BILLBOARD HipHop Album Sales

As expected, Britney Spears' "Circus" makes a big bow at the top
of The Billboard 200, becoming her fifth No. 1. The Jive set moved
505,000 copies in the United States, making Spears the only act in
Nielsen SoundScan history to have four albums debut with 500,000 or
more.

Since SoundScan began tracking data in 1991, only four acts --
aside from Spears -- have notched three 500,000-starts: 2Pac, 50 CENT,
Garth Brooks and Jay-Z.

Britney Spears is back. Whether for artistry or non-musical
entertainment, the Jive Records Pop princess assumed the #1 spot with
her Circus. With Taylor Swift's Fearless taking #2, Beyonce climbed
back above with her I Am...Sasha Fierce , after a close race last week.
Kanye West followed closely with 808's & Heartbreak.

Akon, in his debut week, entered the charts at #7 with Freedom. This
was a surprising position for the platinum singer to enter given his
tremendous momentum on radio singles the last two years.

Ludacris fell 10 spots with his Theater of The Mind [click to read].
The fall comes as a shock to many, as Ludacris has remained one of Hip
Hop's most commercially viable stars. Lastly, veteran Scarface entered
the charts at #25 with his reported parting-shot from rap Emeritus.

Rank....Artist.... Album.... This Week.... Est. Total

3.... Beyonce I Am...Sasha Fierce..... 152,816.... 893,370

4.... Kanye West.... 808's & Heartbreak 141,678.... 593,073

7.... Akon.... Freedom.... 110,560.... 110,861

15.... Ludacris.... Theater of the Mind.... 65,295.... 279,421....

25.... Scarface.... Emeritus.... 42,023.... 42,214....

27.... T.I.... Paper Trail.... 38,932.... 1,342,766....

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