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”
