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DRAKE SET TO TAKE THE CAKE
YM/CM/Universal Republic Rapper’s Delayed Sophomore Album Will Bow with Close to 700k

November 16, 2011

Drake’s ready to Take Care of business.

The rapper, whose sophomore YM/CM/Universal Republic album, Take Care, is the follow-up to last year’s successful bow, Thank Me Later, will debut at #1 with a sales total between 675-725k.

That will make it the third-best bow of the year, after Lady Gaga’s 1.1 million selling Born This Way and his labelmate Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, which also clocked in slightly over a million on HITS’ Album sales chart.

It’s also the second straight chart-topping bow by a Jewish rapper, following this week’s surprise #1 debut by Mac Miller. Can an M.O.T. reunion be far behind?

The next highest debut will be Columbia’s Glee Christmas, Vol. 2 album, which arrives to sales of around 65-70k, while Decca recording artist Andrea Bocelli’s Concerto: One Night in Central Park live CD should do in the 60-65k area.

Glassnote Records latest discovery, Community star Donald Glover’s hip-hop persona Childish Gambino’s debut album Camp will open with a very impressive 45-50k.

Finally, Trill/Fontana hip-hop artist Baton Rouge rapper Webbie’s third installment of the Savage Life series, is set to bow with 24-27k.

Album sales were up 4% vs. last week, up 2% vs. same week last year and up 3% year to date.

Track sales were up 9% vs. last week, up 7% vs. same week last year and up 1-% year to date.

TEA (Track Equivalent Album) sales were up 5% vs. last week, up 3% vs. same week last year and up 5% year to date.

Take that, Spotify haters.

Amazing sales for Drake.

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Ouch. I knew this didn't make the top 50, but I didn't expect it to fall this low.

And yes, Drake's sales are amazing. He should have a good second week, too.

**** hes gonna block Rihanna second week.

Drake.

Damn Drizzy, I was calling for 600K but 700K+ is crayy!

She was a non-factor since the beginning

Drake

He's not her only competition. I bet Mary and Nickelback give her a run for her money, too, regardless if they don't have the singles success this era. Mary will be promoting hard next week, starting with the AMAs.

Mary decreases with each album and last was 300k. Shes a non factor.

You think she's a 'non-factor,' but she's a decent to great album seller with a solid R&B fanbase. If Jennifer Hudson and Jill Scott did 130-150k first week months ago, Mary - the bigger name - will see even bigger sales for the holidays. She might not do 300k, but Rihanna probably won't either. The numbers will probably be closer than you think.

Don't count Mary out. People still here for her, and as Cap said, she has a lot of promo planned. She opening good.

You guys shouldn't count out Daughtry. They're performing at the AMA's and Walmart will be selling their CD for 7 bucks

Her first-week sales have been up and down for the last 10 years. The promo for this album is fabulous. She's doing the Macy's parade on Thanksgiving, AMAs, plus a tour in NYC & Atlanta (huge market for her). Non-factor she is not.

Don't be surprised if Michael Buble sees a heavy surge in sales the week of Black Friday. His album has increased since its release and he could be the 'Josh Groban' of 2011. Christmas albums tend to see huge increases the week of Black Friday. I wouldn't be surprised at about 250-300k for him.

Christmas albums are making appearances on the charts. It's such a good idea to release a Christmas album. They always come back every year.

Let's hope so

A year old, and charting higher than the pop queens' releases less than 8 months old

You'd think it was a Christmas classic or something

Exactly. Mary's first weeks are NOT to be messed with.

Drake's doing 700k!?! That's ****ing amazing! Hyped for him too.