Mary J Blige proved once again that people will go out and buy music the regular way moving 629,000 cds in her first week on the shelves with Growing Pains. This the ninth album from the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul was the only album to break into the top ten this week on soundscan. Alicia Keys still has the stronghold on the chart having sold over 2,350,000 copies of her As I Am in just six weeks.
Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco sold 143,000 of his sophomore album The Cool and R&B singer Jaheim who has been missing from the scene for some years went ahead and sold 176,000 copies of his first release under Atlantic, The Makings of a Man.
Mixtape Awards
After trouble escalated at last years Tenth Annual Mixtape awards held at the Harlem Appollo in New York City, the eleventh award show which gives the DJs their shot to be honored for their work on the endless tapes that promote artists and the DJs themselves is headed back to New York again. Founded by Justo Fasion who was tragically killed in a road accident in 2005, the mixtape awards have rapidly grown and have become a major event within the Hip-Hop calendar.
The Award show is set for February 21st but a venue has yet to be disclosed for the event.
TI working on new album
While currently on house arrest, rapper TI is using the time to his advantage and working on his new album which he says is close to 30% completed. TI born Christopher Harris was released on 3 million dollar bail after being caught buying machine guns in October after being allegedly framed by his bodyguard. He recently posted a video wishing his fans a Happy Christmas and offering condolences for those that have lost loved ones this year.
