Compton, California
rapper The Game has proven his selling power despite label turmoil and the loss
of production from Dr. Dre, as his sophomore album Doctor’s Advocate moved
almost 360,000 copies the first week in stores. The
Game, born Jayceon Taylor, suffered numerous setbacks while recording the album,
which is expected to top the Billboard charts next week. He
feuded with powerful rap collective 50 Cent and G-Unit and was eventually
shuffled off of the
powerhouse Aftermath/Interscope labels due to the negative publicity surrounding
the beef and his "G-Unot" campaign. The
rapper remained confident in numerous interviews that his album would be a best-seller,
despite the downward spiral of compact disc sales, due to fans purchasing and
downloading music off of the Internet.
The
Game even leaked the entire album himself on the Internet to give fans a preview
of the album. "Those
n***as, they want to get the album," The Game told AllHipHop.com a week before
the release. "Then I got my five times platinum fans that are going to get
the album, so I think I’m going to be alright. I’ma move some units. I’m do my
numbers and n***as gotta respect it. I know n***as is saying the climate [to sell
records] is f**ked up. F**ked up for who? Not me, I’m good."Game’s
debut The Documentary almost 600,000 units its first week in stores and has sold
over 4 million copies worldwide. Game’s
Doctor’s Advocate was released on Black Wall Street/A&M/Geffen, a unit
of Universal Music Group. UMG
scored another success with R&B singer/rapper Akon, as his SRC/Universal Motown
album Konvicted snagged the #2 spot, moving over 285,000 copies during
its first week on the shelves. Akon’s
sophomore album’s sales were powered by the success of his singles “Smack
That" with Eminem and "I Wanna Love You” featuring Snoop Dogg.“Akon
is one of the most versatile and talented personalities in all of Hip-Hop, with
his skills on full display in these two records with Eminem and Snoop Dogg,"
said SRC boss Steve Rifkind. "Some of the biggest stars in rap and pop are
lining up to work with him. His development since I signed him to the label has
been nothing short of remarkable. I’ve seen a great deal in my Hip-Hop career,
but the breakout of this album is unprecedented.”