Black Panties Lands In The Top 5

R. Kelly’s Black Panties debuted this week at #4. The project sold more than 133,000 units in its first week. To promote his album, Kelly also did an interview with CRWN Presented By MySpace. During the interview, Kelly said that he worked on more than 300 songs for this album, a project he considers a classic. “I think it’s explicit classic,” R. Kelly said. “You know, it’s sexual classy…I think it’s an album that’s gon’ be around for a while. Just like 12 Play. It’s forever. So, that’s what I’m expecting Black Panties to be. Just as long as women are gonna be wearing black panties, Black Panties will be around.” 

Childish Gambino’s because the internet Breaks Into Top 10

Childish Gambino’s because the internet debuted on the chart this week at #7. The album sold more than 96,000 copies in its first week, allowing it to surpass Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2, which sold approximately 83,000 copies this week, its sixth week of availability. Gambino, who also writes, acts and does comedy, recently spoke about his various talents and his take on rappers being labeled. “Rappers don’t want to be rappers,” he said. “They don’t. It’s true. Every rapper I talk to says they want to do this or that. They’re usually artists who want to do a bunch of stuff. I don’t think any rapper wants to be just a rapper.”

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Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/8/2013  

#1. Beyonce – Beyonce – 617,000 (617,000)

#4. R. Kelly – Black Panties – 134,000 (134,000)

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#7. Childish Gambino – because the internet – 96,000 (96,000)

#8. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – 83,000 (1,490,000)

#24. Drake – Nothing Was The Same – 28,000 (1,259,000)

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#27. Justin Timberlake – 20/20 Experience Complete – 24,000 (681,000)

#66. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist– 11,000 (1,193,000)

#76. Yo Gotti – I Am – 10,000 (89,000) 

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#94. Justin Timberlake – 20/20 Experience – 8,900 (2,390,000)

#107. 2 Chainz – B.O.A.T.S. II #MeTime – 7,900 (203,000)

#155. Jay Z – Magna Carta…Holy Grail– 6,000 (1,083,000)

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#191. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d. city – 5,000 (1,109,000)

* data comes from Nielsen Soundscan, rounded to nearest thousand for units above 10,000, nearest hundred for units below 10,000. Each week, HipHopDX presents top albums in Hip Hop/related, and five notables.

Will Beyonce remain at the top of the charts next week? Stay tuned to HipHopDX.

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Last Week’s Album Sales.

Hip Hop Album Sales Week Of: 12/15/2013


RELATED: Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/15/2013