Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
This offering captures Aubrey, the Hip Hop titan with a midas touch and 21 Savage, one of the most relevant rappers of the day trading insight on a barrage of topics. Drake, on the heels of a dance album that received mixed reviews from Hip Hop purists had a point to prove, at least to them. 21 on the other hand, has cemented his place in Hip Hop’s younger demographic as a ‘goat’ and become a serial hit-maker with hits under his belt such as “Who Want Smoke?? (Remix)”, and of course the chart-topping “Jimmy Cooks” alongside Drake most recently. The treacherous twins found a camaraderie that has led them to score the biggest opening week in Hip Hop with 404,000 sales and eligibility for Gold RIAA certification in 9 days.
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 200, Lamar’s return to the big time was deservedly met with 295,000 sales in the first week. A double-disc album, Lamar straddles his imperfections on “Mirror”, confronts fakeness on “N95”, mental health, celebrity complex on “Rich Spirit” and “Savior”, and offers stark commentary on black stereotypes such as homophobia in “Auntie Diaries” and fatherhood in “Father Time”. In this reflective effort, he handed in his last album for legendary Hip Hop stable, TDE, with astronomical numbers.
Future – I Never Liked You
Atlanta rap royalty Future marshaled an album blending heart-wrenching R&B ballads on “Love You Better”, gutter street anthems (practically the majority of the album), and club-banging tinged vignettes. His most successful solo studio album to date commercially, Future raked in a whopping 222,000 courtesy of the tear-jerking standout “Wait for You” that sampled Nigerian R&B singer Tems, and featured certified lover boy, Drake.
Drake – Honestly, Nevermind
Although wading out of Hip Hop’s blurry lines, Toronto talisman Drizzy claimed on “Middle of the Ocean” — “Niggas so ignorant in our hood, they be like why the hell you making techno? I’m worldwide and this is just another cargo jet flow, I had to let go”. Surely, Drake wasn’t mincing his words as the album commanded another Drizzy number one and an easy 204,000 sales without any single promo in the US alone.
Gunna – DS4EVER
“Why me, baby?” Gunna whims on the personally revealing number, “Livin Wild”. On DS4, Gunna is imperious and the album materialized into a trend-setting opus that was one of the biggest albums of the year as the YSL rapper stringed together syrupy songs, ruminating flexes, and some brooding bangers together. The track “Pushing P” alongside boss Young Thug & Future ensured a Top 10 hit for Gunna, and 150,000 sales beating out collaborator The Weeknd to score another number one debut for the now-troubled rapper locked behind bars on RICO charges.
Post Malone – Twelve Carat Toothache
Posty, one of rap’s pariahs but most beloved white-boy stormed the charts with his fourth rock-laden & Hip Hop enthused album. With guest features from Hip Hop charms such as Roddy Ricch, Doja Cat, Gunna and others including The Weeknd and Kid LAROI, the opus was a treat to remember and magnet-like. Opening with an enormous 121,000 – Posty can be all smiles and grins at that.
Lil Durk – 7220
The self-proclaimed “Hov of Chicago” was building up momentum to this highly anticipated record. In the wake of a new-found fame after his major co-sign feature on Drake’s 2020 anthem “Laugh Now, Cry Later”, Durkio has been a rap renaissance man. Featuring on countless hits such as “Back In Blood” with Pooh Shiesty, delivering a bonafide street classic with his Lil Baby collab album Voice of the Heroes, Durkio came in strong with a 120,000 first-week opening to reassure his star power.
Rod Wave – Beautiful Mind
The Florida rapper released his fourth studio album brandishing his trademark sad raps. The album a re-collective bite-sized effort filled with introspective cuts beat the 100K mark by 15,000 to give Rod another number one debut at 115,000 sales.
Jack Harlow – Come Home, the Kids Miss You
Preceded the singles “Nail Tech” and the smash hit “First Class”, the Louisville, Kentucky enigma had a strong effort on this record. A record that tapped legends Justin Timberlake, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams, and now Drake, Jack cemented himself as one of rap’s more brazen acts that can bring all the big boys to the party. Juggling silky R&B cuts on “First Class”, “Lil Secret”, “Poison” that features OG Lil Wayne, Young Harleezy claimed 113,000 sales on this poignant and polarizing record.
NBA Youngboy – The Last Slimento
The King of You Tube NBA Youngboy closes the list with his baleful and spooky effort. Rumbling about his opps, the auto-tune heavy rapper sounds more haunted than ever on this lengthy album. Checking in with a solid 108,000 sales on the first week, the idiosyncratic emcee from Baton Rouge, Louisiana made his mark on the game in style.
