With all of the fierce comp — like the June 18 battle — in hip-hop this summer, the genre as a whole has been the true winner. According to Billboard.com, this is the first time in Billboard 200 history that rap albums have kept the top three spots on the chart for three weeks straight.
J. Cole’s Born Sinner, Wale’s The Gifted, Kanye West’s Yeezus and Mac Miller’s Watching Movies With the Sound Off all held down a spot in Billboard’s top three during that span.
Additionally, if projections are any indicator, the record will be even longer when all is said and done. Industry sources say Jay’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail should sell 475,000 to 500,000 units in its first week.
Such a record is only fitting. Lets not forget, Jay-Z penned a blockbuster promotional deal with Samsung only a month ago — hip-hop has been doin’ it real big this season.
