S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne's new Tha Carter IV album first-week sales projections have the Young Money leader's latest offering pushing a milli.
Based on new estimates, Wayne’s long-awaited LP could now sell up to 900,000 units.
The prolific hip-hop superstar’s eagerly awaited Cash Money/Universal Republic album, Tha Carter IV, hit retail last Monday and is on target for sales of 870-900k in its first week. Based on first-day sales from those retailers not selling corn dogs to Tea Party candidate Michele Bachmann, the album will easily debut at #1 on next week’s HITS chart. The rapper’s last installment in the series, Tha Carter III, sold 1.005m on release in June, 2008. (HITS Daily Double)
Yesterday reports claimed the album would possibly push between 700,000 to 850,000 records.
Lil Wayne’s just-released “Tha Carter IV” album could have the second-biggest sales week of the year, as industry forecasters suggest it may sell 700,000-850,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, Sept. 4. “IV” will easily bow at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 next week — marking Wayne’s third No. 1. If “Tha Carter IV” launches with at least 700,000, it will immediately mark the second-largest frame of any album this year, behindLady Gaga’s 1.11 million debut with “Born This Way.” (Billboard Biz)
This week, Young Money president Mack Maine weighed in on the sales hype.
“[Wayne] actually told us if he don’t do those same numbers again as C3 don’t be mad,” Mack admitted. “I said this before — I toldNicki [Minaj] — she was kinda nervous about her first-week sales — I said, ‘First week sales don’t matter.’ I’d rather my final sales matter. I know albums from Juvenile 400 Degreez to [Justin] Beiber‘s first album sold 20, or 30,000 the first-week and went onto sell 2 million one album then 6 million on another album. I saw [Lady] Gaga did the 99 cent thing [and] then [her] second-week it did like 175,000. Congratulation as it relates to her. With Wayne, I don’t want him to sell a million the first-week, [and] then drop to 100,000 the next week then 50,00 the following week. I’d rather sell ten times platinum total.” (XXL Mag)
A few days ago, Cash Money Records co-owner Birdman said two million copies have been shipped in preparation for Wayne’s first week.
Cash Money delivered Carter IV to Universal about 10 days in advance, which Williams says was necessary to press the two million units being shipped in its first week. “The goal is to sell a million-plus copies,” he explains. Although that’s likely what led to Carter IV breaking free, Williams says he’s actually OK with leaks, to a point. “I can deal with it for short period of time,” he says. It’s when you have a leak out for a long time that it’s crazy.” (Rolling Stone)
Check out some recent Lil Wayne footage below:
