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As to next week, all eyes will be on Jay-Z’s rule-breaking new Roc Nation opus, "Magna Carta Holy Grail," which is due to be “unlocked” at 12:01AM EST on 7/4 and hit retail a few days later.

RAP FIREWORKS!

Hip-Hop Rules the Chart Again,
as "Sinner" Closes in on "Yeezus"

Hey, you! Stop loading that bong and pay attention for a few more minutes. The week ain’t over yet.

And speaking of the week, it’s once again dominated by hip-hop on the ol’ Album Sales Chart. Wale’s The Gifted (Atlantic) finishes first with 151k. The subsequent spots are last week’s big debuts, Kanye West’s Yeezus (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/IDJ) and J. Cole’s Born Sinner (Roc Nation/Columbia)--only they switch positions, with J. Cole moving 83k (down 72%) to grab the #2 position and Kanye 65k (-80%) for third place. As we noted in our Rumor Mill, J. is likely to surpass ‘Ye in total sales relatively soon.

The Top 10 features three other debuts, Xian rockers Skillet (Atlantic), who bowed at #4 with 54k, Motown’s India.Arie, whose 28.8k was good for a #7 opening, and another devotional outfit, August Burns Red (Solidstate), who nabbed the #10 spot with 24k.

Republic Nashville’s Florida Georgia Line moved up three spots to #5 with a 31k week (-4%), while KidinaKorner/Interscope breakouts Imagine Dragons climbed to #8 with 28.6k (+12%).

Farther down the list, Amon Amarth’s Deceiver of the Gods (Metal Blade) bows at #19 with 15k, Attila’s new Razor & Tie set hits #40 with 8.3k and a new Queensryche (#42) ups the rock quotient ever so slightly with 8k.

There were several re-entries this week, including UMe’s Pitch Perfect ST (which scored the #21 spot with 14k as the movie found new fans on cable and Anna Kendrick's "Cups" ranneth over at Top 40), Interscope’s Lana Del Rey (#44, 7k) and Mercury Nashville’s Kacey Musgraves (#45, 7k).

The week’s biggest gainer? That would be Kendrick Lamar, whose Aftermath/Interscope set Good Kid M.A.A.D. City saw an 18% bump with 10k, zooming 41-29. Kendrick also happens to be a guest on “Give It 2 U,” a slinky track on Robin Thicke’s hotly anticipated album (due out 7/31) that you can preview on iTunes.

For more chart fun, go here.

Streeting next week, well, traditionally speaking, it’s Joe (Massenburg Media). But all eyes are on Jay-Z’s rule-breaking new Roc Nation opus, Magna Carta Holy Grail, which is due to be “unlocked” at 12:01AM EST on 7/4 and hit retail a few days later. Our Samsung phones will tell us when it’s ready.

In the meantime, have a safe, happy Fourth, and remember: Light and THEN step back.

SPRINGTIME
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