Indeed, Jay-Z’s latest Roc-A-Fella/IDJ opus, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse is blowing retail minds after one day in the street, with early reports from national accounts indicating it should sell over 600k for the week.
That’s well ahead of all expectations, but there’s more: Huge demand for the record is exceeding the current supply. If stock problems can be solved quickly, Jay-Z’s first week tally could end up being well over 700k.
Either way, it’s enough to guarantee the IDJ marquee rap star a #1 debut on next week’s chart, according to the pundits who punditize on such things. Or is it punditate? Pundificate?
Anyhow, those pundits are guessing that the 8 Mile soundtrack, which will have the benefit of a full week of sales with the movie in theaters, won’t keep pace with the Z. Just how well the Eminem will do this week remains to be seen, however.
Meanwhile, the second highest debut-in-the-making for next week’s chart is Missy Elliott’s Under Construction (Gold Mind/Elektra), which is on track to sell 250k for the week and could end up doing better, depending on the action at independent accounts. Elliott’s last album nailed a 250k first week.
Also making big splashes since streeting yesterday are Pearl Jam’s Riot Act, which appears headed for north of 200k (possibly 225k); TLC’s Lisa Lopes-featuring 3D (Arista), which should move in excess of 150k; and 3 Doors Down’s Away From the Sun (Republic/Universal), which looks like a solid 125k and could do as well as 150k.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled pundiferation.
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