Three new releases entered the charts this week, and one album made a bold return to the Top 5.
LL Cool J’s first album not sporting the Def Jam Records logo (and 13th overall) debuted this week. Authentic, released on the S-Bro Music Group label, features Trackmasters production, along with appearances from Snoop Lion, Chuck D, as well as Seal, Eddie Van Halen, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Selling approximately 14,000 units, this was LL’s first studio album since 2008’s Exit 13.
Patience is a virtue for Rittz and R.A. The Rugged Man. Both veteran emcees, one releasing a debut, the other a follow-up album, have paid industry dues. Both having Tech N9ne on their albums (The Life & Times Of Jonny Valiant and Legends Never Die, respectively), the independent emcees both tackled the Top 200 with star-studded, critically-touted LPs released in the last week.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis gained seven spots with The Heist. The independent release may cross the 700,000 threshold in the next week.
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People Love Rittz In These Life & Times
Rittz’ debut The Life & Times Of Jonny Valiant was among the biggest talking-points of the charts this week. The Yelawolf affiliate now signed with Strange Music debut sold 14,000 first-week units, just shy of LL Cool J’s Authentic sales figures. The album features Big K.R.I.T., Tech N9ne, Yelawolf and the radio-embraced single, “Switch Lanes,” which features Mike Posner.
The Atlanta, Georgia native garnered significant acclaim for his 2011 mixtape, White Jesus, after years of underground notoriety.
R.A. The Rugged Man Says Hopes Never Die
R.A. The Rugged Man is a 20-plus year veteran, and finally achieved his first Top 200 debut. In the early and late 1990s, respectively, the Long Island, New York native was signed to Jive and Priority Records. At both then-powerhouses, R.A. would record albums never to be released. April 30’s Legends Never Die is the veteran’s second official release, and his first in over eight years.
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The album, which features Tech N9ne, Brother Ali, Vinnie Paz and many others, sold over 3,500 units for Nature Sounds Records, R.A.’s longtime home. The title track is a tribute to R.A.’s late father, while “Definition Of A Rap Flow” pays homage to ’90s New York, as “Sam Peckinpah” honors the late The Getaway filmmaker of the same name.
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 5/5/2013
#5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist– 35,000 (673,000)
#12. Lil Wayne – I Am Not A Human Being II– 22,000 (404,000)
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#17. Kid Cudi – Indicud – 15,000 (183,000)
#23. LL Cool J – Authentic – 14,000 (14,000)
#25. Rittz – The Life & Times Of Jonny Valiant – 14,000 (14,000)
#37. Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city – 10,000 (878,000)
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#40. will.i.am – #willpower – 9,300 (39,000)
#47. Snoop Lion – Reincarnated – 8,600 (30,000)
#131. R.A. The Rugged Man – Legends Never Die – 3,500 (3,600)
#157. Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – Twelve Reasons To Die – 3,000 (23,000)
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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.
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