AllHiphop ChartWatch: Low Sales, Great Music

ChartWatch for June 2, 2010The summer started to heat a few weeks ago with some big albums dropping from artists like Nas and Talib Kweli.  I know album sales are as low as they have ever been but (and yes I appreciate the irony when I say this in a column titled “ChartWatch”) it’s not always about sales.  It’s good to see some quality Hip Hop being put out to the masses.  A lot of good albums have come out in the last few months so I’ll say it once again…if you can’t find any good Hip Hop, you’re just not looking. First up on the charts this week is Usher who jumps from the 8th spot to number five.  With his latest successful number 1 single “OMG”, Usher sells another 34,885 copies of Raymond vs Raymond. While Usher holds the number five position the duo that held that spot last week drop five spots to number ten.  Nas and Damian Marley sell 23,640 copies of their critically praised album Distant Relatives.  B.O.B hovers around the same position claiming the 17th spot this week and selling 19,536 copies of his latest major release The Adventures of Bobby Ray. He is followed by a group whose leader helped Usher gain his latest number one hit.  The Black Eyed Peas drop two spots to number 21 selling 16,722 copies of their latest, The E.N.D.  Will.I.Am has made some type of deal with the otherworld.  Is he good? Is he evil? I don’t know.  What I do know is that he can put almost any noise on a record and 20,000 people will go buy it.  Twenty thousand people…every week….for a year. He was at the number 30 spot last week.  He was at the number 30 spot the week before that.  He’s at the number 30 spot this week.  Ludacris maintains his position by selling 11,506 of his 7th studio album Battle of the Sexes. Finally, Lil Wayne sells 8,187 copies of his “rock” experiment, Rebirth, and claims the 49th spot. Dropping This Week I don’t have a lot of information on it but Yukmouth releases his sixth studio album entitled Free at Last.  The album features guest appearances from Curren$y, Dru Down, Mistah F.A.B, Messy Marv, and C-Bo to name a few.  Fans of Yukmouth and Smoke-A-Lot records should take a look at this one. Have you ever thought “I like Bow Wow…but I just wish someone would compile all of his hits on one disc”?  No? Me either.  Bow Wow releases Playlist: The Very Best of Bow Wow this week containing such hits as “Puppy Love” and “Fresh Az I’m Iz”.  In his defense, the way record companies operate, Bow Wow probably has nothing to do with this album…but if you’re a fan….maybe you’ll buy a copy. What can I say? When a Bow Wow playlist compilation album makes it into “Dropping” then you know it must be a slow week.  We’ll be back next week with the charts and (hopefully) some more albums.