Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/4/2010

There was more new Urban releases shaking up the charts than typically seen in 2010, last week. For starters, Usher's divorce ode, Raymond v. Raymond took the number one spot. The LaFace Records project cleared 330,000-plus units collectively as the Atlanta veteran sensation put his personal experiences over the last year to music. The work sold nearly 40,000 more units than the #2 spot holder, Justin Bieber and his My World 2.0.

Another R&B veteran, Erykah Badu, followed close behind. Entering the charts at #4, the Universal Motown "part two" in her New Amerykah series stirred controversy last week with her provocative "Window Seat" video shot in Badu's Dallas, Texas hometown. The acclaimed follow-up maintains her production roster Hip Hop-based luminaries such as 9th Wonder, Madlib, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Georgia Anne Muldrow and the late J. Dilla.

After last week's strong showing, another '90s R&B alum, Monica, held #6 with her Still Standing. The J Records artist crossed the 250,000 mark, with an album that features production from Missy Elliott and Jim Jonsin. Monica's Atlanta neighbor Ludacris, who appears on Still Standing, also crossed the 250,000 mark Battle of the Sexes. The DTP/Def Jam release fell out of the Top 10 last week just barely, going to #11.

The Black Eyed Peas held the #10 spot with The E.N.D. The release is soon to turn a year old, having already found double-platinum domestic status for the veteran Interscope Records group.

* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.

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

Rank	Artist	Album	This Week	Est. Total
1	Usher	Raymond v. Raymond	329,000	330,000
4	Erykah Badu	The New Amerykah Part Two	110,000	110,000
6	Monica	Still Standing	81,000	266,000
10	Black Eyed Peas	The E.N.D.	43,000	2,387,000
11	Ludacris	Battle of the Sexes	40,000	284,000

Four new Rap releases found their way to the charts last week. The highly-publicized Def Jam release of Wu-Tang Clan member trio Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Raekwon, Wu-Massacre, entered the charts at #12. Raekwon's first dealing with the famed New York imprint sold just under 40,000 units, with special packaging and production from RZA and Mathematics.

A west coast veteran, E-40 had three chart entries. After a career with Jive and more recently Reprise/Warner Brothers Records, the Vallejo, California slang-master went to EMI to distribute his companion albums, Revenue Retrievin' Day Shift and Night Shift. Released separately, both editions sold approximately 12,000 units. Additionally, in a double packaging, the Sick Wid It founder sold 5,000 more of each release, which feature numerous guests.

Neighbor to E-40, Sacramento's Brotha Lynch Hung returned for a second week of his Strange Music debut, Dinner and a Movie. After reports published on DX yesterday that the comeback album was under-bought by retailers, the veteran emcee cleared 10,000 units.

Lastly, led by Jedi Mind Tricks' Vinnie Paz, super-group Army of the Pharaohs charted with their third release, The Unholy Terror. With members including Apathy, Reef The Lost Cauze, Celph Titled and Esoteric, this release marked the group addition of former Canibus protege Journalist. Released through Babygrande Records/Enemy Soil, the AOTP album coincides with the group's ongoing tour with JMT.

Rank	Artist	Album	This Week	Est. Total
12	Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon	Wu-Massacre	38,000	38,000
47	E-40	Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift	12,000	12,000
49	E-40	Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift	12,000	12,000
179	Jedi Mind Tricks Present: Army of the Pharaohs	The Unholy Terror	3,200	3,200
184	Brotha Lynch Hung	Dinner and a Movie	3,100	11,000