Nelly Sells 63K in First Week, Eminem Goes Triple Platinum

Hip-hop’s biggest artists slid down the Billboard Top 200 charts this week, as several new mainstream releases bombarded the shelves last week by such artists as Jackie Evancho, Rihanna, Kid Rock, the Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban, but Nelly still managed to land in the Top 10.

Outselling his projections, Nelly’s new disc, 5.0, grabbed the No. 10 spot, after selling 63,500 units in his first week on the charts. Kid Cudi didn’t fare so well, sliding 11 positions down from to No. 21. In its second week out The Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager’s sales dropped 79 percent  from 169,400 to 36,000. To-date Cudder has moved 205,800 units off the shelves.

Two seats down at No. 23 is Eminem’s Recovery. The Detroit lyricist added 34,200 to his total tally, which now stands at 3,004,800. Shady officially reached the triple platinum mark after 22 weeks.

Rounding out the Top 40 is Lil Wayne. I Am Not A Human Being fell from No. 10 to No. 31 this week with 28,300 in sales. In eight weeks Weezy tips the scales at 474,400 units.

Next week look for big releases from Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Lloyd Banks and Jay-Z to impact the charts. —Elan Mancini