It's not exaggerating to say that Kanye Omari West is one of the most influential hip-hop stars of all time. Before rapping, West started his career as a producer, working with the likes of Eminem, Jermaine Dupri, Jay-Z, and others, until the latter signed West to Roc-A-Fella records.
The rest is history, and considering the success, he's had in the industry, it's clear he's also made history, too. Up to this writing, West has nine albums in his catalog, which have generated a total of 140 million in sales worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
With the release of Donda, Ye's newest album, it's never a better time to look back at his impactful discography and rank each album based on their first-week album unit sales. Despite the hype surrounding his latest album, Kanye caught some competition when Drake released his Certified Loverboy, So, how did Kanye's album sell in its first week? Let's dive in!
Updated on September 23, 2021, by Michael Chaar: In 2004, Kanye West released his very first album, The College Dropout, which would go on to sell a whopping 441,000 album units in its first week. While this is quite the feat, it doesn't stand as Ye's best-selling album. That record goes to his 2007 album, Graduation, which sold a whopping 957,000 in its first week. With hundreds of records sold this far into his career, many fans wondered where Kanye's most recent album, Donda, would fall in comparison. There was a lot of hype, and listening parties, which Kanye hosted at Chicago's Soldier Field Stadium.
Well, after much anticipation, Donda came through with a total of 309,000 album units sold in its first week, which isn't nearly as much as Drake received for his release of Certified Loverboy, which competed against Ye's release, however the Canadian rapper took the win with 613,000 units sold.
10 The Life Of Pablo (2016): 94,000
In 2016, West made headlines with his The Life of Pablo album, supported by the controversial single Famous that features nude wax sculptures of A-list Hollywood faces, like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Chris Brown, and many others.
The reason behind this low first-week sales is not because of West's low reception with the public. Upon its release on Valentine's Day, The Life of Pablo was a Tidal exclusive for several weeks before the rapper released it on other streaming platforms, which resulted in it failing to share the streaming number with Nielsen Music. When it comes to pure album units, the album went on to sell 94,000.
9 Ye (2018): 208,000
Even though West was in hot water following his slavery 'sounds like a choice' statement during an interview with TMZ and his support for Donald Trump, the public still tuned into his album. Ye, West's 2018 album, debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart and received a remarkable 208,000 first-week total sales.
Unfortunately, many consider Ye as the weakest link in his discography. Some feel that it seems rushed and unfinished, and its absence from the year's Grammy Best Rap Album speaks for itself.
8 Jesus Is King (2019): 264,000
Jesus Is King is a story of West's redemption, and it's almost unbelievable to listen to him praising the Lord and remembering that he's the same guy who made Famous. Jesus Is King was produced by West himself, Labrinth, Timbaland, Ronny J, and many others.
Originally titled Yandhi, Jesus Is King was West's debut in the hip-hop gospel genre and he said that he was 'done with secular music.' The album became his ninth consecutive album to top the Billboard 200.
7 Donda (2021): 309,000
This could easily be one of the most anticipated albums of 2021! After showcasing the album during a series of listening party's, Kanye officially dropped the album on August 29, 2021. This was easily one of the year's best first-week numbers and solidified Kanye's 10th number one album on the Billboard 200.
With a whopping 27-tracks, Kanye's album not only gained major traction but also did well in sales. After hitting the charts and streaming platforms, the album went on to sell an equivalent of 309,000 album units, which is quite the feat.
6 Yeezus (2013): 327,000
Experimentation is Kanye West's expertise, but the Grammy-nominated Yeezus album puts the term on a whole new level. On this album, West broke new sonic ground and proved that he's a versatile artist, or in his own words, "I'm not here to make easy listening, easily programmable music."
To bring the album's electronic feel alive, West worked with Scottish DJ Hudson Mohawke and the well-renowned electro duo, Daft Punk. The album cemented its place on plenty of end-of-the-year lists as one of the best albums of the year, selling a total of 327,000 units in its first week.
5 The College Dropout (2004): 441,000
In the era of the early 00s, when gangsta rappers dominated the charts, Kanye West stayed true to himself on his debut record under Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella label, The College Dropout. Distancing himself from any tough-guy persona, West rapped about self-consciousness, family, and higher education, which were vague topics in hip-hop at that time.
However, it turned out to be a brilliant career move. The College Dropout sold over 441,000 copies in its first week, debuted at second on the Billboard 200 chart, and won a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Not bad for a newcomer.
4 808s & Heartbreak (2008): 450,000
After the heartbreaking loss of his mother, Donda West, and the bitter break-up with fiancée Alexis Phifer, West poured his heart and soul into his 2008 album, 808s & Heartbreak. On top of this, West offered something refreshing on the table from the album's experimental production to his auto-tune crooning.
Years later, 808s & Heartbreak remains one of the most critical projects in hip-hop history. It inspired a whole new generation of rap, from the likes of Juice WRLD, Kid Cudi, to Drake.
3 My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy (2010): 496,000
Following his VMAs 2009 outburst against Taylor Swift and a series of public image controversies, West faced constant scrutiny from the media and critics. He exiled himself to Hawaii for a considerable amount of time, and the result was My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy.
With My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy, Kanye West made 2010 his playground. Propelled by singles like Power, Runaway, and Monster, the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and scored a whopping 496,000 in first-week record sales.
2 Late Registration (2005): 860,000
Fans wanted more from Kanye West, and he delivered on his sophomore, soulful 21-track album, Late Registration. On this album, West really didn't hold back, and even featured some A-list cameos from Nas, Jay-Z, The Game, Common, Jamie Foxx, Lupe Fiasco, and Adam Levine of Maroon V.
Late Registration landed West another Best Rap Album and Album of the Year nominations at the Grammy, winning the latter. In addition to its success at the Grammy's, the album itself sold an impressive 860,000 in its first week.
1 Graduation (2007): 957,000
The highest-ranking album on this list, and undoubtedly Kanye West's magnum opus, is 2007's Graduation. Contrary to the sound of Late Registration, Graduation is more of indie rock, an electro-sonic-inspired album that propelled West's place in hip-hop as one of the most influential figures of all time.
With this album, West proved that being a successful rapper in the game does not always mean having to condone and promote violence, or as Noah Callahan-Bever of Complex put it best, the album release was "the day Kanye West killed gangsta rap."