Eminem Scores Fifth No. 1 Album

Eminem has plenty reason to crack a bottle. Despite a five-year absence, the rapper returned to familiar territory on the charts. His latest album Relapse debuts at No. 1 this week.

King Mathers’ fifth studio album sold 608,000 copies in its first week, making it the biggest sales week of the year for any album, and easily grabbing the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. The last album to sell more was AC/DC’s Black Ice with 784,000 copies in October 2008.

Relapse is Eminem’s fifth straight No. 1 debut. His only album to fall shy of the top spot was 1999’s The Slim Shady LP, which peaked at No. 2. His previous studio release, 2004’s Encore, bowed with 711,000 after less than a week in stores.

Slim Shady not only holds this week’s title, but he is also the biggest selling hip-hop act in the SoundScan era (1991-present). His six albums have sold a combined 34 million in the U.S., according to Billboard.

Elsewhere, Method Man and Redman’s Blackout! 2 enters at No. 4 with 63,000, while Busta Rhymes returns to the charts after nearly three years at No. 6 with 59,000 of Back On My B.S.