Ever since 50 Cent burst onto the scene with the monumental Get Rich or Die Tryin’ , he singlehandedly made the topic of sales numbers a focal point of conversation moving forward.
Overnight, a rapper’s first week sales numbers were just as important as their skills on the mic or how dope their album was. I’m not saying this is right, I’m just saying this is how it is these days. A list of the best-selling rappers of all time is as interesting to the culture as a list of the best rappers alive .
So if we’re going to have that conversation, let’s talk about it. From Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle to Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP to J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive , here are the biggest first week hip hop album sales, every year since 1993.
1993. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle
Released: November 23, 1993
Label: Death Row, Interscope
First week album sales: 806,000
Singles: “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)”, “Gin & Juice”, “Doggy Dogg World”
Runner ups:
- Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z by 2Pac
- Lethal Injection by Ice Cube
- I t’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa by Eazy-E
1994. Death Row Records – Murder Was the Case
Released: October 18, 1994
Label: Death Row, Interscope
First week album sales: 329,000
Singles: “U Better Recognize”, “One More Day/What Would You Do?”, “Natural Born Killaz”
Runner ups:
- Creepin on ah Come Up by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
- Regulate… G Funk Era by Warren G
- Tical by Method Man
1995. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
Released: July 25, 1995
Label: Ruthless, Relativity
First week album sales: 307,000
Singles: “1st of tha Month”, “East 1999”, “Tha Crossroads”
Runner ups:
- Dogg Food by Tha Dogg Pound
- Me Against The World by 2Pac
- Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom by Cypress Hill
- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… by Raekwon
1996. 2Pac – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Released: November 5, 1996
Label: Death Row, Makaveli, Interscope Records
First week album sales: 664,000
Singles: “Toss It Up”, “To Live & Die in L.A.”, “Hail Mary”
Runner ups:
- All Eyez On Me by 2Pac
- Tha Doggfather by Snoop Dogg
- It Was Written by Nas
- The Score by Fugees
1997. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Released: March 25, 1997
Label: Bad Boy, Arista
First week album sales: 690,000
Singles: “Hypnotize”, “Mo Money Mo Problems”, “Sky’s the Limit”
Runner ups:
- Wu-Tang Forever by Wu-Tang Clan
- No Way Out by Puff Daddy
- R U Still Down? (Remember Me) by 2Pac
- The Art Of War by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
1998. Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
Released: July 14, 1998
Label: Capitol
First week album sales: 681,000
Singles: “Intergalactic”, “Body Movin'”, “The Negotiation Limerick File”, “Remote Control / Three MC’s and One DJ”
Runner ups:
- Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood by DMX
- Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told by Snoop Dogg
- MP Da Last Don by Master P
- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
1999. DMX – …And Then There Was X
Released: December 21, 1999
Label: Ruff Ryders, Def Jam
First week album sales: 698,000
Singles: “What’s My Name”, “Party Up (Up in Here)”, “What These Bitches Want”
Runner ups:
- 2001 by Dr. Dre
- Born Again by The Notorious B.I.G.
- I Am… by Nas
- Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter by Jay-Z
2000. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Released: May 23, 2000
Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
First week album sales: 1,760,000
Singles: “The Real Slim Shady”, “The Way I Am”, “Stan”, “I’m Back”, “Bitch Please II”
Runner ups:
- The Dynasty: Roc La Familia by Jay-Z
- Stankonia by Outkast
- Tha Last Meal by Snoop Dogg
- Let’s Get Ready by Mystikal
2001. DMX – The Great Depression
Released: October 23, 2001
Label: Ruff Ryders, Def Jam
First week album sales: 439,000
Singles: “We Right Here”, “Who We Be”, “I Miss You”
Runner ups:
- Until The End of Time by 2Pac
- The Blueprint by Jay-Z
- Devil’s Night by D12
- Pain Is Love by Ja Rule
2002. Eminem – The Eminem Show
Released: May 26, 2002
Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
First week album sales: 1,322,000
Singles: “Without Me”, “Cleanin’ Out My Closet”, “Superman”, “Sing for the Moment”, “Business”
Runner ups:
- Nellyville by Nelly
- 8 Mile OST by Various Artists
- The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse by Jay-Z
- Better Dayz by 2Pac
2003. 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Released: February 6, 2003
Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
First week album sales: 872,000
Singles: “In da Club”, “21 Questions”, “Many Men (Wish Death)”, “P.I.M.P.”, “If I Can’t”
Runner ups:
- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by OutKast
- The Black Album by Jay-Z
- Tupac: Resurrection by 2Pac
- Chicken-n-Beer by Ludacris
2004. Eminem – Encore
Released: November 12, 2004
Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
First week album sales: 710,000
Singles: “Just Lose It”, “Mosh”, “Encore”, “Like Toy Soldiers”, “Mockingbird”, “Ass Like That”
Runner ups:
- D12 World by D12
- The College Dropout by Kanye West
- The Hunger for More by Lloyd Banks
- Suit by Nelly
2005. 50 Cent – The Massacre
Released: March 3, 2005
Label: Shady Aftermath Interscope
First week album sales: 1,140,000
Singles: “Disco Inferno”, “Candy Shop”, “Just a Lil Bit”, “Outta Control”
Runner ups:
- Late Registration by Kanye West
- The Documentary by The Game
- Curtain Call: The Hits by Eminem
- Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ OST by Various Artists
2006. Jay-Z – Kingdom Come
Released: November 21, 2006
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 680,000
Singles: “Show Me What You Got”, “Lost One”, “30 Something”, “Hollywood”
Runner ups:
- T.I. – King
- The Game – Doctors Advocate
- Nas – Hip Hop Is Dead
- Young Jeezy – The Inspiration
2007. Kanye West – Graduation
Released: September 11, 2007
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 957,000
Singles: “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”, “Stronger”, “Good Life”, “Flashing Lights”, “Homecoming”
- 50 Cent – Curtis
- T.I. – T.I. vs. T.I.P.
- Jay-Z – American Gangster
- Fabolous – From Nothin’ to Somethin’
2008. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
Released: June 10, 2008
Label: Cash Money, Universal Motown
First week album sales: 1,005,545
Singles: “Lollipop”, “A Milli”, “Got Money”, “Mr. Carter”, “Mrs. Officer”
- T.I. – Paper Trail
- Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
- Young Jeezy – The Recession
- The Game – LAX
2009. Eminem – Relapse
Released: May 19, 2009
Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope, Web Entertainment
First week album sales: 608,000
Singles: “Crack a Bottle”, “We Made You”, “3 a.m.”, “Beautiful”
- Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
- 50 Cent – Before I Self Destruct
- Rick Ross – Deeper Than Rap
- Young Money – We Are Young Money
2010. Eminem – Recovery
Released: June 18, 2010
Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
First week album sales: 741,000
Singles: “Not Afraid”, “Love the Way You Lie”, “No Love”, “Space Bound”
- Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
- Drake – Thank Me Later
- Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday
- Lil Wayne – Rebirth
- Rick Ross – Teflon Don
2011. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV
Released: August 29, 2011
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic
First week album sales: 964,000
Singles: “6 Foot 7 Foot”, “John”, “How to Love”, “She Will”, “It’s Good”, “Mirror”
- Take Care by Drake
- Watch the Throne by Jay-Z & Kanye West
- Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition by Young Jeezy
- Cole World: The Sideline Story by J. Cole
2012. Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Released: April 2, 2012
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic
First week album sales: 253,000
Singles: “Starships”, “Right by My Side”, “Beez in the Trap”, “Pound the Alarm”, “Va Va Voom”
- good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
- God Forgives, I Don’t by Rick Ross
- Cruel Summer by GOOD Music
- Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head by T.I.
2013. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Released: November 5, 2013
Label: Aftermath, Shady, Interscope
First week album sales: 792,000
Singles: “Berzerk”, “Survival”, “Rap God”, “The Monster”, “Headlights”
- Nothing Was the Same by Drake
- Magna Carta Holy Grail by Jay-Z
- Yeezus by Kanye West
- Born Sinner by J. Cole
2014. J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Released: December 9, 2014
Label: Dreamville, Roc Nation, Columbia
First week album sales: 371,000
Singles: “Apparently”, “Wet Dreamz”, “No Role Modelz”, “Love Yourz”
- The Pinkprint by Nicki Minaj
- Mastermind by Rick Ross
- King by Kollegah
- Oxymoron by Schoolboy Q
2015. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Released: February 13, 2015
Label: OVO Sound, Young Money, Cash Money, Republic
First week album sales: 535,000
Singles: “Preach”, “Energy”
Runner ups:
- What a Time to Be Alive by Drake & Future
- To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
- Compton by Dr. Dre
- Dreams Worth More Than Money by Meek Mill
2016. Drake – Views
Released: April 29, 2016
Label: Cash Money, Republic, Young Money
First week album sales: 1,040,000
Singles: “Hotline Bling”, “One Dance”, “Pop Style”, “Controlla”, “Too Good”
Runner ups:
- 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole
- untitled unmastered by Kendrick Lamar
- We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest
- Evol by Future
2017. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
Released: April 14, 2017
Label: TDE, Aftermath, Interscope
First week album sales: 603,000
Singles: “Humble”, “Loyalty”, “Love”
Runner ups:
- More Life by Drake
- Revival by Eminem
- 4:44 by Jay-Z
- Everybody by Logic
- I Decided. by Big Sean
2018. Drake – Scorpion
Released: June 29, 2018
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Republic
First week album sales: 732,000
Singles: “God’s Plan”, “Nice for What”, “I’m Upset”, “Don’t Matter to Me”, “In My Feelings”, “Nonstop”, “Mob Ties”
Runner ups:
Runner ups:
- Astroworld by Travis Scott
- Tha Carter V by Lil Wayne
- Beerbongs & Bentleys by Post Malone
- Kamikaze by Eminem
- KOD by J. Cole
2019. Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding
Released: September 6, 2019
Label: Republic
First week album sales: 489,000
Singles: “Wow”, “Goodbyes”, “Circles”, “Enemies”, “Allergic”, “Take What You Want”
Runner ups:
- Jesus Is King by Kanye West
- Igor by Tyler, the Creator
- Death Race for Love by Juice Wrld
- Kirk by DaBaby
- Father of Asahd by DJ Khaled
2020. Juice Wrld – Legends Never Die
Released: July 10, 2020
Label: Grade A, Interscope
First week album sales: 497,000
Singles: “Righteous”, “Tell Me U Luv Me”, “Life’s a Mess”, “Come & Go”, “Wishing Well”, “Smile”
Runner ups:
- Eternal Atake by Lil Uzi Vert
- Music to Be Murdered By by Eminem
- Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon by Pop Smoke
- Dark Lane Demo Tapes by Drake
2021. Drake – Certified Lover Boy
Released: September 3, 2021
Label: OVO, Republic
First week album sales: 613,000
Singles: “Way 2 Sexy”, “Girls Want Girls”
Runner ups:
- Donda by Kanye West
- The Off-Season by J. Cole
- Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, the Creator
- The Voice of the Heroes by Lil Baby & Lil Durk
2022. Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
Released: November 4, 2022
Label: OVO, Republic
First week album sales: 404,000
Singles: “Circo Loco”
Runner ups:
- Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
- Future – I Never Liked You
- Lil Baby – It’s Only Me
- Drake – Honestly, Nevermind
