SOHH Squad
Rap newcomer A$AP Rocky has reacted to the buzz surrounding his new Long.Live.A$AP solo debut dominating its competition atop the music sales chart.
The New York rapper noted his album leaked roughly 30 days in advance and yet it still managed to turn into the nation’s biggest music release this week.
“Let’s really think back on this, my joint leaked a month early,” Rocky told MTV News on Tuesday from Paris, where he is spending fashion week. “Like this is a crazy, this is a blessing, yo. The fact that we’re sitting here talking about … having a #1 album is just crazy alone because we leaked a month early … a whole month.” Rocky was definitely in a mood to celebrate considering that the album leaked much earlier than most do these days and things could have turned out way differently. “They didn’t have to go buy it because everybody listened to it for free,” he said. “That means that people just really wanted to support. It must mean that the proof is in the pudding and people appreciate art again. I’m just thankful man.” (MTV)
After only seven days on store shelves, the LP managed to push out nearly 140,000 copies.
New York rap newcomer A$AP Rocky’s Long.Live.A$AP crushed its competition at No. 1 this week. According to Nielsen Soundscan, his long-awaited debut has shelled out 139,000 albums after seven days in stores. (SOHH Sales Wrap)
Last weekend, sales projections had the LP moving between 140,000 to 150,000 copies.
YOUR TOP 15: RCA should top both the album and singles sales charts next week, as A$AP Rocky and Justin Timberlake (with expected first-week sales in the neighborhood of 350k) make noise in an otherwise typical January sales week. Here’s how it looks headed into the weekend: * A$AP Rocky (RCA) 140-150k * Kidz Bop Kids (Razor & Tie) 65-70k Les Misérables (Republic) 40-45k (HITS Daily Double)
His Polo Grounds boss Bryan Leach recently addressed the leak and said he still hoped Rocky’s LP could push out substantial numbers.
“Nah, I still have faith,” Leach said when asked if his sales expectations have changed. “That’s not just sh*t-taking. I think this is a new world. This is the new way that sh*t works. Even if it never leaked I would have had to cross my fingers on January 15. Maybe I’ll cross two fingers instead of one.” (XXL Mag)
Check out some recent A$AP Rocky footage:
