Rap Reigns on the Chart

So is rock & roll dead, or is it just resting? Judging by this week's musicsales chart, which continues a year-long trend of strong hip-hop/R&B businessand almost non-existent rock sales, the answer is still open to debate. But ifthis goes on much longer, the rock corner may have to throw in the towel.

For the week ending July 26, the Beastie Boys' Hello Nasty remains the nation's best-selling album, moving 315,000 copies its second week in stores.(In fourteen days the record's sold 997,000 copies.) Making runs at theBeasties with big first-week debuts are fellow rappers JD (better known astwenty six-year-old hit producer Jermaine Dupri), Cam'ron, and Wu-Tang KillaBees who *all* hit the top ten first week out. (Another rapper, Mac, justmissed the top ten, coming in at No. 11, while Sunz of Man debuted a bitfurther down at No. 20.)

Fact is the Barenaked Ladies are the only guitar band in the top 20 this week,compared to twelve hip-hop or R&B titles.

From the top, it was Hello Nasty, followed by the soundtrack toArmageddon (selling 244,000 copies); JD's Life in 1472(162,000); Wu-Tang Killa Bees' Swarm (140,000); the soundtrack to theCity of Angels (138,000); Cam'ron's Confessions of Fire(107,000); the soundtrack to Dr. Dolittle (100,000); Brandy's NeverSay Never (99,000); Backstreet Boys (98,000); and the BarenakedLadies' Stunt (93,000).

JD's big debut is just the latest in a long string of successes for thefounder and CEO of So So Def Records. Dupri, who in the past has produced hitsfor Usher, Aretha Franklin, Xscape, TLC and scores more, is currently all overthe rap singles chart with "Money Ain't A Thing," featuring Jay-Z, and "TheParty Continues," with Da Brat. Next up is his single with Mariah Carey,"Sweetheart."

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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