Kanye West Bests 50 Cent On Album Charts

NEW YORK, New York (September 20, 2007) –In what was a huge week for the ailing record industry Kanye West’s “Graduation” (Def Jam) proved the strongest of the class of Sept. 11 releases, racking up The Billboard 200’s largest sales total in more than two years. West’s third album moved 957,000 during its first week of release, trumping chart rival 50 Cent’s “Curtis” (G-Unit/Interscope), which locked down the No. 2 slot with 691,000 sold. Kenny Chesney’s “Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates” (BNA/Sony BMG Nashville) bowed at No. 3 with 387,000 copies.

The total for West’s “Graduation” is the largest by any album since, ironically enough, 50 Cent’s “The Massacre” opened with 1.1 million copies in March 2005. West’s own August 2005 album, “Late Registration,” was the last album to surpass 800,000 copies when it began with 860,000. West’s new album ranks 15th among all sales weeks since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking in 1991.

Last weeks chart champ the “High School Musical 2” soundtrack slips down to # 4 selling 133,000 copies. Another Disney soundtrack, Miley Cyrus’ double-disc set “Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus,” slips from #3 down to #5 with 42,000. Fergie’s “The Dutchess” (Interscope), which was released a year ago today, continues to sell well despite falling 2 spots to #6 with 41,000. And Nickelback’s Roadrunner effort “All the Right Reasons” climbs from #8 to #7 with 35,000.

Another big debut this week is the “Grey’s Anatomy 3” soundtrack (Hollywood) at No. 16 with 27,000. country star Trisha Yearwood’s “Greatest Hits” (MCA Nashville) lands at No. 22 with 22,000 and B5’s “Don’t Talk, Just Listen” (Bad Boy) debuts at No. 27 with 19,000.

Below are Billboard’s Top 10 Album and Top 10 Downloaded Singles charts for the week:

2. 50 CENT – Curtis – 691,000 3. KENNY CHESNEY – Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates – 387,0004. SOUNDTRACK – High School Musical 2 – 133,000 5. MILEY CYRUS – Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus – 42,0006. FERGIE – The Dutchess – 41,0007. NICKELBACK – All The Right Reasons – 35,0008. COLBIE CAILLAT – Coco – 32,0009. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Now 25 – 32,00010. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE – FutureSex/LoveSounds – 31,000

2. SOULJA BOY – “Crank That” 3. 50 CENT – ” Ayo Technology”4. KANYE WEST – “Good Life” 5. TIMBALAND – “The Way I Are”6. MATCHBOX 20 – ” How Far We’ve Come”7. COLBIE CAILLAT – “Bubbly”8. NICKELBACK “Rockstar”9. ALICIA KEYS – “No One”10. MAROON5 – “Wake Up Call”

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