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”
