Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/16/2012

Game grabs a Top 5 debut with "Jesus Piece" as Big Boi's "Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors" just misses Top 30.

Two key additions hit the charts in one of 2012's final weeks. In his latest publicity wave, Game's Jesus Piece garnered a Top 5 debut, selling over 85,000 units. Meanwhile, veteran lyricist Big Boi delivered his second solo album in three years with Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors, debuting at #33. Kendrick Lamar confirmed the gold plaque of good kid, m.A.A.d city in eight weeks on the charts. This is the first gold-album for Top Dawg Entertainment and Black Hippy. Game Has Reason To Clutch His Jesus Piece Game's fifth solo album, Jesus Piece, marked the lowest chart debut in the rapper's decade-long career. At #5, the Geffen Records release reunited Game with longtime collaborator Kanye West on the title track. One of the album's singles, "Celebration," united Wiz Khalifa, Tyga and Lil Wayne over a sample of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's classic "1st Of Tha Month." Incidentally, Game brought all five members of BTNH together for the "Celebration" remix. On the Best Buy version of Jesus Piece, Game included "Blood Of Christ," a diss record prominently aimed at Tony Yayo and Shyne. Vicious Week For Big Boi OutKast's Big Boi released his second Def Jam solo album in Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors. The release failed to enter the Top 30, debuting at #33. Following the Funk-infused Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son Of Chico Dusty, this effort features an array of out-of-genre acts, including Little Dragon, Phantogram and Wavves. V.L.A.D.R. sold less than half on his current single "In The A" features Ludacris and T.I., which is co-produced by longtime Dungeon Family affiliate C-Bone.

(HipHopDX) Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/16/2012 #5. Game - Jesus Piece - 86,000 (87,000) #8. Alicia Keys - Girl On Fire - 61,000 (298,000) #14. Rihanna - Unapologetic - 51,000 (420,000) #25. Wiz Khalifa - O.N.F.I.C. - 40,000 (182,000) #28. Cee Lo Green - Cee Lo's Magic Moment - 36,000 (113,000) #33. Big Boi - Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors - 30,000 (30,000) #40. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city - 24,000 (506,000) #65. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist - 12,000 (176,000) #82. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up - 9,800 (759,000) #103. Meek Mill - Dreams & Nightmares - 7,800 (274,000)