G.O.O.D. Music’s Cruel Summer compilation scored a #2 debut on the charts. The Def Jam Records-backed album featuring Kanye West, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and even Mase was 75,000 units behind P!nk’s latest album, Truth About Love, but the first label release from ‘Ye’s imprint moved over 200,000 overall units in its first week.
Tech N9ne also nailed a Top 30 with his E.B.A.H. (Evil Brain Angel Heart) release. Billed as a 10-track EP, this is Tech’s second such release of 2012 (following Klusterfuk), a popular move at Strange Music in recent months.
Another highly-respected Midwest emcee crashed the charts this week. Brother Ali’s fifth album, Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color just missed the Top 40. The Minneapolis, Minnesota lyricist’s latest Rhymesayers release was entirely produced by Seattle, Washington’s Jake One, and features professor and author, Dr. Cornel West.
Lastly, Bay Area 2011 sensation Kreayshawn’s Sony Records-backed debut, Something ‘Bout Kreay debuted. The release missed the Top 100, but was only availabile digitally in its first week. The project includes appearances from Kid Cudi and 2 Chainz, along with Diplo production.
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Cruel Summer Does G.O.O.D.
Kanye West’s orchestrated Cruel Summer compilation is a benchmark for G.O.O.D. Music’s branding. At #2, the album featured label veterans like Common, John Legend and longtime affiliate Malik Yusef. Additionally, new wave of the label was prominently featured including CyHi The Prynce, Big Sean and Pusha T of The Clipse. Kanye also enlisted a select group of veterans including Ghostface Killah, Jadakiss and R. Kelly – along with Mase, who ‘Ye worked with in the late ’90s. With the Jay-Z-assisted “Clique” serving as the latest high-profile single, the album moved over 200,000 first-week units. In the midst of the sales, the project was met with mixed reviews.
The production ensemble on this release included Mike Dean, Mannie Fresh, Hit-Boy and longtime Duck Down Music affiliate !llmind.
Brother Ali Dreams In Color
Brother Ali’s fifth album, Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color sold approximately 10,000 units in its first week at retail. The highly-anticipated Rhymesayers release is Ali’s departure from working with producer/deejay Ant of Atmosphere and his first full-length with another ear behind the boards. After collaborating frequently over the last five years with Jake One, the pair made this thematic release about the state of America, religion, race and other highly-relevant issues to the social discourse of 2012. This is Ali’s first retail release in over three years, since 2009’s Us.
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Previously Jake One produced Freeway’sStimulus Package, and released his own White Van Music album with RSE.
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/23/2012
#2. G.O.O.D. Music – Cruel Summer – 205,000 (206,000)
#22. 2 Chainz – Based On A T.R.U. Story – 17,000 (288,000)
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#30. Tech N9ne – E.B.A.H.– 14,000 (14,000)
#41. Lecrae – Gravity – 11,000 (103,000)
#43. Brother Ali – Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color – 10,000 (10,000)
#46. Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t– 10,000 (408,000)
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#55. DMX – Undisputed – 7,500 (25,000)
#74. Nas – Life Is Good – 5,800 (301,000)
#83. Slaughterhouse – welcome to: Our House – 5,000 (76,000)
#104. Kreayshawn – Something ‘Bout Kreay – 3,900 (3,900)
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* data comes from Nielsen Soundscan, rounded to nearest thousandth for units above 10,000, nearest hundredth for units below 10,000. Each week, HipHopDX presents top albums in Hip Hop/related, and five notables.
Will Lupe Fiasco’sFood & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1take the #1 that Cruel Summer missed? Stay tuned to HipHopDX.
