S. Samuel
Bad Boy Records rapper French Montana recently discussed the perception of first-week sales dictating an artist's career and pointed out numerous times musicians have overcome low opening numbers.
When asked how many albums he hopes to push in week one, Montana said it is all about the long haul.
“Um, honestly, I really believe it’s not what you sell, but where you end up at. I feel like it doesn’t matter how much I sell; I know what kind of product I have. It’s going to be legendary. I know it’s going to last forever. I know once people hear it, people will be like, “Damn. This is really it.” Look at Akon. He sold 17,000 first week; he ended up selling five million copies. Look at Shaggy. He sold 10,000 and ended up at 10 million.” (Ask Men)
Based on one-day estimates, the LP should easily find a home on the sales chart next week.
YOUR ONE-DAYS: Put on your helmets, people; it’s time to check out this week’s key debuts: Daft Punk (Columbia) 300-325k The National (4AD) 70-75k Thirty Seconds To Mars (Virgin) 60-65k Darius Rucker (Capitol Nashville) 60-65k French Montana (Bad Boy/Interscope) 45-50k Oh, and the UMPG staff would like to remind you not to light your fatty with your helmet on, unless you want to get, like, wicked baked. (5/22p) (HITS Daily Double)
Last month, Montana talked about the decline in overall record sales.
Do you think Excuse My French will be well received from the onset or will it be a slow burn? I don’t know how it is but it doesn’t matter what it sells. It’ll still be a slower burn because of the way the game is. I mean, look at Lil Wayne who went from selling a million [for Tha Carter III] the first week to selling 200,000 [for I Am Not A Human Being II]. I feel like the game’s not the same. It’s not the art. You just got to have a good product. The only thing that’s gonna sell is good product. (MTV Hive)
French also recently admitted he would cop a shipment of his new album.
Excuse My French is available on pre-order this week. Honestly, how many copies will you be buying for yourself? Probably about… I’mma buy me enough to give out when I go out on tour. Like, a hundred out of my pocket. That’s $10 a piece. I’ll have the label buy a 1000 or something and I’ll take it from them. What I’mma buy? A hundred. (MTV Hive)
French revealed how many albums he hoped to sell in the first week earlier this year.
“May 21st,” French confirmed when asked about his album release date. “I’m trying to crack that big number when I drop. Man, I gotta crack at least 200 [thousand] or better. You never know though. You know what I’m saying? You never know though. It all comes down to the shipping. I don’t care [what’s come out in the past ten years].” (Sirius XM)
