Best selling rap albums in the US by release date, 1987-2012

[Spiderpig]

OK, I know there's like 3 rap fans here, but I don't care
These lists are based on RIAA certifications and some soundscan numbers, any correction is welcome

The first rap album to be really successful was released in 1986 : Run DMC's "Raising Hell" (3x platinum). The end of 1986 saw the release of the Beastie Boys' "Licensed To Ill", which eventually became a huge blockbuster during 1987 (more than 10 million copies sold to date).

1987



L.L. COOL J - Bigger And Deffer : 2x platinum
FAT BOYS - Crushin' : platinum
KOOL MOE DEE - How Ya Like Me Now : platinum
ERIC B. & RAKIM - Paid In Full : platinum
WHODINI - Open Sesame : gold
DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - Rock The House : gold
ICE-T - Rhyme Pays : gold
TOO SHORT - Born To Mack : gold
PUBLIC ENEMY - Yo! Bum Rush The Show : gold
N.W.A. AND THE POSSE - N.W.A. And The Posse : gold

1988



DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper : 3x platinum
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton : 2x platinum
EAZY-E - Eazy-Duz-It : 2x platinum
M.C. HAMMER - Let's Get It Started : 2x platinum
TOO SHORT - Life Is... Too Short : 2x platinum
PUBLIC ENEMY - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back : platinum
SLICK RICK - The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick : platinum
RUN-D.M.C. - Tougher Than Leather : platinum
ROB BASE & D.J. E-Z ROCK - It Takes Two : platinum
SIR MIX-A-LOT - Swass : platinum

1989



TONE LOC - Loc'ed After Dark : 2x platinum
BEASTIE BOYS - Paul's Boutique : 2x platinum
2 LIVE CREW - As Nasty As They Wanna Be : platinum
DE LA SOUL - 3 Feet High And Rising : platinum
YOUNG M.C. - Stone Cold Rhymin' : platinum
HEAVY D AND THE BOYZ - Big Tyme : platinum
L.L. COOL J - Walking With A Panter : platinum
BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS - By All Means Necessary : gold
BIG DADDY KANE - It's A Big Daddy Thing : gold
KOOL MOE DEE - Knowledge Is King : gold

1990



M.C. HAMMER - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em : 10x platinum
VANILLA ICE - To The Extreme : 7x platinum
L.L. COOL J - Mama Said Knock You Out : 2x platinum
SALT 'N PEPA - Black's Magic : platinum
PUBLIC ENEMY - Fear Of A Black Planet : platinum
ICE CUBE - Amerikkka's Most Wanted : platinum
DIGITAL UNDERGROUND - Sex Packets : platinum
ICE CUBE - Kill At Will : platinum
TOO SHORT - Short Dog's In The House : platinum
N.W.A. - 100 Miles And Runnin' : platinum

1991



HAMMER - Too Legit To Quit : 3x platinum
CYPRESS HILL - Cypress Hill : 2x platinum
N.W.A. - Efil4zaggin : platinum
NAUGHTY BY NATURE - Naughty By Nature : platinum
DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - Homebase : platinum
GETO BOYS - We Can't Be Stopped : platinum
ICE CUBE - Death Certificate : platinum
PUBLIC ENEMY - Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Back : platinum
HEAVY D AND THE BOYZ - Peaceful Journey : platinum
MARKY MARK AND THE FUNKY BUNCH - Music For The People : platinum

1992



DR. DRE - The Chronic : 3x platinum (5 million sold)
KRIS KROSS - Totally Krossed Out : 4x platinum
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - 3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of... : 4x platinum
BEASTIE BOYS - Check Your Head : 2x platinum
ICE CUBE - The Predator : 2x platinum
SIR MIX-A-LOT - Mack Daddy : platinum
HOUSE OF PAIN - House Of Pain : platinum
DAS EFX - Dead Serious : platinum
TOO SHORT - Shorty The Pimp : platinum
WRECKX 'N EFFECT - Hard Or Smooth : platinum

1993



SNOOP DOGGY DOGG - Doggystyle : 4x platinum (6 million)
SALT 'N PEPA - Very Necessary : 5x platinum
CYPRESS HILL - Black Sunday : 3x platinum
WU-TANG CLAN - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) : platinum
EAZY-E - It's On (Dr. Dre) 187 Um Killa : platinum
ICE CUBE - Lethal Injection : platinum
2PAC - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. : platinum
NAUGHTY BY NATURE - 19NaughtyIII : platinum
TOO SHORT - Get In Where You Fit In : platinum
SNOW - 12 Inches Of Snow : platinum

1994



THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Ready To Die : 4x platinum
WARREN G - Regulate... G Funk Era : 3x platinum
BEASTIE BOYS - Ill Communication : 3x platinum
BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY - Creepin' On Ah Come Up : 2x platinum
MURDER WAS THE CASE (soundtrack) : 2x platinum
ABOVE THE RIM (soundtrack) : 2x platinum
OUTKAST - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik : platinum
METHOD MAN - Tical : platinum
SCARFACE - The Diary : platinum
NAS - Illmatic : platinum

1995



BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY - E. 1999 Eternal : 4x platinum (6 million)
DANGEROUS MINDS (soundtrack) : 3x platinum
2PAC - Me Against The World : 2x platinum
L.L. COOL J - Mr. Smith : 2x platinum
FRIDAY (soundtrack) : 2x platinum
THA DOGG POUND - Dogg Food : 2x platinum
COOLIO - Gangsta's Paradise : 2x platinum
CYPRESS HILL - III (Temple Of Boom) : platinum
THE SHOW (soundtrack) : platinum
TOO SHORT - Cocktails : platinum

1996



2PAC - All Eyez On Me : 4x platinum (6 million)
MAKAVELI - The Don Killuminati : The 7 Day Theory : 4x platinum
NAS - It Was Written : 2x platinum
SNOOP DOGGY DOGG - Tha Doggfather : 2x platinum
LIL KIM - Hard Core : 2x platinum
OUTKAST - Atliens : 2x platinum
TOO SHORT - Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) : platinum
FOXY BROWN - Ill Na Na : platinum
DR. DRE PRESENTS... THE AFTERMATH : platinum
L.L. COOL J - All World : Greatest Hits : platinum

1997



WILL SMITH - Big Willie Style : 9x platinum
PUFF DADDY AND THE FAMILY - No Way Out : 7x platinum
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Life After Death : 5x platinum
MASE - Harlem World : 4x platinum
MASTER P - Ghetto D : 3x platinum
2PAC - R U Still Down ? (Remember Me) : 2x platinum
WU-TANG CLAN - Wu-Tang Forever : 2x platinum
BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY - The Art Of War : 2x platinum
TRU - Tru 2 Da Game : 2x platinum
BUSTA RHYMES - When Disaster Strikes : platinum

1998



2PAC - Greatest Hits : 5x platinum
JAY-Z - Vol.2... Hard Knock Life : 5x platinum
DMX - It's Dark And Hell Is Hot : 4x platinum
JUVENILE - 400 Degreez : 4x platinum
BEASTIE BOYS - Hello Nasty : 3x platinum
DMX - Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood : 3x platinum
MASTER P - MP Da Last Don : 2x platinum
OUTKAST - Aquemini : 2x platinum
SNOOP DOGG - Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told : 2x platinum
METHOD MAN - Tical 2000 : platinum

1999



DR. DRE - 2001 : 6x platinum (7 million)
EMINEM - The Slim Shady LP : 4x platinum (6 million)
DMX - ...And Then There Was X : 5x platinum
JAY-Z - Vol.3... Life And Times Of S. Carter : 3x platinum
WILL SMITH - Willenium : 2x platinum
NAS - I Am... : 2x platinum
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Born Again : 2x platinum
EVE - Ruff Ryders' First Lady : 2x platinum
RUFF RYDERS - Ryde Or Die, vol. 1 : platinum (2 million)
BEASTIE BOYS - Anthology : The Sounds Of Science : platinum


2000



EMINEM - The Marshall Mathers LP : 10x platinum (12 million)
NELLY - Country Grammar : 9x platinum
OUTKAST - Stankonia : 4x platinum
JA RULE - Rule 3:36 : 3x platinum
LUDACRIS - Back For The First Time : 3x platinum
JAY-Z - The Dynasty : Roc La Familia : 2x platinum
LIL BOW WOW - Beware Of Dog : 2x platinum
SNOOP DOGG - Tha Last Meal : platinum (2 million)
WU-TANG CLAN - The W : platinum
XZIBIT - Restless : platinum

2001



JA RULE - Pain Is Love : 3x platinum
LUDACRIS - Word Of Mouf : 3x platinum
JAY-Z - The Blueprint : 2x platinum
2PAC - Until The End Of Time : platinum (2 million)
NAS - Stillmatic : platinum
DMX - The Great Depression : platinum
MISSY ELLIOTT - Miss E... So Addictive : platinum
OUTKAST - Big Boi And Dre Present... Outkast : platinum
EVE - Scorpion : platinum
D12 - Devil's Night : platinum

2002



EMINEM - The Eminem Show : 10x platinum
NELLY - Nellyville : 6x platinum
8 MILE (soundtrack) : 4x platinum
MISSY ELLIOTT - Under Construction : 2x platinum
LIL JON - Kings Of Crunk : 2x platinum
2PAC - Better Dayz : platinum
JAY-Z - The Blueprint 2 : The Gift And The Curse : platinum (2 million)
CAM'RON - Come Home With Me : platinum
BIG TYMERS - Hood Rich : platinum
SNOOP DOGG - Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Bo$$ : platinum

2003



50 CENT - Get Rich Or Die Tryin' : 6x platinum (8 million)
OUTKAST - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below : 5x platinum
BLACK EYED PEAS - Elephunk : 3x platinum
JAY-Z - The Black Album : 3x platinum
G UNIT - Beg For Mercy : 2x platinum
LUDACRIS - Chicken & Beer : 2x platinum
CHINGY - Jackpot : 2x platinum
DMX - The Grand Champ : platinum
FABOLOUS - Street Dreams : platinum
JUVENILE - Juve The Great : platinum

2004



EMINEM - Encore : 4x platinum (5 million)
KANYE WEST - The College Dropout : 2x platinum (3 million)
NELLY - Suit : 3x platinum
LIL JON - Crunk Juice : 2x platinum (3 million)
D12 - D12 World : 2x platinum
LUDACRIS - The Red Light District : 2x platinum
TWISTA - Kamikaze : platinum
SNOOP DOGG - R&G (Rythm & Gangsta) : The Masterpiece : platinum
T.I. - Urban Legend : platinum
LLOYD BANKS - The Hunger For More : platinum

2005



50 CENT - The Massacre : 5x platinum
BLACK EYED PEAS - Monkey Business : 3x platinum (4 million)
EMINEM - Curtain Call : The Hits : 2x platinum (3 million)
KANYE WEST - Late Registration : 3x platinum
THE GAME - The Documentary : 2x platinum
YOUNG JEEZY - Let's Get It : platinum (2 million)
LIL WAYNE - Tha Carter II : platinum
THREE 6 MAFIA - Most Known Unknown : platinum
CHAMILLIONAIRE - The Sound Of Revenge : platinum
GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' (soundtrack) : platinum

2006



T.I. - King : platinum (2 million)
JAY-Z - Kingdom Come : 2x platinum (1,5 million)
LUDACRIS - Release Therapy : platinum
YOUNG JEEZY - The Inspiration : platinum
EMINEM PRESENTS - The Re-Up : platinum
YUNG JOC - New Joc City : platinum
THE GAME - Doctor's Advocate : (should be) platinum
OUTKAST - Idlewild : platinum
SNOOP DOGG - Tha Blue Carpet Treatment : gold
RICK ROSS - Port Of Miami : gold

2007



KANYE WEST - Graduation : 2x platinum
50 CENT - Curtis : platinum
T.I. - T.I. vs T.I.P. : platinum
JAY-Z - American Gangster : platinum
SOULJA BOY - Souljaboytellem.com : platinum
PRETTY RICKY - Late Night Special : gold
COMMON - Finding Forever : gold
LUPE FIASCO - Lupe Fiasco's The Cool : gold
FABOLOUS - From Nothin' To Somethin' : gold
PLIES - The Real Testament : gold

2008



LIL WAYNE - Tha Carter III : 3,7 million
T.I. - Paper Trail : 2,1 million
KANYE WEST - 808s & Heartbreak : 1,6 million
YOUNG JEEZY - The Recession : 950k
RICK ROSS - Trilla : 750k
THE GAME - LAX : 700k
LUDACRIS - Theater Of The Mind : 650k
PLIES - Definition Of Real : 600k
NAS - Untitled : 450k
FLO RIDA - Mail On Sunday : 400k

2009



BLACK EYED PEAS - The E.N.D. : 3,2 million
EMINEM - Relapse : 2,2 million
JAY-Z - The Blueprint 3 : 1,9 million
KID CUDI - Man On The Moon : 700k
DRAKE - So Far Gone : 650k
YOUNG MONEY - We Are Young Money : 550k
50 CENT - Before I Self Destruct : 500k
RICK ROSS - Deeper Than Rap : 450k
GUCCI MANE - The State Vs. Radric Davis : 450k
THE LONELY ISLAND - Incredibad : 400k

2010



EMINEM - Recovery : 4,2 million
NICKI MINAJ - Pink Friday : 1,7 million
DRAKE - Thank Me Later : 1,5 million
KANYE WEST - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy : 1,2 million
LIL WAYNE - I Am Not A Human Being : 1 million
LIL WAYNE - Rebirth : 800k
BLACK EYED PEAS - The Beginning : 750k
RICK ROSS - Teflon Don : 700k
LUDACRIS - Battle Of The Sexes : 600k
B.O.B - The Adventures Of Bobby Ray : 600k

2011



LIL WAYNE - Tha Carter IV : 2 million
DRAKE - Take Care : 1,4 million
JAY-Z & KANYE WEST - Watch The Throne : 1,3 million
BAD MEETS EVIL - Hell: The Sequel EP : 650k
WIZ KHALIFA - Rolling Papers : 650k
J. COLE - Cole World: The Sideline Story : 500k
LUPE FIASCO - Lasers : 500k
YOUNG JEEZY - TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition : 400k
BEASTIE BOYS - Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 : 350k
WALE - Ambition : 350k

[Lehmann]

thank you i think that Plies, Nas, Flo Rida, Snoop Dogg and Step Up 2 will be replaced by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Ludacris, Kanye West, Fabolous, Soulja Boy and others...

[nelson]

Only Eminem was a best selling rap album artist, right?

[Spiderpig]

thank you i think that Plies, Nas, Flo Rida, Snoop Dogg and Step Up 2 will be replaced by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Ludacris, Kanye West, Fabolous, Soulja Boy and others...

yeah I forgot about Ludacris, and honestly I don't think Soulja Boy or Fabolous will even reach gold, but we'll see.

As for Dre, since Eminem's album will be released before it (according to Eminem himself), and since Eminem's album is supposed to be released dec. 23 (as of now), I really doubt we'll see it before year's end...

[Spiderpig]

by the way, I don't think I'll include Kanye in the list since apparently he's not a rapper anymore

[Lehmann]

by the way, I don't think I'll include Kanye in the list since apparently he's not a rapper anymore

he promised that his next album (which coming in summer 2009) will be rap album

[HUR]

Well done, Spider, I don´t know much that genre, but this is very well compiled.

[Willypedia]

Nice job man! Thank you so much!

[Spiderpig]

thanks for the kind words

here's some soundscan numbers :

Eminem
(as of 2007)

"The Slim Shady LP" (1999): 5.1 million
"The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000): 10.1 million
"The Eminem Show" (2002): 9.7 million
"8 Mile" (Various artists) (2002): 4.7 million
"Encore" (2004): 5.1 million
"Curtain Call: The Hits" (2005): 2.8 million
"Eminem Presents: The Re-Up" (Various artists) (2006): 1 million

2Pac
(2004)

"2Pacalypse Now" - 698,288
"Strictly 4 My ****" - 1,365,580
"Me Against the World" - 2,438,580
"All Eyez On Me" - 5,145,423
"Makaveli/Don Killuminati: 7 Day Theory" - 3,911,787
"R U Still Down?" - 2,059,201
"Greatest Hits" - 4,483,000
"Still I Rise" - 1,617,000
"Until the End of Time" - 2,083,000
"Better Dayz" - 1,649,000
"Resurrection" - 1,587,000
"Loyal To The Game" - 1,081,000

Snoop Dogg
(2008)

1993: Doggy Style 6,137,000
1996: Tha Dogfather 1,984,000
1998: Da Game is to be Sold 2,085,000
1999: No Limit Top Dogg 1,518,000
2000: The Last Meal 2,068,000
2002: Paid Tha Cost To Be Da Boss 1,210,000
2004: R&G: The Masterpiece 1,724,000
2006: The Blue Carpet Treatment 903,000

Jay Z
(2004)

Reasonable Doubt/1,262,692
Vol 1 - In My Lifetime/1,291,495
Vol 2 - Hard Knock Life/5,149,337
Vol 3 - Life And Times Of S.Carter/2,975,345
Dynasty - Roc La Familia /2,421,121
Blueprint/2,352,850
Unplugged/666,939
Blueprint 2:Gift & The Curse/1,911,451
Blueprint 2.1/254,773
Black Album/2,938,218

Nas
(2004)

Illmatic/1,086,226
It Was Written/2,359,977
I Am/2,017,036
Nastradamus/1,178,712
Stillmatic/1,867,128
God's Son/1,236,757
Lost Tapes/302,713
Street's Disciple/464,522

DMX
(2005)

It's Dark & Hell Is Hot - 4,510,643
Flesh Of My Flesh-Blood Of My Blood - 3,300,978
And Then There Was X - 4,852,329
Great Depression - 1,835,475
Grand Champ - 1,151,341

Nelly
(2005)

Country Grammar - 8,189,000
Nellyville - 6,285,000
Suit - 2,905,103
Sweat - 1,190,646

Lil Wayne
(2007)

Tha Block Is Hot (1999) : 1,325,492
Lights Out (2000) : 851,685
500 Degreez (2002) : 536,000
Tha Carter (2004) : 1,061,606
Tha Carter II (2005) : 1,343,269
Like Father Like Son (w\ Birdman, 2006) : 873,813

Outkast
(2007)

SOUTHERNPLAYALISTICADILLACMUZI: 1,308,249
ATLIENS: 1,848,096
AQUEMINI: 2,211,652
STANKONIA: 4,068,202
BIG BOI & DRE PRESENT OUTKAST: 1,390,224
SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE: 5,561,188

Ice Cube
(2004)

"AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" - 749,540
"Kill At Will EP" - 704,296
"Death Certificate" - 1,631,341
"Predator" - 2,237,124
"Lethal Injection" - 1,851,835
"Bootlegs & B-Sides" - 818,409
"War & Peace: Disc 1 (War)" - 1,043,268
"War & Peace: Disc 2 (Peace)" - 986,424

[Willypedia]

^^^

Where did u find these numbers?

P.S: I don't think Jay-Z, Dr.Dre, Fabolous and Soulja Boy will release their albums by the end of the year...
Just Kanye, Luda, Fiddy and maybe Slim Shady...

[marcsgirl85]

this is an interesting topic thanks for it

[Spiderpig]

Where did u find these numbers?

on rap forums, and also on UKMIX actually (MJDangerous posted a lot of them some years ago)

some others :

Ludacris
(2006)

Back For The First Time : 3,1 million
Word Of Mouf : 3,6 million
Chicken & Beer : 2,6 million
Red Light District : 2 million
Release Therapy : 1,3 million (2007)

T.I.
(2007)

I'm Serious: 267,760 (2006)
Trap Muzik : 1,074,312
Urban Legend : 1,396,210
King : 1,8 million
T.I. vs T.I.P. : 1,294,342 (2008)

Bone Thugs 'N Harmony
(2008)

Creepin On A Come Up 2,766,000
E. 1999 Eternal 6,120,000
The Art Of War 1,600,000
The Collection V.1 1,250,000
BTNHResurrection 1,515,000
Thug World Order 440,000
Greatest Hits 880,673
Thug Stories 95,000
Strength & Loyalty 465,123

N.W.A.
(2004)

N.W.A & The Posse - 364,544
Straight Outta Compton - 1,295,039
100 Miles & Runnin EP - 314,766
EFIL4ZAGGIN - 2,084,941

Eazy-E
(2004)

Eazy Duz It - 1,174,104
5150 Home 4 Tha Sick EP - 417,291
It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa - 1,964,461
Str8 Off Tha Streetz of Muthaphuckin' Compton - 637,704

Public Enemy
(2004)

Yo! Bum Rush the Show - 261,381
It Takes A Nation of Millions - 621,361
Fear of a Black Planet - 519,685
Apocalypse '91 - 1,490,977
Greatest Misses - 371,566
Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess-Age - 265,120
He Got Game - 278,161
There's A Poison Goin' On - 41,367
Revolverlution - 69,538

The Notorious B.I.G.
(2004)

Ready to Die - 3,019,758
Life After Death - 4,594,566
Born Again - 1,823,987

L.L. Cool J
(2004)

Radio - 235,928
Bigger & Deffer - 669,909
Walking With the Panther - 657,008
Mama Said Knock You Out - 1,451,532
14 Shots to the Dome - 618,208
Mr. Smith - 1,873,391
All World - 1,158,903
Phenomenon - 756,306
G.O.A.T. - 817,967
10 - 969,591
Definition - 735,553 (2005)

[Dane]

OK, I know there's like 3 rap fans here, but I don't care
These lists are based on RIAA certifications and some soundscan numbers, any correction is welcome

I'm not one of those 3
But this a great thread! Nice overview Spidey!

I saw your your overall thread too (from 1967 onwards, I think). Are you planning more in the same style for other genres?

[Willypedia]

I'm 1 of those 3!

What about Will Smith (also as The Fresh Prince)?

[stefan]

I'm not one of those 3.
However I thank you for the information.

[Spiderpig]

What about Will Smith (also as The Fresh Prince)?

I only have this :

Will Smith - Big Willie Style - 7.322.000 (2 years ago I think)

[Spiderpig]

I'm not one of those 3
But this a great thread! Nice overview Spidey!

I saw your your overall thread too (from 1967 onwards, I think). Are you planning more in the same style for other genres?

thanks

I don't know if it'd be interesting for other genres, I mean it's already difficult to find 10 rap albums certified gold in 2008 so you can imagine for heavy metal or electro... on the other hand, "rock" and "pop" are too idle notions, I think it'd be a bit boring.
Maybe country, could be interesting... but I'm not really a country fan

[Willypedia]

What about Will Smith (also as The Fresh Prince)?

I only have this :

Will Smith - Big Willie Style - 7.322.000 (2 years ago I think)

But the album was certified 9 times platinum by the RIAA...

[Spiderpig]

in the 90's, soundscan was far from comprehensive, just one example :

Whitney Houston - "The Bodyguard"
17x platinum (in 1999)
soundscan : 11,790,000 (jan 2007)

[Dane]

I'm not one of those 3
But this a great thread! Nice overview Spidey!

I saw your your overall thread too (from 1967 onwards, I think). Are you planning more in the same style for other genres?

thanks

I don't know if it'd be interesting for other genres, I mean it's already difficult to find 10 rap albums certified gold in 2008 so you can imagine for heavy metal or electro... on the other hand, "rock" and "pop" are too idle notions, I think it'd be a bit boring.
Maybe country, could be interesting... but I'm not really a country fan

Obviously I think a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal version of your thread would be interesting. Including anything from Journey and Bon Jovi to Metallica and Slayer.
Maybe if you're not interested I should make one myself, if I find the time...

[Dane]

in the 90's, soundscan was far from comprehensive, just one example :

Whitney Houston - "The Bodyguard"
17x platinum (in 1999)
soundscan : 11,790,000 (jan 2007)

That one must have sold a bunch through music clubs.

[Spiderpig]

Obviously I think a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal version of your thread would be interesting. Including anything from Journey and Bon Jovi to Metallica and Slayer.
Maybe if you're not interested I should make one myself, if I find the time...

I think the difficulty would be to define clearly "hard rock/heavy metal", I mean, if Journey is a hard rock band, I guess the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also one while rap music is quite easy to define, that's what I meant in my previous post, but yeah it could be interesting to make the equivalent of this thread for the metalheads, I can help if you want

[Dane]

I think the difficulty would be to define clearly "hard rock/heavy metal", I mean, if Journey is a hard rock band, I guess the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also one

True.

Time is also a factor. The Who, Stones and Faces might have been considered Hard Rock in the early 70's, but would they still by todays standards?

Who's Next is a Hard Rock classic imo.

[Dane]

while rap music is quite easy to define

Or is it?
You didn't include Rage Against The Machine or Limb Bizkit. I'd call that Rap Metal. Run DMC started that you know, when they invited Steven Tyler and Joe Perry over for a nice cup of tea...
I guess you could call Beastie Boys innovators too.

[Spiderpig]

Or is it?
You didn't include Rage Against The Machine or Limb Bizkit. I'd call that Rap Metal. Run DMC started that you know, when they invited Steven Tyler and Joe Perry over for a nice cup of tea...
I guess you could call Beastie Boys innovators too.

yea rap-metal is a difficult case
to me, they're basically metal bands with rap vocals, I mean their music has nothing to do with the usual hip-hop beats, besides the most prominent "musical" member of these bands is generally a guitarist (Tom Morello, Wes Borland), while rap/hip-hop music is created by producers (Dr. Dre, Kanye West...etc).