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.”