2014 may very well end without a single rap album striking platinum. In fact, literally no album has achieved that milestone this year. Although the smart money would be on Taylor Swift changing that when her album arrives.
Nevertheless, it’s been a rough stretch for rap albums. Excluding the mainstays, we’ve only seen a handful of new artists cross the million sold threshold since their arrival: Macklemore, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Since 2009, only them and four others have hit platinum. Take a look at those albums from the past five years:
Nicki Minaj
Platinum albums: Pink Friday (2010), Roman Reloaded* (2012)
*Roman Reloaded has been certified platinum, but has yet to actually sell platinum. The album currently sits at 900,000 sold, but the certification was still issued.
Macklemore
Platinum albums: The Heist (2012)
Lil Wayne
Platinum albums: Tha Carter IV (2011)
Kendrick Lamar
Platinum albums: good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
Jay Z
Platinum albums: Blueprint 3 (2009), Watch the Throne (2011), Magna Carta, Holy Grail (2013)
Kanye West
Platinum albums: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus* (2013)
*Yeezus has shipped platinum but remains considerably below the million mark, having only sold 680,000. J. Cole’s Born Sinner has actually sold a little more (700,000), but has yet to be certified platinum.
Drake
Platinum albums: Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care (2011), Nothing Was the Same (2013)
Eminem
Platinum albums: Relapse (2009), Recovery (2010), The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013)