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After a spectacular 2021, which saw a blend of releases from high-profile artists (Drake, Kanye, J. Cole, Tyler) and dope independent and underground rappers (Ransom, Westside Gunn, Rome Streetz), it looks like 2022 is gearing up to be another great year for hip hop.

Straight off the bat, we had notable releases from Benny the Butcher, Lil Durk, 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti, Youngboy NBA, Cordae, Gunna, Conway the Machine, Earl Sweatshirt, Snoop Dogg, Earthgang, Kodak Black, Dave East, Bun B, Elzhi, the late great Phife Dawg, Denzel Curry and plenty more.

Later in the year, we had big drops from Five Foreign, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Vince Staples, Future and Jack Harlow. Then there’s Joey Bada$$, Lil Uzi Vert, Wiz Khalifa, another YoungBoy Never Broke Again drop, Megan Thee Stallion and Rod Wave. Not to mention plenty more albums from other high-profile artists on the way.

So let’s get into it. From Kendrick’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers to Future’s I Never Liked You, here are the biggest hip hop album first week sales of 2022 (so far).

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YG – I Got Issues

Released: September 30, 2022

Label: 4Hunnid, Def Jam

First week album sales: 13,800

Billboard 200 position: 48

Singles: “Toxic”

Features: J.Cole, MoneyBagg Yo, Mozzy, D3szn, H.E.R, Roddy Ricch, Post Malone, Nas, Cuco, Duki

Quando Rondo & YoungBoy Never Broke Again – 3860

Released: November 25, 2022

Label: Atlantic, Never Broke Again, Quando Rondo, LLC

First week album sales: 14,397

Billboard 200 position: 62

Singles: “Give Me a Sign”, “Cream Soda”, “Keep Me Dry”, “It’s On”

Features: Lul Timm

Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyez See Your Future

Released: March 25, 2022

Label: PH, Loma Vista

First week album sales: 15,244

Billboard 200 position: 51

Singles: “Walkin”, “Zatoichi”, “Troubles”

Features: Robert Glasper, Buzzy Lee, Saul Williams, Bridget Perez, T-Pain, 6lack, Rico Nasty, JID, Jasiah, 454, and Slowthai.

iann dior – On to Better Things

Released: January 21, 2022

Label: 10k Projects

First week album sales: 17,125

Billboard 200 position: 28

Singles: “V12”, “Let You”, “Thought It Was”

Features: Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Barker, and Machine Gun Kelly.

Dababy – Baby On Baby 2

Released: September 23, 2022

Label: Interscope, SCMG

First week album sales: 17,252

Billboard 200 position: 24

Singles: N/A

Features: Anthony Hamilton.

Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart

Released: April 8, 2022

Label: Motown, Blacksmith

First week album sales: 18,921

Billboard 200 position: 21

Singles: “Magic”, “Rose Street”

Features: Mustard, Lil Baby, and Ty Dolla Sign

Babyface Ray – Face

Released: January 28, 2022

Label: EMPIRE Distribution, Wavy Gang

First week album sales: 19,018

Billboard 200 position: 31

Singles: N/A

Features: Icewear Vezzo, Young Lean, G Herbo, 42 Dogg, Landstripe Chip, Pusha T, and Wiz Khalifa.

2 Chainz – Dope Don’t Sell Itself

Released: February 4, 2022

Label: Def Jam

First week album sales: 19,400

Billboard 200 position: 20

Singles: “Million Dollars Worth of Game”, “Pop Music”

Features: Moneybagg Yo, BeatKing, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, 42 Dugg, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Durk, Sleepy Rose, Swae Lee, Stove God Cooks, Symba, Major Myjah, and Jacquees.

Benny the Butcher – Tana Talk 4

Released: March 11, 2022

Label: Griselda, Empire

First week album sales: 19,600

Billboard 200 position: 15

Singles: “Johnny P’s Caddy”

Features: J. Cole, Stove God Cooks, Boldy James, Diddy, Conway the Machine, 38 Speech, and Westside Gunn.

Cordae – From a Birds Eye View

Released: January 14, 2022

Label: Atlantic, Art@War

First week album sales: 20,000

Billboard 200 position: 13

Singles: “Gifted”, “Super”, “Sinister”

Features: Gunna, Lil Wayne, H.E.R., Lil Durk, Freddie Gibbs, Stevie Wonder, Eminem, and Roddy Ricch.

NLE ChoppaMe vs. Me

Released: January 28, 2022

Label: Warner

First week album sales: 21,700

Billboard 200 position: 14

Singles: “Final Warning”, “Mmm Hmm”, “Jumpin”, “I.Y.B.”, “Drop Shit”, “Too Hot”

Features: Young Thug, Polo G, G Herbo, and Moneybagg Yo.

Joey Badass – 2000

Released: July 22, 2022

Label: Pro Era, Cinematic

First week album sales: 22,000

Billboard 200 position: 18

Singles: “Head High”, “Where I Belong”, “Survivors Guilt”, “Zipcodes”

Features: Diddy, Westside Gunn, Larry June, Chris Brown, Capella Grey, and JID.

Kid Cudi – Entergalactic

Released: September 30, 2022

Label: Wicked Awesome, Republic

First week album sales: 22,000

Billboard 200 position: 13

Singles: “Do What I Want”, “Willing to Trust”

Features: Ty Dolla Sign, 2 Chainz, Steve Aoki and Don Toliver

Freddie Gibbs – Soul Sold Separately

Released: September 30, 2022

Label: ESGN, Warner

First week album sales: 22,000

Billboard 200 position: 14

Singles: “Too Much”

Features: Kelly Price, Offset, Moneybagg Yo, Rick Ross, Anderson .Paak, Raekwon, Pusha T, Musiq Soulchild, Scarface

Latto – 777

Released: March 25, 2022

Label: RCA, Streamcut

First week album sales: 23,500

Billboard 200 position: 16

Singles: “Big Energy”, “Soufside”, “Wheelie”

Features: 21 Savage, Childish Gambino, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, Nardo Wick, and Kodak Black.

NigoI Know Nigo!

Released: March 25, 2022

Label: Republic, Victor Victor

First week album sales: 23,500

Billboard 200 position: 15

Singles: “Arya”, “Want It Bad”, “Hear Me Clearly”, “Morë Tonight”, “Heavy”

Features: ASAP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, Pusha T, Clipse, Pharrell Williams, Gunna, Kid Cudi, Teriyaki Boyz, ASAP Ferg, Pop Smoke, and Lil Uzi Vert.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again – 3800 Degrees

Released: October 7, 2022

Label: Never Broke Again, Atlantic

First week album sales: 24,000

Billboard 200 position: 11

Singles: N/A

Features: E-40, Mouse on tha Track, and Shy Glizzy

Tory Lanez – Sorry 4 What

Released: September 30, 2022

Label: One Umbrella

First week album sales: 25,000

Billboard 200 position: 11

Singles: N/A

Features: A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Yoko Gold

The Game – Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind

Released: August 12, 2022

Label: 100 Entertainment, Virgin

First week album sales: 25,000

Billboard 200 position: 12

Singles: “Eazy”

Features: Drake, Ice-T, Fivio Foreign, Roddy Ricch, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, YG, Ty Dolla Sign, Moneybagg Yo, ASAP Rocky, Jeremih, Pusha T, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Dreezy, G Herbo, Blxst, Big Sean, French Montana, Tory Lanez, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Blueface, Twista, Cam’ron, Chlöe, and Cassie.

G Herbo – Survivor’s Remorse

Released: October 7, 2022

Label: Machine, Republic

First week album sales: 28,000

Billboard 200 position: 9

Singles: “Me, Myself & I”, “Blues”

Features: Yosohn, Jeremih, Offset, Future, Benny the Butcher, Essex, Gunna, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Young Thug, Conway the Machine, and Kodak Black

DaBaby & YoungBoy Never Broke Again – Better than You

Released: March 4, 2022

Label: Atlantic, Interscope, South Coast, Never Broke Again

First week album sales: 28,500

Billboard 200 position: 10

Singles: “Hit”, “Neighborhood Superstar”

Features: N/A

Fivio Foreign – B.I.B.L.E.

Released: April 8, 2022

Label: Columbia Records, RichFish

First week album sales: 28,760

Billboard 200 position: 9

Singles: “City of Gods”, “Magic City”

Features: Quavo, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Queen Naija, Chloe, A$AP Rocky, Lil Tjay, Polo G, and Ne-Yo

42 Dugg & EST Gee – Last Ones Left

Released: April 8, 2022

Label: CMG, Warlike, Interscope

First week album sales: 29,040

Billboard 200 position: 7

Singles: “Who Hotter Than Gee”, “Free the Shiners”, “Everybody Shooters Too”, “Thump Shit”

Features: 42 Cheez, Meet The Reaper, YNT Tae Money, BIG30, and EST Zo.

Jeezy – SNOFALL

Released: October 21, 2022

Label: YJ Music, Def Jam

First week album sales: 31,000

Billboard 200 position: TBC

Singles: N/A

Features: Lil Durk, 42 Dugg, EST Gee

JID – The Forever Story

Released: August 26, 2022

Label: Dreamville, Interscope

First week album sales: 31,000

Billboard 200 position: 12

Singles: “Surround Sound”, “Dance Now”

Features: Kenny Mason, EarthGang, 21 Savage, Baby Tate, Lil Durk, Ari Lennox, Yasiin Bey, Lil Wayne, Johntá Austin, Ravyn Lenae and Eryn Allen Kane.

DreamvilleD-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape

Released: March 31, 2022

Label: Dreamville Records, Interscope Records

First week album sales: 31,996

Billboard 200 position: 11

Singles: “Heaven’s EP”

Features: 2 Chainz, ASAP Ferg, Kenny Mason, Sheck Wes, G Perico, Reason, and Young Nudy.

Yeat – 2 Alivë

Released: February 18, 2022

Label: Geffen, Field Trip, Twizzy Rich

First week album sales: 32,000

Billboard 200 position: 6

Singles: “Still Countin”

Features: Young Thug, Gunna, Yung Kayo, Ken Carson, and SeptembersRich.

Released: October 7, 2022

Label: Quality Control, Capitol, Motown, YRN

First week album sales: 34,000

Billboard 200 position: 7

Singles: “Hotel Lobby (Unc & Phew)”, “Us vs. Them”, “Big Stunna”, “Nothing Change”

Features: Gucci Mane, Birdman, Summer Walker, Young Thug, Gunna, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Mustard

Roddy Richh – Feed Tha Streets III

Released: November 18, 2022

Label: Atlantic Bird Vision

First week album sales: 39,000

Billboard 200 position: 6

Singles: “Stop Breathing”, “Aston Martin Truck”, “Twin”

Features: Lil Durk, Ty Dolla Sign

YoungBoy Never Broke Again – Ma’ I Got A Family

Released: October 21, 2022

Label: Never Broke Again, Atlantic

First week album sales: 39,000

Billboard 200 position: 6

Singles: N/A

Features: Nicki Minaj, Yeat

Kodak Black – Kutthroat Bill: Vol. 1

Released: October 28, 2022

Label: Sniper Gang, Atlantic

First week album sales: 43,000

Billboard 200 position: 8

Singles: “Walk”, “Spin”, “I’m So Awesome”

Yo Gotti – CM10: Free Game

Released: February 4, 2022

Label: CMG, Inevitable II Records

First week album sales: 46,000

Billboard 200 position: 3

Singles: “For the Record”, “Cold Gangsta”

Features: 42 Dugg, Blac Youngsta, EST Gee, Kodak Black, Moneybagg Yo, Shenseea and DaBaby.

Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry

Released: April 22, 2022

Label: GOOD, Def Jam

First week album sales: 55,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Diet Coke”, “Hear Me Clearly”, “Neck & Wrist”

Features: Kanye West, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, Nigo, No Malice, Lil Uzi Vert, Kid Cudi, Don Toliver and Labrinth.

King Von – What It Means to Be King

Released: March 4, 2022

Label: Empire, Only the Family

First week album sales: 59,000

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “Grandson for President”, “Don’t Play That”, “War”

Features: G Herbo, 21 Savage, Fivio Foreign, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, Tee Grizzley, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Dreezy, Boss Top, DqFrmDaO, and OMB Peezy.

Kodak Black – Back for Everything

Released: February 25, 2022

Label: Atlantic

First week album sales: 60,000

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “Love & War”

Features: Lil Durk.

Megan Thee Stallion – Traumazine

Released: August 12, 2022

Label: 1501 Certified, 300

First week album sales: 63,000

Billboard 200 position: 4

Singles: “Sweetest Pie”, “Plan B”, “Pressurelicious”

Features: Key Glock, Latto, Pooh Shiesty, Rico Nasty, Jhené Aiko, Lucky Daye, Sauce Walka, Lil’ Keke and Big Pokey.

Released: September 9, 2022

Label: XO, Republic

First week album sales: 67,000

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “Never Sleep”, “Wrong Decisions”

Features: Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Future, Don Toliver, Gunna, Lil Durk, RealestK, Bryson Tiller, and Babyface Ray

YoungBoy Never Broke Again – Colors

Released: January 21, 2022

Label: Never Broke Again, Atlantic

First week album sales: 79,000

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “Bring the Hook”

Features: Quando Rondo.

DJ Khaled – God Did

Released: August 26, 2022

Label: We the Best, Epic

First week album sales: 107,500

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Staying Alive”

Features: Drake, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend, Fridayy, Kanye West, Eminem, Future, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, Roddy Ricch, Quavo, Takeoff, SZA, Nardo Wick, Kodak Black, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, Gunna, Latto, City Girls, Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Juice Wrld, Jadakiss, and Vory.

Jack Harlow – Come Home the Kids Miss You

Released: May 6, 2022

Label: Generation Now, Atlantic

First week album sales: 113,000

Billboard 200 position: 3

Singles: “Nail Tech”, “First Class”

Features: Pharrell Williams, Drake, Justin Timberlake, and Lil Wayne.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again – The Last Slimeto

Released: August 5, 2022

Label: Never Broke Again, Atlantic

First week album sales: 108,400

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “Mr. Grim Reaper”, “I Hate YoungBoy”, “Don’t Rate Me”, “Vette Motors”

Features: Kehlani, Rod Wave, Quavo.

Rod Wave – Beautiful Mind

Released: August 12, 2022

Label: Alamo

First week album sales: 115,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “By Your Side”, “Cold December”, “Stone Rolling”, “Alone”

Features: Jack Harlow and December Joy.

Lil Durk – 7220

Released: March 11, 2022

Label: Only the Family, Alamo, Sony

First week album sales: 120,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Pissed Me Off”, “Broadway Girls”, “Ahhh Ha”

Features: Future, Gunna, Summer Walker, and Morgan Wallen.

Post Malone – Twelve Carat Toothache

Released: June 3, 2022

Label: Mercury, Republic

First week album sales: 121,000

Billboard 200 position: 2

Singles: “One Right Now”, “Cooped Up”, “I Like You (A Happier Song)”

Features: Roddy Ricch, Doja Cat, Gunna, Fleet Foxes, the Kid Laroi, and The Weeknd.

Gunna – DS4Ever

Released: January 7, 2022

Label: YSL, 300

First week album sales: 150,300

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “Too Easy”

Features: Future, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Drake, Kodak Black, Chlöe, Lil Baby, G Herbo, Nechie, Yung Bleu, Chris Brown, and Roddy Ricch.

Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains

Released: December 2, 2022

Label: Boominati, Republic

First week album sales: 185,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: N/A

Features: John Legend, Future, Chris Brown, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Young Thug, The Weeknd, Mustafa, ASAP Rocky, Gunna, Takeoff.

Drake – Honestly, Nevermind

Released: June 17, 2022

Label: OVO Sound, Republic

First week album sales: 204,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: N/A

Features: 21 Savage.

After the blockbuster that was 2021’s Certified Lover Boy, Drake’s 2022 surprise release Honestly, Nevermind kept things a little more low-key than usual. Taking a stylistic left-turn from his previous releases, with influences from house and Baltimore club, Drake’s latest release nevertheless was a commercial success (how could it not be?), selling just over 200,000 copies in its first week. It might be paltry numbers compared to what the Toronto rapper’s used to, but it’s big enough to be one of the top-selling rap albums of the year.

Future – I Never Liked You

Released: April 29, 2022

Label: Freebandz, Epic

First week album sales: 222,000

Billboard 200 Position: 1

Singles: N/A

Features: Kanye West, Gunna, Young Thug, Drake, Tems, EST Gee, and Kodak Black.

It had been two years since Future’s last album, High Off Life, and a little less than that if you count his collaborative project with Lil Uzi Vert, Pluto x Baby Pluto, so for his fanbase, who were so used to multiple drops a year, it definitely felt like a drought. But we didn’t have to wait much longer. Dropping “Worst Day” a couple days before Valentine’s Day, Future started the hype machine for his ninth studio album. When it finally dropped, I Never Liked You ended up becoming the Atlanta rapper-crooner’s biggest release to date, selling 222,000 units in its first week and topping the charts.

Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

Released: May 13, 2022

Label: PGLang, Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records Records

First week album sales: 295,500

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: “N95”

Features: Sampha, Kodak Black, Ghostface Killah, Florence Welch, Beth Gibbons of Portishead, Baby Keem.

After taking a five-year break from his last solo album, Kendrick Lamar was back like he never left. First it was rumblings of a new album with a new blog post uploaded in August 2021 where the Compton rapper spoke about his days “collecting old Beach cruisers” and going “months without a phone.” Then it was a devastating guest appearance on Baby Keem’s “Family Ties,” and before you knew it, K.Dot was back. Promoted with just the one single – “The Heart Part 5” – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers instantly topped the Billboard 200 and became Kendrick’s fourth number one album.

Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss

Released: November 4, 2022

Label: OVO, Republic, Slaughter Gang, Epic

First week album sales: 411,000

Billboard 200 position: 1

Singles: N/A

Features: Travis Scott

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