Kendrick drops his highly anticipated major label debut; 2 Chainz solidifies his position at the top of the rap game; Nicki Minaj follows up with her sophomore; and Nas drops a new album after 20 years in the game.
Here are the biggest hip hop album first week sales of 2012.
10. Gespaltene Persönlichkeit by Xavas
Released: 2012
Label: N/A
First week album sales: 100,000
Singles: “Schau nicht mehr zurück”
9. O.N.I.F.C. by Wiz Khalifa
Released: December 4, 2012
Label: Atlantic, Rostrum
First week album sales: 141,000
Singles: “Work Hard, Play Hard”, “Remember You”
8. Based on a T.R.U. Story by 2 Chainz
Released: August 14, 2012
Label: Def Jam
First week album sales: 147,000
Singles: “No Lie”, “Birthday Song”, “I’m Different”
7. Life Is Good by Nas
Released: July 13, 2012
Label: Def Jam
First week album sales: 149,000
Singles: “Nasty”, “The Don”, “Daughters”, “Cherry Wine”
6. Dreams & Nightmares by Meek Mill
Released: October 30, 2012
Label: Maybach Music Group, Warner Bros.
First week album sales: 165,000
Singles: “Amen”, “Burn”, “Young & Gettin’ It”, “Believe It”
5. Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head by T.I.
Released: December 18, 2012
Label: Grand Hustle, Atlantic
First week album sales: 179,000
Singles: “Go Get It”, “Ball”, “Trap Back Jumpin”, “Sorry”, “Hello”
4. Cruel Summer by GOOD Music
Released: September 14, 2012
Label: GOOD, Def Jam
First week album sales: 205,000
Singles: “Mercy”, “Cold”, “New God Flow”, “Clique”
3. God Forgives, I Don’t by Rick Ross
Released: July 30, 2012
Label: Maybach Music Group, Slip-n-Slide, Def Jam
First week album sales: 218,000
Singles: “Touch’N You”, “So Sophisticated”, “Hold Me Back”, “Diced Pineapples”
2. good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Released: October 22, 2012
Label: TDE, Aftermath, Interscope
First week album sales: 242,000
Singles: “The Recipe”, “Swimming Pools (Drank)”, “Backseat Freestyle”, “Poetic Justice”, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
1. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded by Nicki Minaj
Released: April 2, 2012
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic
First week album sales: 253,000
Singles: “Starships”, “Right by My Side”, “Beez in the Trap”, “Pound the Alarm”, “Va Va Voom”
