Kanye’s catalogue is legendary. Over the past 15 plus years, the rapper-producer has racked up a handful of classic albums (at least five depending on how you look at it), four number one hits and nine number one albums.
The only rappers to have more chart toppers than Kanye are JAY Z and Eminem , and they’ve got a few years ahead of him.
So let’s get into it, here are the rankings for every Kanye West first week album debuts – from 2004’s The College Dropout to 2024’s Vultures 1.
The Life of Pablo – first week album sales
Released: February 14, 2016
Label: GOOD, Def Jam
First week album sales: 90,000*
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Famous”, “Father Stretch My Hands”, “Fade”
Features: The-Dream, Kelly Price, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kid Cudi, Desiigner, Rihanna, Young Thug, Chris Brown, The Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign, Vic Mensa, Sia, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Sampha.
*The Life of Pablo was only available on Tidal during it’s first week of release. The real number would be much, much higher than 90,000.
Vultures 1 – first week album sales
Released: February 10, 2024
Label: YZY
First week album sales: 148,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Talking / Once Again”, “Vultures”
Features: Ty Dolla $ign, YG, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Freddie Gibbs, Quavo, the late Nipsey Hussle, Lil Durk, Bump J, Rich the Kid, Chris Brown, India Love, J. Rey Soul, and North (Kanye’s daughter).
Kids See Ghosts (with Kid Cudi) – first week album sales
Released: June 8, 2018
Label: Wicked Awesome, GOOD, Def Jam
First week album sales: 142,000
Billboard 200 position: 2
Singles: N/A
Features: Pusha T, Yasiin Bey, and Ty Dolla Sign.
Cruel Summer (with G.O.O.D. Music) – first week album sales
Released: September 14, 2012
Label: GOOD, Def Jam
First week album sales: 205,000
Billboard 200 position: 2
Singles: “Mercy”, “Cold”, “New God Flow”, “Clique”
Features: 2 Chainz, Jay-Z and Travis Scott.
Ye – first week album sales
Released: June 1, 2018
Label: GOOD, Def Jam
First week album sales: 208,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Yikes”, “All Mine”
Features: PartyNextDoor, Ty Dolla Sign, Kid Cudi, Charlie Wilson, Jeremih, and 070 Shake.
Jesus Is King – first week album sales
Released: October 25, 2019
Label: GOOD, Def Jam
First week album sales: 264,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Follow God”, “Closed on Sunday”
Features: Clipse, Ty Dolla Sign, Kenny G, Fred Hammond, Ant Clemons, and the Sunday Service Choir.
Donda – first week album sales
Released: August 29, 2021
Label: GOOD Music, Def Jam
First week album sales: 309,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: N/A
Features: Jay-Z, Fivio Foreign, Playboi Carti, Lil Baby, the Weeknd, Vory, Kid Cudi, DaBaby, Baby Keem, Marilyn Manson, Travis Scott, Lil Durk, Don Toliver, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Jay Electronica, Pop Smoke, Roddy Ricch, DaBaby, Ty Dolla Sign, The LOX, and Swizz Beatz.
Yeezus – first week album sales
Released: June 18, 2013
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 327,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Black Skinhead”, “Bound 2”
Features: Justin Vernon, Chief Keef, Kid Cudi, Assassin, King L, Charlie Wilson, and Frank Ocean.
Watch the Throne (with JAY Z) – first week album sales
Released: August 8, 2011
Label: Def Jam, Roc Nation, Roc-A-Fella
First week album sales: 436,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “H•A•M”, “Otis”, “Lift Off”, “Ni**as in Paris”, “Why I Love You”, “Gotta Have It”, “No Church in the Wild”
Features: Kid Cudi, Seal, Justin Vernon, Elly Jackson, Connie Mitchell, Charlie Wilson and Pete Rock.
The College Dropout – first week album sales
Released: February 10, 2004
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 441,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Through the Wire”, “Slow Jamz”, “All Falls Down”, “Jesus Walks”, “The New Workout Plan”
Features: Jay-Z, Mos Def, Jamie Foxx, Syleena Johnson, Ludacris, Talib Kweli, Common, J. Ivy, Twista, Freeway, GLC, and Consequence.
808s & Heartbreak – first week album sales
Released: November 24, 2008
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 450,145
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Love Lockdown”, “Heartless”, “Amazing”, “Paranoid”
Features: Kid Cudi, Young Jeezy, Mr Hudson, and Lil Wayne.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – first week album sales
Released: November 22, 2010
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 496,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Power”, “Runaway”, “Monster”, “All of the Lights”
Features: Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Bon Iver, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Elton John and Raekwon.
Late Registration – first week album sales
Released: August 30, 2005
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 860,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, “Gold Digger”, “Heard ‘Em Say”, “Touch the Sky”, “Drive Slow”
Features: Jay-Z, Nas, Adam Levine, Jamie Foxx, Common, Brandy, Paul Wall, GLC, The Game, Lupe Fiasco, Really Doe, Consequence, and Cam’ron.
Graduation – first week album sales
Released: September 11, 2007
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
First week album sales: 957,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”, “Stronger”, “Good Life”, “Flashing Lights”, “Homecoming”
Features: Dwele, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, DJ Premier, and Chris Martin.
