Brooklyn emcee Talib Kweli and high energy producer-rapper Swizz Beatz both debuted high on The Billboard 200 this week with their latest efforts.

Talib scored his first appearance in the Top 10 by landing at No. 2 with his third solo album Ear Drum. According to Nielsen's Soundscan, the set scanned 60,000 discs in its opening week.

Leading up to his release, Talib was recently crowned the first SOHH Official artist, a new SOHH.com initiative intended to recognizes a notable artist for their ability to push the envelope in today's music. [Check Talib's Guest Star blog here]

The album features appearances from Norah Jones, UGK, Justin Timberlake and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.

Entering at No. 7 is Swizz Beatz with his sophomore effort One Man Band Man. The album, which features appearances from Coldplay front man Chris Martin and Drag-On, bagged up 45,000 units in its first go-around. [Swizz discusses his album here]

For a complete look at other Rap and R&B albums making moves on the Billboard 200, check out SOHH's charts column tomorrow (August 29).

http://sohh.com/articles/article.php/12435


First Common, UGK, now Talib? Gotdamn, these mothafuckaz are doin something right if they have these chart topping albums out, right now

Discuss

Its only 60,000.....

Well deserved for Talib, I dunno how these rappers are getting at the top of the charts. Although smh at him still only selling 60k in his first week. That's pathetic for Swizz though, considering he's a commercial "rapper," if he can even be called that.

Its only 60,000.....

No shit mane, but Im talking about how he got NO.2 on the billboard, not the sales here.....Yes Ill admit I expected it to sell at least over 100k, but hearin he got the No.2 position says somethin

Getting two out of two-hundred with only 60, 000 records has brought two things to my attention.

1 - At least it he's in enough demand to be able to hit #2 on the charts, with so many fans being blindsided by the likes of Yung Joc and Hurricane Chris.

2 - Also shows that with only 60, 000 records sold, that not too many people are on the search for pure hip hop.

2 - Also shows that with only 60, 000 records sold, that not too many people are on the search for pure hip hop.

or they are waiting for Kanye/50 Cent to drop next week (or whenever it is)


Talib deserves all the success he can get

This shows this years albums must have been terrible if he's 2nd on the charts. I actually went and bought Talib's album, but I can honestly say I like maybe 2 songs on it.

Swizz doesnt need to rap. I dont even know why he is. He is a PRODUCER. A great producer at that. That's where all his money comes in. Even though his album aint sell all that good, he's still gunna get that extra loot from it.

or they are waiting for Kanye/50 Cent to drop next week (or whenever it is)


Talib deserves all the success he can get

I agree he deserves all he gets, itll be interesting to see the sales figues on the new Kanye/50 Cent albums I agree, especially compared with Talib's.

I've yet to hear the album, I'll be buying it.

Scottishhead ... that nigga Early in signature is rough. Can that song be downloaded somewhere? Like off limewire?

Scottishhead ... that nigga Early in signature is rough. Can that song be downloaded somewhere? Like off limewire?

Yeah, I d/lded it from Limewire ages ago.

haha bought talib's cd before commons man its great that common and talib r 1 and 2 on the charts it shows something definently

Good job for Talib, I'm happy for him, but if anything, Common and Talib's success show how Hip hop is on a steady decline commercially, not to be negative or anything.

Well 2nd in billboard is good and so is 60k(now). Because if he's 2nd on charts, imagine how many people are actually downloading his shit.

thats good to hear, I still havent heard the album so I'll probably buy it sometime. I bought Quality Control and The Beautiful Struggle cause Talib is an artist that I wana support.

It may be only 60k but thats a lot considering the lack of albums being bought these days, its good to know an 'un-mainstream' artist like Talib can sell units.

Proof that people want the real

Real what? >_>

congrats to Talib...ya'll also gotta take into count that all but 3 trax...an interlude and a verse from kanye....leaked like 3 months prior to its release....had it not been he might've seen more numbers...but still.....its great to see good hip hop top the charts

Common-157,000
UGK-160,000 (WELL ITS double cd so really its 80,000 but still)
Talib-60,000

Real what? >_>


Hiphop

watch kanye gunna be top 2 common was number 1 talib number 2 lupe will get top 5 prolly wutang will be number1

record companies must be getting nervous..maybe they make enough off ringtones..but i doubt it the record industry got screwed when the mp3 player blew up..serves em right for all the shady shit they do to artists..

i wanna like Talib but his voice bugs the shit outta me..he has so little mic swagger its like pure backpack rap..but his lyrics are still ill so its hard to hate

I've yet to hear the album, I'll be buying it.

Same, i'll probably buy it if I see it next time I go to buy an album

Was gonna d/l when it leaked but I saw it was an advance and never really bothered, I was anticipating it alot near the end of last yr. when the song with UGK leaked but it got pushed back so much I just lost interest

Good to see him selling some records though