On the Charts: Controversy Doesn’t Keep Nas Out of First Place

7/23/08, 11:30 am EST


The Big News: It took an Untitled album to finally unseat Lil Wayne and Coldplay from the chart’s upper echelon, as Nas‘ latest debuted in the top spot with 187,000 copies. Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III dropped to number two, selling another 105,000 copies while the Mamma Mia soundtrack rose from seven to three, selling 91,000 units. Coldplay’s Viva La Vida finally fell out of the top two after five weeks, dropping to four, while the Camp Rock soundtrack rounded out the top five.

Debuts: John Mellencamp’s Life, Death, Love and Freedom debuted at seven, selling 56,000 copies. David Banner’s The Greatest Story Ever Told, despite his problems with our review, landed at eight. Frat rockers O.A.R. grabbed thirteen with All Sides, the Kraftwerkian Dark Knight soundtrack took 20 and the Hold Steady’s Stay Positive came in at 30.

Last Week’s Heroes: With three debuts in the top ten, there was some reshuffling atop the charts. Beck’s Modern Guilt was the biggest victim, dropping from four to 16 thanks to a 66% sales dip. G-Unit’s T.O.S. suffered a similar fate, falling from nine to 24. Next week, we’ll find out if Miley Cyrus can retake her charts throne, and how many copies Nine Inch Nails‘ physical version of free album The Slip will sell.

[Photo: Getty]


Comments

Tal | 7/23/2008, 11:12 pm EST

Sex sells, so does controversy (often they’re intertwined)… Something wrong with selling an amazing album like that? especially from someone who would never get love from the networks most people watch. And if anyone thinks that racism is a thing of the past, look up something called fatal optimism.
Honda might discriminate in their car colors, but the effects of that are superficial and minute compared to those of the propaganda Fox feeds the idiots who actually eat up every word they spit, tongues hanging on couch.

Nathan | 7/23/2008, 6:34 pm EST

It’s funny because I’m currently in the midst of sending a profiling petition to Honda Motors. Have you ever noticed that they sell 12% more light colored cars than dark ones? Well, they weren’t able to get it by me. Dirty friggin crackers.

Bubble | 7/23/2008, 4:10 pm EST

controversy does sell but this Nas album is a solid album with memorable lyrics and i believe it will get better with time, whereas you will if you havent forgotten the lil wayne album, the nas album deals with real subject matter that has gone on and will continue as time passes.

Joe | 7/23/2008, 12:57 pm EST

Imagine how many Nas would have sold if the original title had been used. This just in: U2’s next album will be called Honky.

Los | 7/23/2008, 12:47 pm EST

Uh… How about “Controversy as Expected Keeps Nas in First Place” as your headline? Doesn’t controversy usually help album sales? Especially if its coming from a highly recognized hip-hop artist like… y’know, Nas?

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