Friday, August 21, 2009

First Week Sales: A Level Playing Field


This post is written in direct response to a comment on the “Laughter House” write-up which needs to be addressed: “You know who's selling? Maino, Ace Hood, Flo-Rida and Fabolous's R&B ass coaster of an album.”

Let’s break down the numbers, shall we? Slaughterhouse moved approximately 18,000 copies in first week sales. Maino moved approximately 18,000 copies in first week sales. Ace Hood moved approximately 19,000 copies in first week sales. And he’s signed to Def Jam, so you know the label bought at least a quarter of those CDs! Fabolous, also signed to Def Jam, is a platinum-selling artist. His new album Loso’s Way didn’t even break into the six digit mark. Fuck the rap group, it seems like the music industry itself is a damn slaughterhouse!

All of these numbers are abysmal in the sense that they’re not selling like the Black Eyed Peas or Eminem. But Slaugherhouse, like Maino, Ace Hood, Fabolous, [insert under-talented, overly-hyped emcee/group] all fit the same mold. So really, the first week sales numbers should be absolutely no surprise to anyone. Because at the end of the day, for years, it’s always been about one demographic: teenaged white girls. Now that’s gangsta!