Welcome back to your weekly helping of the latest chart review for our favorite buzzing urban artists. This week, the charts appear to be jailhouse friendly, shaking up with recently released and current incarcerated hip-hop stars, Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane and Lil Boosie. We even have a new release from former NWA rapper Ice Cube. The recent added releases do not seem to cease. We also have something for the R&B lovers with new releases from Donell Jones and Jeremih. Keeping Eminem content in last week’s position, we have a new number one occupant. Who is it you ask? To the charts we go.
Outsold by 72,804 from country singer Kenny Chesney, Lil Wayne takes #2 for his new digital EP release, “I Am Not a Human Being,” selling 108,791. This is studio album number eight for the Young Money honcho, serving as a prelude for anticipated sequel, “Tha Carter IV,” which is set to be release November 4th. The EP is noted to be recorded before his current prison term. The album features nothing but Young Money/Cash Money affiliates: Nicki Minaj, Jay Sean, T-Streets and Lil Twist. Lead single for the album features top YM star Drake titled “Right Above It All.” Compared to his previous project, “Rebirth,” Weezy keeps it strictly rap style as he eliminates auto-tune and rock.
Though there’s a gap between the two artists, Gucci Mane comes in at #4 with 61,450 for his latest addition, “The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted.” This is the follow-up for his “That State vs. Radric Davis. Gucci backs away from the usual material found on his street mixtapes. Welcoming more radio friendly material, Gucci Mane invites names such as Bun B, Ray J, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell, Wyclef Jean and Estelle. Lead single even features Swizz Beats titled “Gucci Time.”
Emimen follows and remains content for “Recovery,” selling 59,598 into #5.This brings Marshall Mathers total to 2,731,224. Trey Songz drops two positions into #8 with 41,895 sold for “Passion Pain and Pleasure.” So far Trey has sold 348,532. John Legend and The Roots, previously at #8, sold 30,561 into #13 for “Wake Up!” While in prison battling murder and conspiracy charges with the potential of facing the death penalty, this rapper makes no plans to stop moving with his successful rap career. Selling 28,707 into #14, Louisiana rapper Lil Boosie releases his first album while locked up, simply titled, “Incarcerated.” The album is the follow-up to his 2009 album, “Superbad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz.” Out of 14 tracks, 12 feature the likes of fellow Trill Entertainment artists such as Webbie, Foxx and more.
Katy Perry clocks in at #16 for “Teenage Dream,” selling 27,637. Justin Bieber drops from #10 to this week’s position of #17 for “My World 2.0,” selling 27,409. After making a successful switch to directing and producing television shows and cinema, it was convincing to say this next rapper would never return to the art of music making. Debuting at #22, California gangsta rap pioneer Ice Cube releases his ninth studio album, “I Am The West,” with 21,436 sold. This is the follow-up to 2008 release, “Raw Footage.” Ice Cube states this album will be different from his previous projects, being that it allowed a lot of freedom and was release under his independent label, Lench Mob. There are no features from recognizable names such as Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, but it does feature fellow friends WC, Doughboy, Butch Cassidy and more. Lead single for the album is “I Rep That West,” released in April.
This next artist made both male and female excite for their significant other’s birthday to approach. Following his 2009 self titled debut, Jeremih returns with his second studio album, “All About You” in at #28 with 17,705 sold. Jeremih keeps the album close to himself as his features are limited. His first single “I Like” features “Birthday Sex” remixer, Ludacris and current single features 50 Cent and production from Drumma Boy. Fantasia makes a drop from #16 to #30, selling 17,030 for “Back to Me.”
Donell Jones makes his return to the R&B scene with new album, “Lyrics,” selling 14,965 into #33. Though some may think this is latest album 1999 released, “Where I Wanna Be,” “Lyrics” is actually Jones’ sixth studio album, following 2009 released “The Lost Flies.” Similar to Jeremih, Jones keeps the features to a minimum—production wise as well. Lead single “Love Like This” features production from Jones himself, as well as the rest of the album excluding “The Finer Things in Life,: which is produced by Mike City. However, the only feature on the album comes from rapper Yung Joc for an enticing track titled “Stripclub.”
With all the additions, it only seemed to hurt our veterans on the charts. Drake continues to move down the charts. Previously at #19, “Thank Me Later” moves into 36 this week with 13,555 sold. The Young Money artist’s total of sales is now 1,112,162. Lady Gaga drops as well. “The Fame” moves out of the #22 position into #38 with 12,429. Kem’s “Intimacy” falls from #24 to #40, selling 11,885 this week. It doesn’t stop yet. Usher sold 11,853 for “Versus,” dropping from #23 to #42. Rick Ross checks in at #44 for “Teflon Don,” selling 10,461, bringing his overall sales to 415,776. Lastly, Usher returns for “Raymond v. Raymond,” barely making the cut-off at #49 with 8,965 sold.
This week is most definitely not a bad week for hip-hop. Another batch of albums dropped this. Check back with us to see where Waka Flocka Flame, Bruno Mars, 8 Ball & MJG, and BG land. We also have a new a special release from the late Pimp C.
Written By Shabazz
