There’s no reason for Nas to be as commercially successful as he is. When you look at other rappers with multiple number one albums – Eminem, Jay Z, Kanye – it makes sense because their music is tailored for the masses.
Nas, on the other hand, has singles like “Made You Look”, “One Mic” and “Nas Is Like.” Definitely not in the same vein as “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)”, “Gold Digger” or “Lose Yourself.”
And yet, over the past 20 plus years, Nas has put out over 15 projects, including six number one albums, with over half of them going platinum. Now in 2022, the New York rap legend is still going strong. Rejuvenated by his newly-formed partnership with Hit-Boy, Nas has dropped three albums in under two years, starting a resurgence never seen before by a rapper 30 years deep in his career.
Here are the rankings for Nas’ first week album sales, from Illmatic to his latest released, 2022’s King’s Disease III.
Magic – first week album sales
Released: December 24, 2021
Label: Mass Appeal
First week album sales: 22,000
Billboard 200 position: 27
Singles: N/A
Features: ASAP Rocky and DJ Premier.
The Lost Tapes 2 – first week album sales
Released: July 19, 2019
Label: Mass Appeal, Def Jam
First week album sales: 23,000
Billboard 200 position: 10
Singles: “Jarreau of Rap (Skatt Attack)”
Features: RaVaughn, David Ranier, Swizz Beatz, J. Myers, Al Jarreau and Keyon Harrold.
King’s Disease III – first week album sales
Released: November 11, 2022
Label: Mass Appeal
First week album sales: 29,000
Billboard 200 position: 10
Singles: N/A
Features: N/A
King’s Disease – first week album sales
Released: August 21, 2020
Label: Mass Appeal
First week album sales: 47,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: “Ultra Black”
Features: Charlie Wilson, Hit-Boy, Big Sean, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, Anderson .Paak, Brucie B, The Firm, Fivio Foreign, and ASAP Ferg.
King’s Disease II – first week album sales
Released: August 6, 2021
Label: Mass Appeal
First week album sales: 52,000
Billboard 200 position: 3
Singles: “Rare”
Features: Eminem, EPMD, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, YG, Lauryn Hill, Charlie Wilson, Blxst, and Hit-Boy.
Distant Relatives (with Damian Marley) – first week album sales
Released: May 18, 2010
Label: Universal Republic, Def Jam
First week album sales: 57,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: “As We Enter”, “Strong Will Continue”, “My Generation”
Features: K’naan, Stephen Marley, Dennis Brown, Junior Reid, Joss Stone and Lil Wayne.
Illmatic – first week album sales
Released: April 19, 1994
Label: Columbia
First week album sales: 59,000
Billboard 200 position: 12
Singles: “Halftime”, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”, “Life’s a Bitch”, “The World Is Yours”, “One Love”
Features: AZ
The Lost Tapes – first week album sales
Released: September 23, 2002
Label: Ill Will, Columbia
First week album sales: 70,000
Billboard 200 position: 10
Singles: N/A
Features: N/A
Nasir – first week album sales
Released: June 15, 2018
Label: Mass Appeal, Def Jam
First week album sales: 77,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: N/A
Features: Puff Daddy, 070 Shake, Kanye West, Tony Williams, and The-Dream.
The Album (as The Firm) – first week album sales
Released: October 21, 1997
Label: Aftermath, Interscope
First week album sales: 147,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Firm Biz”, “Phone Tap”
Features: Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga and Half-a-Mill.
Life is Good – first week album sales
Released: July 13, 2012
Label: Def Jam
First week album sales: 149,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Nasty”, “The Don”, “Daughters”, “Cherry Wine”
Features: Large Professor, Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, Miguel, and, Amy Winehouse.
God’s Son – first week album sales
Released: December 13, 2002
Label: Ill Will, Columbia
First week album sales: 156,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Made You Look”, “I Can”, “Get Down”
Features: Bravehearts, 2Pac, J. Phoenix, Alicia Keys, Lake, Jully Black, Kelis and Claudette Ortiz.
Untitled – first week album sales
Released: July 11, 2008
Label: Def Jam, Columbia, The Jones Experience
First week album sales: 187,078
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Hero”, “Make the World Go Round”
Features: Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Busta Rhymes, and The Game.
Street’s Disciple – first week album sales
Released: November 30, 2004
Label: Ill Will, Columbia
First week album sales: 232,000
Billboard 200 position: 5
Singles: “Thief’s Theme”, “Bridging the Gap”, “Just a Moment”
Features: Kelis, Scarlett, Quan, Emily, Busta Rhymes, Olu Dara, Ludacris, Doug E. Fresh, Maxwell, Keon Bryce.
Nastradamus – first week album sales
Released: November 23, 1999
Label: Ill Will, Columbia
First week album sales: 232,000
Billboard 200 position: 7
Singles: “Nastradamus”, “You Owe Me”
Features: Ronald Isley, Nashawn, Mobb Deep, Bravehearts, Ginuwine.
It Was Written – first week album sales
Released: July 2 1996
Label: Columbia
First week album sales: 268,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”, “Street Dreams”, “The Message”
Features: Foxy Brown, AZ, Cormega, Dr. Dre, Havoc, Mobb Deep, Lauryn Hill, JoJo.
Stillmatic – first week album sales
Released: December 18 2001
Label: Ill Will, Columbia
First week album sales: 342,000
Billboard 200 position: 8
Singles: “Rule”, “Got Ur Self A…”, “The Flyest”, “One Mic”
Features: AZ, Millennium Thug, Amerie, Keon Bryce, Blitz The Ambassador.
Hip Hop is Dead – first week album sales
Released: December 15, 2006
Label: Def Jam
First week album sales: 355,800
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Hip Hop Is Dead”, “Can’t Forget About You”
Features: Kelis, Kanye West, Jay-Z, will.i.am, Snoop Dogg, The Game and Chrisette Michele.
I Am… – first week album sales
Released: April 6, 1999
Label: Columbia
First week album sales: 470,000
Billboard 200 position: 1
Singles: “Nas Is Like”, “Hate Me Now”
Features: Puff Daddy, Scarface, Aaliyah, DMX.
