The 10 Best-Selling Rap Albums Ever

These albums sold the most copies in the U.S.

By

Updated on 08/13/18

In 2000, The Marshall Mathers LP sold 1.7 million units in one week. It became the fastest-selling studio album by any solo artist in the United States.

Fifteen years later, Adele's 25 set a new record, selling 3.38 million units in one week.

No hip-hop artist has ever managed such a feat. But rappers have sold plenty of albums since SoundScan started accurately tracking sales in 1991.

Here are the 10 best-selling rap albums of all time in the United States.

10

of 10

OutKast - Speakerboxx/The Love Below (2003)

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11.4 million

OutKast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below is a double album. The RIAA double-counts double albums. Meaning: one copy = two units. According to RIAA math, 5.5 million = 11 million units.

09

of 10

Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

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10.6 million

Eminem's second album, The Marshall Mathers LP, has sold nearly 11 million units in the States, making it the top-selling album by a solo rapper. Eminem is also the best-selling solo rapper of all time.

08

of 10

Eminem - The Eminem Show (2002)

10.3 million

Eminem is the only rapper with at least two Diamond albums (10+ million units sold) since the RIAA instituted the Diamond award in 1999. The Eminem Show is one of two Eminem albums to notch the coveted Diamond certification.

07

of 10

The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death (1997)

Biggie Smalls & A Bottle Of St. Ides — Adger Cowans / Getty Images

10.2 million

Biggie's second album, released just two weeks after his death in a drive-by shooting, is considered one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.

06

of 10

MC Hammer - Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (1990)

MC Hammer Performs In Minnesota — Jim Steinfeldt / Getty Images

10 million

Thanks to the popularity of "U Can't Touch This," Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em held its place atop the Billboard 200 for 21 weeks. It sold an astonishing 10 million copies.

05

of 10

2Pac - Greatest Hits (1998)

Tupac Shakur In 'Gridlock'd' — Archive Photos / Getty Images

10 million

Tupac Shakur's Greatest Hits has outsold all his original albums to date. The 1998 compilation is also the top-selling greatest hits collection in hip-hop history.

04

of 10

2Pac - All Eyez on Me (1996)

9 million

Aside from Eminem, no other rapper has sold more records than Tupac Shakur. The double album All Eyez on Me features some of 2Pac's best-known songs, among them: "California Love" and "I Ain't Mad at Cha."

03

of 10

Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (1986)

Lester Cohen Archives — WireImage / Getty Images

9 million

Licensed to Ill is the only 1980s album on this list. Def Jam issued the Beastie Boys debut on November 15, 1986, and it became the first rap album to top the Billboard 200 chart. It contains some of the group's most memorable hits: "Fight for Your Right" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn."

02

of 10

Nelly - Country Grammar (2000)

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8.6 million

Nelly's 2000 debut, Country Grammar, entered the charts to the tune of 235,000 copies in its first week. The album has been certified nine times platinum. It produced mega-hits including the title track, "Ride wit Me," "E.I." and "Batter Up."

01

of 10

50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)

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8.3 million

50 Cent's debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin', entered the charts with a bang in 2003. It sold 872,000 in its first week, thanks to the unforgettable lead single "In da Club." GRODT sold 12 million copies globally.