Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded enters The Billboard 200 at #1 this week, 14 months after her debut album, Pink Friday, rose to #1. This makes Minaj the first female hip-hop artist to amass two #1 albums on The Billboard 200. Three female hip-hop stars have each notched one #1 album: Lauryn Hill (1998's The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill), Foxy Brown (1999's Chyna Doll) and Eve (1999's Ruff Ryders' First Lady).
Minaj's album sold 92K digital copies, which constitutes a record for a female hip-hop artist. It's #1 on Top Digital Albums.
The album also debuts at #1 in the U.K. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is the first album by a female hip-hop artist to reach #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.
TOP TEN BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM
Issue Date : 16 April 2012
1. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, 253,000. This new entry is Minaj's second top 10 (and second #1) album. Twelve songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Starships," which dips from #4 to #5.
2. Adele, 21, 153,000. The former #1 album rebounds from #3 to #2. This is its 59th week in the top 10. Five songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Set Fire To The Rain," which drops from #20 to #26.
3. Rascal Flatts, Changed, 130,000. This new entry is the country trio's eighth top 10 album. Three songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Banjo," which jumps from #85 to #65.
4. Lionel Richie, Tuskegee, 95,000. The album drops from #2 to #4 in its second week. A TV special based on the album airs Friday, which should keep the album in the top five next week.
5. One Direction, Up All Night, 92,000. The former #1 album rebounds from #6 to #5 its fourth week. It has been in the top 10 the entire time. Three songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "What Makes You Beautiful," which jumps from #5 to #4.
6. Of Monsters & Men, My Head is an Animal, 55,000. This new entry is the Icelandic band's debut album. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "Little Talks" jumps from #123 to #115. "Mountain Sound" debuts at #144.
7. Various Artists, The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond, soundtrack, 50,000. The former #1 album drops from #5 to #7 in its third week. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. Taylor Swift's "Eyes Open" drops from #13 to #20. "Safe & Sound" by Swift featuring The Civil Wars drops from #18 to #33.
8. Madonna, MDNA, 48,000. The former #1 album dives to #8 in its second week. "Give Me All Your Luvin" (featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.) drops from #83 to #162.
9. Marvin Sapp, I Win, 44,000. This new entry is the gospel star's second top 10 album. Here I Am hit #2 in March 2010.
10. Shinedown, Amaryllis, 36,000. The album drops from #4 to #10 in its second week. Sales to date: 142K.
