Showing Out

Given last week’s dismal sales, this week looks a whole lot better, especially for hip-hop. Nas and Damian Marley, who released their first full-length collaboration album Distant Relatives, did surprisingly well, selling 57,285 copies and landing them at number four, right behind Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0 (that one sold 61,828, upping its tally to 1,104,631 copies sold). Meanwhile, Usher stayed put at seven with Raymond vs. Raymond, selling an additional 40,801 copies and upping the overall cume to 721,224. B.o.B did aight with his debut The Adventures of Bobby Ray, which sold another 22,695 copies and bringing the overall sales mark to 170,488. Janelle Monae debuted at 16 with an impressive 21,749 copies sold of The ArchAndroid, while Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek) dropped behind her at 17 with Revolutions Per Minute, which moved 20,882 in its first week. But that’s about as far as hip-hop releases go this week. Check back next time to see if hip-hop holds on strong.

Looking for a hot ticket this summer? Here’s your winner. The lineup for the 2010 Rock the Bells festival was just announced, and cot damn, is it full of win. Headlining the show is Wu-Tang Clan, who will be performing their classic debut Enter the 36 Chambers in its entirety, while Rakim will follow suit by performing Paid in Full, KRS-One will perform Criminal Minded and Slick Rick will tackle The Great Adventures of…. Additional performers include Street Sweeper Social Club (Tom Morello and Boots Riley), Murs & 9th Wonder, Wiz Khalifa, Clipse, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, Jedi Mind Tricks, Supernatural, DJ Muggs with Ill Bill, Yelawolf, Big Sean and more. Four dates have been announced (peep them below the cut), so get your funds up and prepare to get your face rocked off this summer.

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Rough week on the Billboard 200 for hip-hop and R&B. While last week really didn’t see any major releases hitting shelves, Usher is the highest charting urban artist this week, leading the pack at number five with 46,512 copies sold of Raymond vs. Raymond. Justin Bieber, meanwhile, holds it down at the top spot, moving up from number five to one with My World 2.0 in moving another 60,840 copies of the joint. B.o.B holds on at number 13 (back from 12) with B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, selling another 26,952 copies of his major label debut, while the closest urban act comes in behind him at number 20, with Black Eyed Peas shipping another 18,493 copies of The E.N.D.. Toni Braxton took a hit with Pulse, dropping from 10 to 25 with only 16,588 copies sold of her newest album. Luda moved up from 33 to 30 with Battle of the Sexes (13,942 sold), while Rihanna still holds on with Rated R at number 34 (13,083 sold). Expect much better from your favorite urban acts next week. Yikes.

Last week wasn’t the best for hip-hop and R&B releases on the retail tip, as only Sage Francis and LMNO & Kev Brown released new joints for the underground heads. But this week, artists are swinging back full force. After more than a year of teasing the masses by touring around the country together, Nas and Damian Marley team up for their first full-length collaboration Distant Relatives, one of the most ambitious pairings of rap and reggae to grace our speakers in a minute. Meanwhile, another duo, Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek), reunite after a decade-long hiatus for their sophomore release Revolutions Per Minute, while R&B android Janelle Monae drops off her major label debut The ArchAndroid, the second and third installments of her four-part Metropolis series. And on the underground tip, Detroit’s most grizzly emcee Guilty Simpson links up with Madlib for OJ Simpson, the first official full-length from Guilty Simpson since his debut album Ode to the Ghetto. Hit the jump to get schooled on this week’s releases.

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It’s not too often we post about jazz-related news bits here, so it comes with great sadness to begin with this. According to The Washington Post, legendary jazz pianist Hank Jones has passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind him a body of work that unquestionably shaped the future of music. Throughout his lifetime, Jones has played with the greats (Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane) and released more than 60 albums under his own name, establishing himself as not only one of the greatest jazz musicians, but also one of the best musicians of all time. Jones died yesterday in New York City, but he will not be forgotten. Head over to YouTube to familiarize yourself with and relive his work.

Well this has definitely got to hurt. Not only did Godsmack debut at number one on the Billboard 200 this week with 118,441 copies sold of their new album The Oracle, but the highest charting entry this week from hip-hop and R&B was way down the chart. Toni Braxton, who just released her new album Pulse last week, entered at number 10 with only 51,456 copies sold, less than half of what her last album Libra sold in its first week in 2006. And B.o.B takes an L with B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, dropping from the top position to number 12 with only 35,009 copies sold of his debut. Trina dropped behind him at 13 with Amazin’, which sold 33,053 copies in its first week (a pretty respectable number for her, if you ask us). And sadly, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s reunion LP Uni5: The World’s Enemy debuted at 16 with only 28,271 units sold – a sad, sad sign that their star has almost faded. And 8Ball & MJG? They did pretty well! Ten Toes Down dropped at 36 with 16,073 copies sold – not bad for an antique rap act. Not bad at all.

There are apparently at least three Walk of Fame stretches in New York City, and there’s about to be another one added to the streets. According to the NYTimes, a new Walk of Fame has been added outside of Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, with rectangular plaques laid in the ground on 125th street in lieu of star-shaped ones. Artists who were given their own plaques include Michael Jackson, James Brown, Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard and Ella Fitzgerald, with all plaques laid earlier this week save for MJ and the Godfather of Soul, whose blocks will be laid in a ceremony in June. “I started out at the Apollo and it will always be a home to me,” Smokey Robinson said in a statement. “For me to have a plaque honoring me in front of the Apollo Theater is one of the proudest achievements in my life.” As it should, Mr. Robinson!

Hip-hop rules the charts this week over on the Billboard 200. B.o.B’s debut album B.o.B Presents… The Adventures of Bobby Ray sold 83,747 copies, which was apparently enough to put it in the top position. Not saying that’s bad or anything - in fact, number one is excellent for any artist, especially if they’re new - but it’s the lowest-selling number one album since Chrisette Michele topped the charts with last year’s Epiphany (it sold 83K out the gate). Other notables in the top 10 come in the form of Usher’s Raymond v. Raymond, which is still going strong at number seven with an additional 48,486 sold, upping its overall tally to 586,000, while Black Eyed Peas keep the beat alive with The E.N.D., landing at 15 with 19,836 copies sold (2,476,000 in total). Monica lives up to her album title Still Standing, moving from 16 to 18 with 18,231 copies sold (overall tally stands at 374,000), while Ludacris keeps on at number 20 with Battle of the Sexes, shipping another 17,393 copies (373,000 copies in total). Next week, keep on the lookout for new releases from Trina, Toni Braxton and 8Ball & MJG, as well as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, ya dig?

After last week’s slow release day, this week has a few big name releases hitting shelves. The Diamond Princess drops off her new album Amazin’, her fifth album throughout her career, while Toni Braxton one-ups her and release her long-awaited Pulse, delayed since February and finally gracing retail. And just when you thought it was all estrogen, southern rap duo 8Ball & MJG are putting out their eighth album Ten Toes Down, their first release after cutting ties with Bad Boy Records and debut on T.I.’s Grand Hustle imprint. Hit the jump to get a closer look at this week’s new joints.

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Think it’s a little too late for Michael Jackson to be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame? It’s never too late to give the King of Pop some praise, even if it is long overdue. According to Times Union, MJ will be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony on August 14th and 15th at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs. This marks the first time that a “rock and roll” singer (right) is honored with this accolade, with previous left-field inductees including John Travolta and Bojangles. “We want to include dance greats like those already inducted but also up-to-date dancers known by the broader public,” says Michele Riggi, board chairman. “That will help get people into the museum where they can be educated on the greats that aren’t so popular or well-known. We want a museum that’s more exciting and popular.” Give praise where praise be due!