Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 8/8/2010

Bun B’s third independent solo crushes the charts and expectations, Fat Joe falls 85 units, while Drake and Usher can expect to hit the million mark this month.

Eminem’s Recovery was thought to maybe get #1 back. The Aftermath release did not, as Arcade Fire’s latest outsold it by 4,000 units.

One of this year’s true surprises came courtesy of UGK’s Bun B. The Port Arthur, Texas’ emcee’s third solo album, Trill O.G. debuted at #4. Bun’s album is the first since moving his Rap-A-Lot Records distribution from Asylum to Universal Fontana. The third in the “Trill” series features appearances from Drake, Gucci Mane and posthumous verses from 2Pac and Pimp C, while production is handled by DJ Premier, Boi-1da and veteran UGK producer Steve Below. For an independent project, Bun’s Top 5 debut and 40,000 in sales are one of the more shocking Rap chart performances this year.

Rick Ross was a spot behind Bun, inching towards 300,000 units moved of his acclaimed Teflon Don. The Def Jam rapper’s fourth official album features work from veterans such as No I.D., DJ Clark Kent and Cee-Lo. Drake’s Thank Me Later fell to #8, as four Rap releases occupied the Top 10. Drake’s official debut is expected to reach the million mark in two weeks, though a strong next week could achieve that feat early.

Usher‘s Raymond v. Raymond appeared at #17. The veteran Pop entertainer’s “divorce album” is marching its way to a platinum plaque for Mr. Raymond and his longtime backer, LaFace Records. The album will feature two deluxe/additional material releases this month.

* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.

Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)

Outkast’s Big Boi slid to #36. His critically-acclaimed Def Jam debut, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty features artists such as T.I., Gucci Mane and Too Short, with production from Organized Noize, Scott Storch and Lil Jon. The Roots‘ acclaimed How I Got Over is nearly parallel to Big Boi. This other Def Jam release features extended Roots family Dice Raw, Truck North and others, in addition to Blu, Phonte and Peedi Peedi.

Tech N9ne‘s The Gates Mixed Plate went a Top 15 debut to #89. The Gates Mixed Plate features Glasses Malone, Devin The Dude and Jay Rock, among others, as yesterday the rapper announced a fall tour with Malone, Rock and E-40.

Fat Joe fell out of the Top 100 with The Darkside Volume 1, a total of 85 units. The release marks Joe’s debut with E1 Entertainment, and features work with DJ Premier, Just Blaze and Too Short. The darker-themed album has critics comparing it to Joe’s first three albums. Despite the strong praises, the work’s sales have become an object of ridicule from Joe’s nemesis, 50 Cent.

Former Young Money and No Limit Records artist Curren$y hung on to the bottom of the charts with his Def Jam-distributed Pilot Talk. Produced by Reasonable Doubt architect Ski Beatz, and featuring Mos Def and Jay Electronica, the New Orleans emcee is sitting just over 20,000 units overall.

Will Mike Posner impress the charts? Can Boots Riley make a strong return with Street Sweeper Social Club’s latest EP?

Found At HipHopDx

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