2000 was a year where we saw a lot of dope rappers drop big-selling albums. From Nelly to Ja Rule, Wu-Tang Clan to Snoop Dogg, Mystikal to OutKast, it was a big year for hip hop.
But all of those releases paled in comparison to the numbers that Eminem would put up with The Marshall Mathers LP . Selling a whopping 1.78 million in its first week, the album would become the highest first week sales for a hip hop album of all time .
10. Country Grammar by Nelly
Released: June 6, 2000
Label: Fo’ Reel, Universal
First week album sales: 235,000
Billboard 200 position: 3
Singles: “Country Grammar (Hot Shit)”, “E.I.”, “Ride wit Me”, “Batter Up”
9. Ryde or Die Vol. 2 by Various Artists
Released: July 4, 2000
Label: Ruff Ryders, Interscope
First week album sales: 254,000
Billboard 200 position: 2
Singles: “WW III”, “Got It All”
8. Rule 3:36 by Ja Rule
Released: October 10, 2000
Label: Murder Inc., Def Jam
First week album sales: 276,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Between Me and You”, “Put It on Me”, “6 Feet Underground”, “I Cry”
7. The W by Wu-Tang Clan
Released: November 21, 2000
Label: Loud, Columbia
First week album sales: 301,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: “Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)”, “Gravel Pit”, “Careful (Click, Click)”
6. Let’s Get Ready by Mystikal
Released: September 26, 2000
Label: Jive Records
First week album sales: 330,663
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Shake Ya Ass”, “Danger (Been So Long)”
5. Tha Last Meal by Snoop Dogg
Released: December 19, 2000
Label: Doggystyle, No Limit, Priority
First week album sales: 397,000 copies
Billboard 200 position: 9
Singles: “Snoop Dogg (What’s My Name Pt. 2)”, “Lay Low”, “Wrong Idea”, “Loosen’ Control”
4. Stankonia by Outkast
Released: October 31, 2000
Label: LaFace, Arista
First week album sales: 530,000
Billboard 200 position: 2
Singles: “B.O.B”, “Ms. Jackson”, “So Fresh, So Clean”
3. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia by Jay-Z
Released: October 31, 2000
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 557,789
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)”, “Change the Game”, “Guilty Until Proven Innocent”
2. Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water by Limp Bizkit
Released: October 17, 2000
Label: Flip, Interscope
First week album sales: 1,054,511
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Take a Look Around”, “My Generation”, “Rollin'”, “My Way”, “Boiler”
1. The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem
Released: May 23, 2000
Label: Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope, Goliath
First week album sales: 1,780,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “The Real Slim Shady Records”, “The Way I Am”, “Stan”, “I’m Back”, “Bitch Please II”