Nicki Minaj's 'The Pinkprint' Debuts at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

Nicki Minaj earns her third No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums as The Pinkprint debuts atop the list with 198,000 copies sold in the week ending Dec. 21, according to Nielsen Music.

Minaj bows with more first-week units sold than any other R&B/hip-hop female since Beyonce’s self-titled set arrived with 617,000 in Dec. 2013. The crowning entrance follows her 2012 set Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which entered at the top of the list with 253,000 first week units, and her preceding debut album,Pink Friday (No. 2 debut, 375,000 copies; later peaking at No. 1).

                 

The Pinkprint has already produced two chart-topping singles on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; first with “Anaconda,” with a six-week run at No. 1, and most recently with “Only,” featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, topping the list dated Dec. 27. The album release helps to spur six new album tracks onto the chart, led by “Feeling Myself,” featuring Beyonce, coming in at No. 12. Meanwhile, “Bed Of Lies,” featuring Skylar Grey, leaps 30-19, taking Digital Gainer honors, while “All Things Go” re-enters at No. 38. 

D'Angelo Arrives at No. 1: Over on R&B Albums, a surprise release by D’Angelo and The Vanguard makes a splash, entering at No. 1 with Black Messiah (111,000 copies). It’s his first studio album since Voodoo was released in January of 2000 with 321,000 fist-week units. The new album's “Really Love” debuts on Adult R&B Songs, arriving as the Hot Shot Debut at No. 26. “Really Love” and another album cut, “Sugah Daddy,” also make their way onto Hot R&B Songs at Nos. 14 and No. 22, respectively.

Gates Grabs Top Three Debut: Rapper Kevin Gates takes the second highest debut on Top Rap Albums with his latest mixtape Luca Brasi 2: A Gangsta Grillz Special Edition, bowing at No. 3 (23,000 copies).  It’s the best chart entrance for the 28-year-old.