Among a list dominated by younger stars, Eminem is the only artist from the pre-streaming era to crack the top 10 artists with the highest first-week sales for rap albums of the decade.
Based on the Billboard chart data, the list reveals a mix of industry giants and new-gen superstars, with Drake, Travis Scott, and Kendrick Lamar all making multiple appearances. However, one name stands out for his longevity — Eminem.
Both of Eminem’s albums from the 2020s — “The Death of Slim Shady” (2024) and “Music To Be Murdered By” (2020) — land in the top 15, with 281,000 and 279,000 first-week units sold, respectively. This achievement places him among only 10 artists on the list and marks him as the sole veteran who launched his career before the streaming era.
Topping the ranking is Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy” (2021) with 613,000 units, followed by Juice WRLD’s posthumous “Legends Never Die” (2020) at 497,000 and Travis Scott’s “UTOPIA” (2023) at 496,000. The list also features Kanye West’s “Donda” (2021), J. Cole’s “The Off-Season” (2021), and Playboi Carti’s recent “MUSIC” (2025).
Eminem’s ability to maintain commercial relevance decades into his career is rare. While many of his peers have faded from mainstream charts, his continued presence on high-sales lists underscores his enduring impact on hip hop and, more importantly, the industry and the culture in general.
Highest first-week sales for rap albums in the 2020s so far:
1. Drake “Certified Lover Boy” (2021) — 613,000
2. Juice WRLD “Legends Never Die” (2020) — 497,000
3. Travis Scott “UTOPIA” (2023) — 496,000
4. Drake “Her Loss” (2022) — 404,000
5. Drake “For All The Dogs” (2023) — 402,000
6. Travis Scott “DAYS BEFORE RODEO” (2024) — 361,000
7. Kendrick Lamar “GNX” (2024) — 319,000
8. Kanye West “Donda” (2021) — 309,000
9. Tyler The Creator “CHROMAKOPIA” (2024) — 300,000
10. Playboi Carti “MUSIC” (2025) — 298,000
11. Kendrick Lamar “Mr. Morale & The Big Stepper”s (2022) — 296,000
12. Lil Uzi Vert “Eternal Atake” (2020) — 288,000
13. J Cole “The Off Season” (2021) — 282,000
14. Eminem “The Death Of Slim Shady” (2024) — 281,000
15. Eminem “Music To Be Murdered By” (2020) — 279,000
