Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/30/2012

Lupe Fiasco sells nearly 90,000 first-week copies of "Food & Liquor II," while Murs & Fashawn also debut, and Kreayshawn vanishes from the Top 200.

Lupe Fiasco's fourth album, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 scored a Top 5 debut this week. The Atlantic Records star's latest album moved over 80,000 first-week units amidst a lot of controversy regarding retirement rumors, provocative song titles and concepts, sample permission, and more than one Twitter dispute with a Hip Hop peer.

Murs & Fashawn's first collaborative album also debuted on the charts. This is Fash's second retail release while Murs has previously earned success through Felt, a series of collaborative albums with Slug of Atmosphere and a rotating producer, in addition to work with 9th Wonder and Living Legends.

Kreayshawn's Somethin' 'Bout Kreay fell from the Top 200 in her second week at retail, as her friend and collaborator 2 Chainz crossed the 300,000 mark with his solo debut, Based On A T.R.U. Story.

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II Sales

Lupe Fiasco did not follow his #1 debut as was the case last year with Lasers. Instead, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1 was a creative return to form in some critics' eyes, and delivered Lu a respectable Top 5 debut.

With appearances from Bilal and Poo-Bear, the album also uses new producers, namely Game's longtime crew 1500 Or Nothin'. Early Lupe affiliate Soundtrakk also returns to the fold with "Strange Fruition." The album is a critical bounceback and one of Atlantic's flagship releases of 2012. Lu has promised a part-two to follow.

Murs & Fashawn Succeed

For the second straight October, Murs brings a release to the Top 200. Following 2011's Love & Rockets, Volume 1 through Damon Dash's DD172/Blu Roc label, Murs links with Fresno, California's Fashawn for This Generation. The album is entirely produced by Canadian duo K-Salaam & Beatnick and features Krondon of Strong Arm Steady. This is Fashawn's first appearance on the Top 200.

This week, Duck Down Music followed with Skyzoo's third studio album with the label, A Dream Deferred.

#5. Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 - 89,000 (89,000)

#7. G.O.O.D. Music - Cruel Summer - 55,000 (261,000)

#25. 2 Chainz - Based On A T.R.U. Story - 15,000 (303,000)

#44. Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't - 9,300 (4å17,000)

#80. Nas - Life Is Good - 4,700 (305,000)

#90. DMX - Undisputed - 7,500 (25,000)

#101. Slaughterhouse - welcome to: Our House - 3,700 (80,000)

#123. Brother Ali - Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color - 3,100 (14,000)

#146. Murs & Fashawn - This Generation - 2,700 (2,700)

#188. Tech N9ne - E.B.A.H. - 2,100 (16,000)

_{* data comes from Nielsen Soundscan, rounded to nearest thousandth for units above 10,000, nearest hundredth for units below 10,000. Each week, HipHopDX presents top albums in Hip Hop/related, and five notables.}

Will Skyzoo make it to the Top 40 on his road to the dream? Stay tuned to HipHopDX.

Last Week's Album Sales.