Unfortunately, Rap doesn’t feature in the top 10 top-selling albums of any genre. Michael Jackson, AC/DC, Meat Loaf and Pink Flloyd respectively feature at the top of that list, stiff competition.
If we are going to talk about who sold the most in the first week we give that easily to the talented English singer/songwriter Adele who sold a stunning 5,706,000 copies of her album self-titled album ‘Adele.’ The only rapper competing with the recently slimmed superstar from the rap genre was Eminem who managed 1,780,000 with ‘The Marshall Mathers LP.’
Here is the list from last to first of the top-selling rap albums of all time, a couple might just surprise you. Others… won’t…
- OutKast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
I’m sorry Miss Jackson, I am actually being for real.
2. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
It was year 2000, the peak year of music record sales. MTV dominated the pop culture market at the time & Eminem was riding that wave.
The 1.76 million copies it sold in its opening week is the most ever for a rap album, the previous record-holder being Snopp Dogg’s Doggystyle in 1993.
One quirky fact that this album, ‘Stan’ actually created a word in the Oxford Dictionary. In 2017 the word ‘Stan’ was added to the dictionary with the definition being “an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.”
3. Eminem – The Eminem Show (2002)
Eminem crafted this album to prove a point. “One of the frustrating things was people saying, ‘He’s got to cuss to sell records,'” Eminem told SPIN in 2002. “That’s why with this album, I toned it down a bit as far as shock value. I wanted to show that I’m a solid artist, and I’m here to stay.” He eased up on the celebrity attacks & cuss words.
4. The Notorious B.i.g – Life After Death (1997)
Notorious’ second and last album was released two weeks after his death. It was going to cement itself into history as one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
5. MC Hammer – Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990)
Due to ‘U Can’t Touch This,’ Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em held its place atop the Billboard 200 for a pretty impressive 21 weeks. It sold an astonishing 10 million copies.
6. 2Pac – Greatest Hits (1998)
The beautiful man(no homo) Tupac certainly had a plethora of songs that are refreshingly thoughtful, touching on societal & family struggles. A real artist and is obviously considered one of the greatest to ever grab the mic.
7. 2Pac – All Eyez on Me (1996)
Beside Marshall Mathers, no other rapper has sold as many records as 2pac. For some reason Deathrow keep allowing then disallowing this album to be played on Spotify, not sure what is up there.
8. Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill (1986)
The Beastie Boys album is the only to make it on the list from the 80s. Eminem’s second last album release ‘Kamikaze’ appropriated the cover in homage to this album. The irony was that the Beastie boys changed lyrics from this album in future concerts as they felt the lyrics towards women were disrespectful. Meanwhile, Eminem’s Kamikaze was a spiteful swipe at anyone who had said a disparaging word towards him, saying he had fallen off.
9. Nelly – Country Grammar (2000)
The St-Louis MC certainly had a style of his own. A one album wonder perhaps, but a good album no doubt with hits like ‘Ride Wit Me’ & ‘E.I.’ The muscly Band-Aid face certainly had his moment in the sun.
10. 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003)
LAST BUT NOT LEAST. ‘In Da Club’ was a ginormous hit that helped in making this classic album sneak into the top 10 sellers. Did you realise that 50’s American Dream story could have ended eight months after the release of Get Rich or Die Tryin?
In September 2003, 50 and his entourage stopped at the parking lot of a Jersey City Doubletree Hotel before they were shot by mysterious gunmen. 50 and his posse then fled to the hotel lobby and took cover before leaving the scene later. Nobody was wounded, but ten bullet casings were found in the crime scene, as reported by Rolling Stones.
Rap World 