2003 saw the debut of the one of the biggest rappers of all time, and the retirement of the best rapper alive. New York was officially having a changing of the guard moment.

Meanwhile, Atlanta continued to stride towards becoming the dominant region in hip hop with huge releases from OutKast and Ludacris. We take a look at the biggest hip hop album first week sales of 2003.

10. Cheers by Obie Trice

Released: September 23, 2003

Label: Shady, Interscope

First week album sales: 226,000

Billboard 200 position: 5

Singles: “Got Some Teeth”, “Shit Hits the Fan”, “The Set Up”, “Don’t Come Down”

9. The Neptunes Present… Clones by The Neptunes

Released: August 19, 2003

Label: Star Trak, Arista

First week album sales: 250,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Hot Damn”, “Frontin'”, “Light Your Ass on Fire”, “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, “It Blows My Mind”

8. Grand Champ by DMX

Released: September 16, 2003

Labels: Ruff Ryders, Def Jam

First week album sales: 312,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Where the Hood At?”, “Get It on the Floor”

7. Bad Boys II by Various Artists

Released: July 15, 2003

Label: Bad Boy, Universal

First week album sales: 324,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Flipside”, “La-La-La”, “Shake Ya Tailfeather”, “Show Me Your Soul”

6. Beg for Mercy by G-Unit

Released: November 14, 2003

Label: G-Unit, Interscope

First week album sales: 377,000

Billboard 200 position: 3

Singles: “Stunt 101”, “Poppin’ Them Thangs”, “Wanna Get to Know You”, “Smile”

5. Chicken-n-Beer by Ludacris

Released: October 7, 2003

Label: Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam

First week album sales: 429,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “P-Poppin”, “Stand Up”, “Blow It Out”, “Splash Waterfalls”, “Diamond in the Back”

4. Tupac: Resurrection by 2Pac

Released: November 11, 2003

Label: Amaru Entertainment

First week album sales: 420,000

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “Runnin’ (Dying to Live)”, “One Day at a Time (Em’s Version)”

3. The Black Album by Jay-Z

Released: November 14, 2003

Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

First week album sales: 463,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Change Clothes”, “Dirt off Your Shoulder”, “99 Problems”

2. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by OutKast

Released: September 23, 2003

Label: Arista

First week album sales: 510,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Hey Ya!”, “The Way You Move”, “Roses”, “Ghetto Musick / Prototype”

1. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent

Released: February 6, 2003

Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope

First week album sales: 872,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “In da Club”, “21 Questions”, “Many Men (Wish Death)”, “P.I.M.P.”, “If I Can’t”

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