Saturday Hustle - January 28

Saturday, January 28, 2012

As we continue our look at some of the most interesting categories of the 54th Grammy Awards, Saturday Hustle highlights the Best Rap Album category, which features current hip-hop heavyweights.

Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West

The highly anticipated collaborative effort from Jay-Z and Kanye West debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 436,000 copies its first week. It produced five singles, including the international hit Otis and Billboard hit HAM. Rolling Stone named it the second-best album in its year-end list. As of January 2012, it has sold 1,261,000 copies in the United States.

Lasers - Lupe Fiasco

Lasers was met with mixed reviews from most major music critics. It fared better commercially, however, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of over 200,000 copies, making the album Fiasco's second top 10 album as well as his highest entry on the chart. The album was preceded by the lead single The Show Goes On and its follow-up Words I Never Said featuring Skylar Grey.

Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj

On it release, Pink Friday debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 375,000 copies before ultimately reaching number one on the chart. The album released nine top 20 singles, including smash hits Your Love, Right Thru Me, Moment 4 Life featuring Drake, Did it On Em, Super Bass and Fly featuring Rihanna. As of November 27, 2011, the album had sold 1,663,300 copies in the United States.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

West's fifth studio album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 496,000 copies in its first week in the United States. It achieved respectable international charting and produced four singles that attained chart success, including US Billboard hits Power, Monster, Runaway, and All of the Lights. Upon its release, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy received general acclaim from music critics, earning praise for its varied musical style. As of October 2011, the album sold 1,212,000 copies in the United States.

The Carter IV - Lil Wayne

Perhaps the most anticipated hip-hop album of the year, Lil Wayne's ninth studio album The Carter IV quickly shot to number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 964,000 copies in its first week, the second highest first week sales of the year. The album featured singles like 6 foot 7 foot, John, How To Love, She Will and Mirror. Despite its mixed reviews from critics, The Carter IV was the highest-selling hip-hop album of the year with 2 million copies sold.