Kanye West is an American hip-hop artist, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and just about anything Kanye West wants to be. West first gained prominence as a successful producer for Rock-A-Fella Records, where he achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint and hit singles from Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. The Chicago rapper eventually signed with Roc-A-Fella in 2002 and released his debut album, The College Dropout, in 2004 to critical and commercial acclaim. West has released six solo records over the course of his 18-year career and is one of the most awarded artists of all-time with 21 Grammy Awards. Below is a list of the top five highest selling Kanye West albums based on domestic sales certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.
5. Watch the Throne – 1.6 million
A collaborative studio album with rapper Jay-Z, Watch the Throne was released in August of 2011 and spawned a number of hit singles including “Otis” and “No Church in the Wild” as well as the highest-grossing hip-hop concert tour of all-time. Incorporating unconventional samples, dramatic melodies, and braggadocio lyrics, the album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, received generally positive reviews, and was nominated for seven Grammy Awards.
4. 808s & Heartbreak – 1.7 million
Released in 2008, 808s & Heartbreak is West’s fourth studio album and was seen has a major musical departure from his previous work lyrically, vocally, and production-wise. More of an electropop album, 808s & Heartbreak was primarily sung rather than rapped, and contains extensive use of the Auto-Tune voice processor and Roland TR-808 drum machine. Although the minimalist album was a departure, it still debuted at number one and received relatively positive reviews from music critics.
3. Graduation – 2.7 million
West’s third studio album, Graduation, was released in September of 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records and was primarily produced by West and Atlanta record producer DJ Toomp. A much more introspective, inspirational, and anthemic album than West’s previous two releases, Graduation incorporated synthesizer sounds and a wider array of sampled musical genres. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and produced the hit singles “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “Stronger.”
2. Late Registration – 3.1 million
Late Registration, released in 2005, is West’s second studio album and was produced in collaboration with American record producer and composer John Brion. The album features guest contributions from a number of artists including Jay-Z, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Jamie Foxx, Nas, and Adam Levine and is notably more elaborate than West’s debut. The album produced international hits “Touch the Sky,” “Heard ‘Em Say,” and “Gold Digger” and earned a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
1. The College Dropout – 3.4 million
West’s 2004 debut album, The College Dropout, is the highest selling record of his career. Recorded over a period of four year, the album was produced entirely by West and features musical contributions from Jay-Z, John Legend, Miri Ben-Ari, and Syleena Johnson. The album was promoted by hit singles “Through the Wire,” “Jesus Walks,” “All Falls Down,” and “Slow Jamz” and achieved massive commercial and critical success. Often listed amongst the greatest debut albums ever released by a hip-hip artist, The College Dropout won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2005.
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