A Tribe Called Quest’s first album since 1996, J. Cole’s second platinum album with no features, Drake drops his highly anticipated blockbuster, Views, Kevin Gates becomes a Billboard conversation; we look at the biggest hip hop album first week sales of 2016.
10. Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight by Travis Scott
Released: September 2, 2016
Label: Grand Hustle, Epic
First week sales: 88,000
Singles: “Wonderful”, “Pick Up the Phone”, “Goosebumps”
9. Trap or Die 3 by Young Jeezy
Released: October 28, 2016
Label: CTE World, Def Jam
First week sales: 89,000
Singles: “Let Em Know”, “All There”
8. The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
Released: February 14, 2016
Label: GOOD, Def Jam
First week sales: 94,000
Singles: “Famous”, “Father Stretch My Hands”, “Fade”
7. Major Key by DJ Khaled
Released: July 29, 2016
Label: Epic, We the Best
First week sales: 95,000
Singles: “For Free”, “I Got the Keys”, “Holy Key”, “Do You Mind”
6. Islah by Kevin Gates
Released: January 29, 2016
Label: Bread Winners’ Association, Atlantic
First week sales: 112,000
Singles: “Kno One”, “Really Really”, “2 Phones”, “Time for That”
5. Evol by Future
Released: February 6, 2016
Label: A1, Freebandz, Epic
First week sales: 134,000
Singles: “Low Life”, “Wicked”
4. We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service by A Tribe Called Quest
Released: November 11, 2016
Label: Epic
First week sales: 135,000
Singles: “We the People….”, “Dis Generation”
3. untitled unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar
Released: March 4, 2016
Label: Top Dawg, Aftermath, Interscope
First week sales: 178,000
Singles: “Untitled 07 | Levitate”
2. 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole
Released: December 9, 2016
Label: Dreamville, Roc Nation, Interscope
First week sales: 492,000
Singles: “Deja Vu”, “Neighbors”
1. Views by Drake
Released: April 29, 2016
Label: Cash Money, Republic, Young Money
First week sales: 1.04 million
Singles: “Hotline Bling”, “One Dance”, “Pop Style”, “Controlla”, “Too Good”
