Drake’s ‘Nothing Was the Same’ Set For Big Debut on Album Charts

The album is out and fans are raving over it. Drake’s newly released Nothing Was the Same LP is set to make a big splash on Billboard’s album charts next week. According to HitsDailyDouble, the Canadian rap star’s third solo effort will debut at No. 1 with an estimated 675-725,000 copies opening week. The feat would make NWTS the highest-selling debut for a rap album in 2013, and second overall to Justin Timberlake’s 968,000 units sold with The 20/20 Experience.

His third No. 1 album will easily eclipse 2011′s Take Care and 2010′s Thank Me Later, which moved 631,000 and 447,000 units respectively opening week.

MMG’s Self Made Vol. 3 Sells 50k, Debuts at No. 4 on Albums Chart

Maybach Music’s third compilation album, Self Made Vol. 3, has debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart after moving 50,000 copies in its opening week, according to Billboard. This number may pale in comparison to the 98,000 units Self Made Vol. 2 sold last year, but it’s not a bad effort for an album that didn’t have a single on the Hot 100.

Elsewhere, The Weeknd’s Kiss Land slips from No. 2 to No. 9 with second-week sales of 26,000, while 2 Chainz’s B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time drops just four spots to No. 7 after moving a respectable 35,000 copies.

Drake Isn’t Worried About Album Sales & Has No Expectations

In a recent interview with MTV, Drake mulled over the importance of putting up big sales number for his new album, “Nothing Was the Same.” Considering each of his previous albums went platinum, one would assume Drake has high expectations. However, that’s not really the case.

“Best advice I ever got is: No expectations lead to no disappointments,” said Drake. “So I have no expectations. Really, just more than September 24, I’m just excited whenever people get the music. The numbers, the sales, all that stuff it’s cool. I’m sure I’ll get into it on the day like, ‘How much did we sell,’ trying to figure it out, but aside from that, I’m just excited for people to hear the full body of work.”

The Weeknd Barely Misses the Top of The Charts & 2 Chainz Disappoints

Despite a premature celebration on Twitter, The Weeknd’s Kiss Land did not top the Billboard 200 albums chart this week, but it wasn’t far off. The Toronto crooner’s album debuted at No. 2 with 96,000 first-week copies sold — less than 3,000 behind Keith Urban’s Fuse, which came out on top with a rounded figure of 98,000 sales.

Meanwhile, 2 Chainz’s B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time landed at No. 3 with more modest first-week sales of 63,000. Last year’s debut, Based on a T.R.U. Story, topped the charts with 147,000 copies shifted. Finally, Janelle Monáe scored her best sales week and first top 10 album after The Electric Lady sold 47,000 units to claim the No. 5 spot.

Big Sean & Juicy J First Week Sales Underwhelming

Big Sean and Juicy J have both debuted in the top five on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week. Hall of Fame entered at No. 3 with 72,000 first-week copies sold, while Stay Trippy came in just behind at No. 4 selling 64,000 units. Although Sean’s Finally Famous also debuted at No. 3 back in 2011, his debut album moved a slightly higher 87,000 copies in its opening week. For Juicy, however, this is his highest-charting release since 2002′s Chronicles of the Juice Man: Underground Album, which peaked at No. 93.

J. Cole’s ‘Born Sinner’ Goes Gold, Jay Z’s ‘Magna Carta’ Remains No. 1 on Albums Chart

J. Cole’s previous chart-topper Born Sinner has been certified gold. The album charted at No. 8 this week with 27k copies sold, pushing it past the 500k mark.

In more success for Roc Nation, Jay Z continues to put numbers on the board. After debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last week, Magna Carta… Holy Grail holds onto the top spot with 129,000 copies sold in its second week. It’s also the first rap album to spend two weeks at the No. 1 spot since Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV in September 2011.

Jay-Z First Week Numbers Are In

Despite being made available for free to Samsung users a few days early, Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail has put in an impressive commercial performance. Hov’s 12th solo LP has topped the Billboard 200 albums chart with 528,208 first-week copies sold, according to Hits Daily Double. That’s excluding the 1 million units Samsung pre-purchased, which earned MCHG instant platinum status.

Also released last week, Ciara’s self-titled album debuted at No. 2 on the chart with first-week sales of 57,515. J. Cole continues to outperform Kanye West; Born Sinner moves to No. 3 with an additional 38,718 copies sold, while Yeezus slipped to sixth place having sold 28,701 this week. After topping the chart a fortnight ago, Wale’s The Gifted dropped to No. 7.

Jay-Z’s ‘Magna Carta’ 1st Week Sales Projections Rise To 475-525K. Ciara Expected To Move 55-65K

Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail album is surpassing previous expectations in it’s first week on store shelves. Billboard initially projected Hov’s latest project to move between 350,000 – 400,000 copies. That forecast has now been upped, with the disc now projected to move between 450,000 to 500,000.

Ciara’s new self-titled album will move 50,000 to 60,000 copies. The album is Cici’s first release on Epic Records, and is doing better in the sales department than it’s 2010 predecessor, Basic Instinct, which sold 37,000 in it’s first week.

Jay-Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail” Will Debut At No. 1 On The Billboard 200 Chart

Through a unique marketing strategy and a change in rules by the Recording Industry of America, Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail becomes the first album to be certified platinum on the day of it’s release.
Jay teamed up with Samsung, who bought 1 million copies of the album and gave them away on the 4th of July to Samsung Galaxy users who downloaded the Magna Carta app.

The RIAA in turn changed their longstanding rule that albums could not be certified platinum until 30 days after their release date. Magna Carta becomes the Roc Nation CEO’s 12th platinum album.

The album was officially released to the general public today. Billboard is projecting it will sell between 350,000 – 400,000 copies in it’s opening week, which will place it atop the Billboard 200 chart and give Jay his 13th No. 1 album.

Wale Scores First No. 1 Album with ‘The Gifted’

Congratulations to Wale, who has just scored his first No. 1 album. His third LP, The Gifted, which hit stores last Tuesday (June 25), has debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 with 158,000 first-week copies sold, according to Billboard.

Meanwhile, in the second-week sales race, J. Cole comes out on top. Born Sinner has leapfrogged Yeezus into the No. 2 spot with 84,000 units sold in its second week. Kanye only managed to move 65,000 copies, which is a huge 80% fall from its first-week figure of 327,000. It’s the largest second-week drop for a No. 1 album in over a year.

RIAA Rule Change Means Jay-Z’s ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’ Will Go Platinum Upon Release

Jay-Z wasn’t kidding around with those #newrules of his. In light of the unique release strategy of Magna Carta Holy Grail, which will see Samsung give away one million free copies on July 4, the Recording Industry Association of America has decided to re-evaulate the way it certifies albums.

Previously, albums had to wait 30 days after their release to become eligible for gold and platinum certification. But in a move that looks to modernize their existing policies, the RIAA has scrapped this rule when it comes to digital sales of albums. This means that, with its one million pre-purchased copies, Magna Carta Holy Grail will be the first album in history to go platinum before its public release.

French Montana’s First Week Sales Flop

Perhaps French Montana spoke too soon when he said Excuse My French will be the “best album to come out in a decade.” Despite a heavy promotional run, his debut album has entered the Billboard 200 at No. 6, selling 49,775 first-week copies. It was projected to shift 45-50,000 units. You can pick up your copy of the album on iTunes.

Drake Hits 3X Platinum Sales in Just One Week

This week alone, Drake has managed to reach the incredible milestone of hitting 3X Platinum sales from multiple projects. His “Take Care” album, which was released back in November 2011, passed the two-million mark this week with a total of 2,003,000 sales. This has earned his album the honor of going double Platinum in under two years.

His latest single, “Started From The Bottom,” has also earned him a great level of success as the track moved 96,000 units this week which brought the total over the 1 million selling mark and earned him a Platinum plaque for that single on its own.

More success will surely follow Drake in the near future with the many projects he has yet to release.

Justin Timberlake Does Biggest Open Week Since Lil Wayne

The numbers are in and after previous reports, Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience album will debut No. 1 on Billboard’s album charts. Lead by the singles “Suit & Tie” with Jay-Z, and “Mirrors,” the pop star’s first album in over six years is estimated to have sold 980,622 copies opening week according to HitsDailyDouble.

It marks Timberlake’s second No. 1 solo album and easily eclipses his FutureSex/LoveSounds LP, which opened with 684,000 units sold its debut week. Justin’s new album is the fifth highest debut this decade and biggest for a male artist since Lil’ Wayne’s Tha Carter IV sold 964,000 units back in 2011. Congrats to RCA Records, J.T., and Timbaland for a record-breaking week. Final numbers will be announced Wednesday morning via Billboard, meanwhile you can purchase The 20/20 Experience on iTunes now.

Joe Budden Earns Highest-Charting Debut With ‘No Love Lost’

New albums from Josh Groban and country star Tim McGraw hold down the top 2 spots of the Billboard 200 this week, but a new album from Joe Budden earns a place among the top releases.

Justin Bieber’s Believe: Acoustic landed at #6 this week, while Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox saw a surge in sales, thanks to his Grammy Awards performance (he performed the album’s lead single, “Locked Out of Heaven,” with Sting, on the show), helping him earn the #8 spot with just under 41,000 this week.

Later down the line, Joe Budden scored his highest-charting debut to date, as No Love Lost opens at #15 with 30,000 sold in its first week. The LP features the likes of French Montana, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, Lloyd Banks, Fabolous and Lil Wayne on his new single, “She Don’t Put It Down” also featuring Tank.

Rihanna’s Unapologetic landed at #17 this week, and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist closes out the top 20 at #19 with 23,000 sold and 336,000 sold to date.

Usher’s New Album “Looking 4 Myself” Debuts At No.1

It’s Usher who tops the charts this week, while Waka Flocka, Kid Ink and Stevie Stone also make their presences felt on the Billboard 200.

Usher secured his fourth #1 album on the chart this week with Looking 4 Myself, which sold 128,000 copies to start, led by its lead single “Climax,” sitting in its ninth straight week at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The LP follows 2010’s Raymond v Raymond, which also launched at #1, but with bigger sales. It started with 329,000. Looking also registers Usher’s smallest first-week sales for a regular studio album since the singer’s 1997 My Way, bowing at 67,000.

Later down the line is Waka Flocka Flame’s sophomore album, Triple F Life: Fans, Friends & Family, rounding out the top 10 at #10 with 33,000. The LP boasts guests such as Drake, Trey Songz and Nicki Minaj. Waka’s first set, 2010’s Flockaveli, debuted and peaked at #6 with a 37,000 start.

Album Charts: Big K.R.I.T., Curren$y Earn Top 10 Debuts On Billboard 200

Country singer Alan Jackson earns the top debut this week, while Adele returns to #1 with the historic 21 album, but underground rappers Big K.R.I.T. and Curren$y open with top 10 debuts.

Alabama rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T. finds himself with the biggest hip-hop album on the Billboard 200 this week, landing at #5 with his long awaited debut studio album, Live From the Underground, opening with 41,000 sold.

The album features the likes of 8 Ball & MJG, Ludacris and Blues icon B.B. King, and fell to #5 with just 2,000 units behind Neil Young.

A few slots down, at #8, is Curren$y’s The Stoned Immaculate. It opens with 36,000 sold in its first week. The Louisiana veteran billed the LP as his official debut. It features rap peers such as Wiz Khalifa, K.R.I.T., Daz Dillinger, and Pharrell, among others.

NICKI MINAJ’S FIRST WEEK SALES ARE IN

Nicki’s first week numbers are in and it’s normally a success to do these numbers but I’d hate to see the bill YMCMB incurred during promotion of this album