Jay- Z and Kanye West's "Watch the Throne" arrives, as expected, at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 436,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the second-largest sales week of the year for an album, behind only the 1.1 million start of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

"Throne" was available exclusively through iTunes from Aug. 8-11 before going on sale at all digital and physical retailers on Friday, Aug. 12. SoundScan's tracking week ended on Sunday, Aug. 14.

"Throne" sold 321,000 downloads, marking the second-largest digital week ever, behind only the 662,000 moved by "Born This Way" in its first week earlier this year. While SoundScan does not disclose retailer-specific sales figures, sources say "Throne" broke iTunes' one-week sales record -- with nearly 290,000 digital copies sold through the retailer. ("Throne" surpassed the previous iTunes record, set when Coldplay's 2008 album "Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends" shifted 282,000 in its first week.)

"Throne" also earns Jay-Z his 12th No. 1 and West his fifth. For Jay, the achievement extends his record as the solo act with the most No. 1 albums in history. Only The Beatles, with 19 No. 1s, have more.

Coincidentally, Jay-Z happens to have been part of the three most recent collaborative albums that have topped the Billboard 200. Before "Throne," he joined Linkin Park for "Collision Course" and R. Kelly on "Unfinished Business," both of which debuted at No. 1 in 2004.

Jay-Z's last solo studio album, "The Blueprint 3," bowed at No. 1 with 476,000 in 2009 while West's previous effort, 2010's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," also launched at No. 1, but with 496,000.

WTT is the biggest one-week digital tally ever for a rap album. The old record was held by Eminem's Recovery, which sold 255K digital copies in its first week in June 2010.

http://www.billboard.com/#/news/jay-...05318372.story

Congrats Jay on his 12th #1 and Kanye on this 5th. Your faves need to watch the throne


Debuted #1 Worldwide with 513K.
Worldwide sales about 1,277,000 (as of 10/7/11)

September 17th: Certified Platinum by RIAA. Total copies scanned: 930,257K

Originally posted by Dephira Great debut, considering there was only one single with quite limited AI when the album came out.

Originally posted by iamvladd Based on one single released with no catchy chorus or hook, purely rap And the second week drop won't be as bad because of the physical being out everywhere now

Originally posted by Relative Let's hope it won't. Most albums drop 50-60% the 2nd week so hopefully it's less than this. I'm more interested in how they will do worldwide though. Some rappers can go gold or even platinum in the U.S., but outside of Eminem who is really doing it internationally?

Well done, Yeezy & Jigga!

Originally posted by Relative Let's hope it won't. Most albums drop 50-60% the 2nd week so hopefully it's less than this. I'm more interested in how they will do worldwide though. Some rappers can go gold or even platinum in the U.S., but outside of Eminem who is really doing it internationally?

WTT is the biggest one-week digital tally ever for a rap album. The old record was held by Eminem's Recovery, which sold 255K digital copies in its first week in June 2010.

Certified Platinum

Originally posted by iamvladd WTT is the biggest one-week digital tally ever for a rap album. The old record was held by Eminem's Recovery, which sold 255K digital copies in its first week in June 2010.