While Nas and Jay-Z were warring for the New York throne, DMX continued his hot streak, during a period where he dropped five straight number one albums .
Meanwhile, Jadakiss made his solo debut, Eminem started putting his D12 group, while Ja Rule continued to climb up the charts, dropping his biggest album to date We take a look at the biggest hip hop album first week sales of 2001.
10. Kiss tha Game Goodbye by Jadakiss
Released: August 7, 2001
Label: Interscope, Ruff Ryders
First week album sales: 204,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: “We Gonna Make It”, “Knock Yourself Out”, “Put Ya Hands Up”
9. Project English by Juvenile
Released: August 21, 2001
Label: Cash Money, Universal
First week album sales: 213,000
Billboard 200 position: 2
Singles: “Set It Off”
8. Word of Mouf by Ludacris
Released: November 27, 2001
Label: Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam
First week album sales: 281,000
Billboard 200 position: 3
Singles: “Area Codes”, “Rollout (My Business)”, “Saturday (Oooh! Ooooh!)”, “Move Bitch”
7. Doggy Bag by Lil’ Bow Wow
Released: December 18, 2001
Label: So So Def, Columbia
First week album sales: 320,000
Billboard 200 position: 11
Singles: “Thank You”, “Take Ya Home”
6. Stillmatic by Nas
Released: December 18 2001
Label: Ill Will, Columbia
First week album sales: 342,000
Billboard 200 position: 8
Singles: “Rule”, “Got Ur Self A…”, “The Flyest”, “One Mic”
5. Pain Is Love by Ja Rule
Released: October 2, 2001
Label: Murder Inc., Def Jam
First week album sales: 361,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Livin’ It Up”, “Always on Time”, “Down Ass Bitch”
4. Devil’s Night by D12
Released: June 19, 2001
Label: Shady Records, Interscope
First week album sales: 371,881
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Shit on You”, “Purple Pills”, “Ain’t Nuttin’ but Music”, “Fight Music”
3. The Blueprint by Jay-Z
Released: September 11, 2001
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 427,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”, “Girls, Girls, Girls”, “Jigga That Nigga”, “Song Cry”
2. Until The End of Time by 2Pac
Released: March 27, 2001
Label: Amaru, Death Row, Interscope
First week album sales: 426,870
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Happy Home”, “Until the End of Time”, “Letter 2 My Unborn”
1. The Great Depression by DMX
Released: October 23, 2001
Labels: Ruff Ryders, Def Jam
First week album sales: 440,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “We Right Here”, “Who We Be”, “I Miss You”
