This Week in Album Sales: Tech N9ne Goes for Indie Gold

Let me start off by quoting my favorite writer, me. In my review for Tech N9ne's new album, "All 6's & 7's", I wrote: "Tech is the most powerful independent artist in the country – and at a time when being signed to a major label is only a small step above sharecropping, you can make the case that he’s one of the most powerful artists period." God I'm a fantastic writer. More importantly (seriously), I'm right. Tech currently has the number four album in the country, a feat no other indie rap artist could drive of pulling off. And while 56,000 units wouldn't amount to much for a major artist after the label's done taking their share, Tech is his own label. He owns his masters, and his publishing, and controls his PR budget. In other words, while you may never see the man driving a Maybach, he could afford to drive a 18-wheeler filled with Maybachs.

Thankfully it's a different story on the singles charts, so let's turn our attention there: Top 10 Urban Songs with units sold

1 (2 overall). Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo - Give Me Everything 221,250
2 (3 overall). LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett - Party Rock Anthem 188,000
3 (6 overall). Nicki Minaj - Super Bass 145,000
4 (8 overall). Lil Wanye - How to Love 133,000
5 (9 overall). Bruno Mars - Lazy Songs 132,000
6 (10 overall). Katy Perry ft. Kanye West - E.T. 124,000
7 (11 overall). Lupe Fiasco - Show Goes On 118,000
8 (12 overall). Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull - On the Floor 116,000
9 (13 overall). Drake ft. Rick Ross - I'm On One 93,000
10 (17 overall). Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne - Look at Me Now 86,000

The Refined Take:

1) Can't overlook this - you know who had the number one album in the country? Adele. Oh fucks yes. If anything gives you hope it should be that. Without any gimmicks, without any publicity stunts or sexed up sellouts, Adele has pushed her way to the top solely by making music so good everyone, from Big K.R.I.T. to suburban housewives, is forced to admit that it's incredible.

2) This obviously isn't breaking news but glancing through the charts my eyes stopped at Eminen's "Recovery". That man has almost sold four million albums. Four million! That means he's the most popular artist in America right now, period. He's sold more than pop sensation Justin Bieber, more than country music stars Lady Antebellum. Unbelievably, a white rapper who once did this is now almost universally beloved.

3) I don't think we've really talked about how huge Pitbull is right now. From "DJ Got Us Fallin in Love" with Usher to "Give Me Everything" with Ne-Yo, which is currently the number two record, I literally can't remember the last time I looked at a top ten list without Pit. And you know what? Good for him. Anyone who can gets the ladies shaking, and throw a mean right hook while he's at it, has earned my respect.

4) I may not personally love her, but at least I understand what people love about Nicki Minaj. But apparently 145,000 people decided, "you know what I'm doing today? Paying money to listen to 'Super Bass'" last week. Really America? Really?

5) This week's Mr. Irrelevant Award, given to the song that sits at the absolute bottom of the charts (the number 200 spot), goes to...Swizz Beatz' "Everyday Coolin". God that song's terrible. Call me a hater, but I can't say I'm not happy to see Swizz struggling to outsell Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It", which by the way came out in 1987.