This Week in Sales: It’s Official, Nicki Minaj is Bigger Than Kanye

Posted by Nathan S. on 02/03/11 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Charts

(I'm shocked Kanye's hand placement isn't lower, shocked I tell you.)

Last week I caused some citizens of RefinedHype nation to have a minor aneurysm last week by merely reporting the fact that Nicki Minaj's debut album "Pink Friday" has almost passed Kanye's new school classic "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" in total sales. Well, we can now officially remove the "almost". After two months on the charts, Nicki's staying strong with the number three album in the country and 989,000 in total sales, while Yeezy continues to fall down the charts, landing at number 19 (and 980,000 sold) - you can expect that gap to only get bigger. Does this mean Nicki's actually more influential than Ye, or is she a flash in the pan that's just burning brighter for the moment? I'll let y'all debate in the comments below, but I do know this - Kanye and his gigantic ego is fucking pissed he's being beaten.

Top Digital Urban Song Sales (w/ units sold)

1 (2nd overall). Wiz Khalifa - Black & Yellow (186,904)
2. (3rd overall) Bruno Mars - Grenade (166,122)
3 (4th overall). Pitbull ft. T-Pain - Hey Baby (154,728)
4 (7th overall). Diddy Money - Coming Home (130,679)
5 (8th overall). Far East Movement - Rocketeer (125,160)
6 (9th overall). Black Eyed Peas (114,785)
7 (11th overall). Cee-Lo Green - Fuck You (102,277)
8 (12th overall). Lil Wayne ft. Cory Gunz - 6 Foot 7 Foot (93,896)
9 (14th overall). Waka Flocka ft. Roscoe Dash - No Hands (89,743) (125,160)
10 (17th overall). Usher - More (82,022)

The Refined Take:

1) Holy shit. The only thing stopping Wiz Khalifa, the skinny tattooed week smoked from Pittsburgh, from having the number one song in the country is a Pink song I've never heard of. That is impressive. Even better, we know get to keep a close eye on "Roll Up" and see if Wiz is more than a one-hit wonder.

2) Even though radio played it so much I now harbor homicidal tendencies towards everyone who even mentions the phrase "G6", I'll admit that "Fly Like a G6" was a guilty pleasure. But "Rocketeer"? Fuck that, especially considering there's not a single Jennifer Connelly reference in the song. God she was so hot in that movie - I hope Disney sues them for copyright infringement.

3) Obviously "Words That I Never Said" sparked a lot of talk about Lupe's relationship with his major label overseers (it's not friendly), but the truth is he's not doing that bad when it comes to hits. "The Show Goes On' has sold about 350,000 total units, which I'm sure isn't the smash Atlantic was hoping for, but it's decent. Either way, I really don't' think Lupe gives a fuck any more.

4) Apparently most of America is kosher because "H.A.M." currently sits at number 84, which for a song by two superstars has to be disappointing. Personally, the track's only grown on me - I now really did it. Seriously.

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..Eminem's "Lose Yourself". Considering that song came out about 20 years ago now (give or take), it's actually ridiculous that it's even on the charts at all. Plus I head Em charges $200,000 just to use "Lose Yourself" in a tv show. The man's obviously doing just fine for himself.

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cudderkid	Damn, I'm starting to think the only way kanye will have a hit single if he puts rihanna on it. I really thought kanye and hova would be destroying the charts. Oh well... Interesting to see how I Need A Doctor sells
	Posted on Feb 03, 2011

DJ Brookllen

I love looking at the singles charts, I mean where the hell did More come from again? I remember the NBA playing the crap out of that before last years all-star game (not to mention Usher performing it during the game).

Also its good to see Pitbull got another hit with Hey Baby which really surprises me but then again I have no comprehension of how Waka continues to sell anything. Pit is one of the few artists I actually look forward to his stuff coming out anymore. His stuff is usually great club material and hilarious as well.

As far as Rocketeer, I actually like that song better than G6. Mainly due to G6 being put on repeat for the past 4 months but also because it is decently catchy. Not saying it is a world better but it's not bad either.

Posted on Feb 03, 2011

SmokinAces

The fact that we're comparing Nicki's one album to Kanye, who if I'm not wrong has 4 multi platinum albums already besides MBDTF, says something about our culture these days. How are we even having the conversation of if Nicki is more influential than Ye? Nicki's album is made for pop radio. Ye's is not. Dude still hasn't dropped All of The Lights. Plus I don't think he's that pissed because he's always considered Nicki a threat on that level as far as mainstream. But is Nicki more influential than Ye? GTFOH!

She had a HUGE year which shows in sales for her album. But we'll start talking about "more influential than..." when she a) drops a GOOD album, let alone a classic (or two or three) and b) when she sells millions consistently on three or four albums. Not after her first album, no.

That's sort of the problem with the internet. We're so quick to put new artists in the same category as people who have become institutions in the music game with consistent hits, multiple multi platinum albums, and classic material.

Posted on Feb 03, 2011

iMg	Lose Yourself? Holy crap! I didn't see that one coming.
	Posted on Feb 03, 2011

Nathan S.	I'd agree with @SmokinAces to the extent that it's far too early to say Nicki's going to be a cultural force like Kanye has. At the same time, she's been so successful with this album I don't see her as a flash in the pan. If she can continue to grow, she could be the biggest female rap star ever.
	Posted on Feb 03, 2011

d-mac	I prefer "A Beautiful Mind" Jennifer Connelly.
	Posted on Feb 03, 2011

Young Swish	People are getting too carried away with this Kanye vs Nicki. Like @SmokinAces said, Kanye is 10 years deep and we still can’t get enough of him. I doubt Nicki will be around that long. We have all seen female rappers blow up and disappear as quick as they came.
	Posted on Feb 03, 2011

enigmAtic And ecstAtic (joshL)

Holy Fuck! Nathan S., you liked Fly Like A G6. I think you may have just lost all of your credibility as a hip hop writer. You sit there and trash that kind of music everyday, but you admit you like G6. That song is probably the worst song of 2010. period. period. period. Anyway, the who credibility thing is mostly just a joke. lol. But seriously how in the fucking world do you fucking like that fucking miserable fucking shitty fucking excuse for a motherfucking fucked up fuckin song? Yep, I just broke Rick Ross' record for most fucking fucks in a motherfuckin sentence. fuck.

Posted on Feb 04, 2011

Originality

Kanye is doing just fine. People who really enjoy music for music knows that numbers aren't relative to music quality. As for "Lose Yourself" I'm convinced that somewhere that song is being used in an ad campaign (See "Gangster's Paradise") I don't believe songs that old simply re-up at random...but then again, who knows?

@enigmAtic And ecstAtic; I believe that G6 is a more pop-oriented song that simply can't be compared to hip-hop. I don't think it diminishes anyone's credibility whatsoever. I mean come on, we all love the "All the girls around me, dey be actin like they drunk!A-A-A-Actin like they..."

Posted on Feb 04, 2011