When it comes to commercial success in rap music, few artists can match the chart dominance of Eminem. With 10 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart, he holds the record for the most chart-topping albums among rappers. But how did Eminem get to the top of the rap game and stay there? Let‘s take a deeper dive into who‘s joined him at the summit and how rappers have notched #1 albums over time.
Eminem Rules the Charts by the Numbers
Eminem‘s continuous Billboard chart dominance is simply unmatched right now in hip-hop. His 10 #1 albums are the most among rappers, surpassing even Jay-Z‘s 8 chart-topping solo studio albums. Here‘s a numerical look at Eminem‘s staggering album success:
- 10 #1 albums on Billboard 200
- His first six major label studio albums all debuted at #1
- Held record for most consecutive #1 debuts with 8, from 2000 to 2018
- Has spent 352 weeks total at #1 across all albums
- 4 albums have sold over 10 million copies each in the U.S.
- 6 consecutive albums certified platinum in under 2 months
He‘s also dominated sales and streaming charts globally, especially for a rapper. Few can compare to his commercial stats.
Jay-Z: Still Putting Up Big Numbers
Though Eminem has passed his #1 album total, Jay-Z is still hitting commercial peaks that would be career-highlight stats for most rappers. Here‘s a look at Jay‘s success:
- 8 #1 solo studio albums
- 14 #1 albums including collaborations
- 5 albums went 2x platinum or higher
- Has sold over 100 million albums worldwide
- "The Black Album" (2003) sold over 3 million U.S. copies
- "Watch the Throne" with Kanye West sold 1.5 million in 1 week
Jay-Z‘s collaboration numbers are especially impressive. Teaming up with other heavyweights has cemented his status as a perpetual chart titan decade after decade.
Kanye West: 21 Grammys and Counting
While Kanye may lag Eminem and Jay-Z slightly in #1 albums, his cultural impact and accolades make him an undeniable chart king.
- 9 #1 albums total since 2004
- 4 consecutive #1 solo albums from 2005-2010
- "Graduation" (2007) and "Late Registration" (2005) both sold over 3 million copies
- 21 Grammy Awards, most among rappers
- Has sold over 150 million digital downloads and streams
Unlike longtime rap legends, Kanye has benefited from the streaming era. His Life of Pablo became the first album to go platinum primarily through streaming.
Drake: The Streaming and Chart Phenom
The newest entry into the #1 club is Drake, who has taken advantage of streaming and quickly climbed the ranks:
- 7 #1 albums, including 5 straight from 2018-2022
- Has spent 431 weeks total on Billboard 200, 3rd most of all time
- Streams dominate, with over 175 billion to date
- "Scorpion" (2018) streamed over 1 billion times in 1 week
- Has 35 top 10 singles, 4th most of all time
Drake‘s chart success has coincided with hip-hop surpassing rock as the most popular genre. He‘ll likely pass Jay-Z‘s solo #1 mark soon if he stays this hot.
Why Do Eminem and Jay-Z Keep Topping Charts?
Clearly Eminem and Jay-Z have separated themselves from the pack with their albums consistently debuting at #1. But why? Here are some of the key factors in my opinion:
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Marketing & Promotion: Masters at hype cycles, release dates, and making events of new albums
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Loyal Fanbases: Have built up core audiences over decades that buy and stream loyally
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Image Evolution: Never afraid to reinvent their sound and image to match the times
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Controversies: Media attention from feuds, lyrical content, etc. boosts profile
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Cultural Relevance: Remain engaged in culture beyond music through film, fashion, business
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Catalog Breadth: Have extensive earlier catalogs that keep selling alongside new music
Their album chart dominance comes down to a mix of marketing savvy, evolving creatively, remaining relevant, and having extensive fanbases. It‘s a recipe few in rap or any genre can pull off.
Surprise #1 Albums from Nas, DMX, and More
Plenty of other rappers have topped the album charts through the years, sometimes surprisingly…
- Nas only has 6 #1 albums, despite his venerated status
- DMX landed 5 #1 albums in just 4 years in the late 90s / early 2000s
- 2Pac hit #1 with "Me Against the World" and "All Eyez On Me" after his death
- Nelly‘s "Country Grammar" and "Nellyville" both hit #1 back to back
- Kendrick Lamar already has 4 #1 albums since 2012, on pace for more
For all these rappers have achieved, they‘ve recorded fewer #1 albums than their stature suggests. Album chart success doesn‘t always align with critical acclaim and influence.
The Bottom Line: Success Beyond the Numbers
At the end of the day, #1 albums capture just a slice of a rapper‘s career accomplishments. For me, success is about memorability, influence, longevity, and pushing hip-hop forward creatively. By those measures, plenty of iconic rappers without 10 #1 albums still sit at the top of the hip-hop mountain.
But when it comes purely to commercial stats, Eminem and Jay-Z are untouchable right now. Given his youth and streaming numbers, I expect Drake to join them in the 10 #1 album club sooner than later. It will be fun to see how the charts evolve and which rappers emerge as the next album sales titans.
