Ready for a Hip-Hop conspiracy theory? Well a week ago, G-Unit dropped their second album Terminate On Sight (T.O.S.) and if you don’t know that, stop reading and go find something better to do with your time. Anyways, after the album dropped, initial reports were stating that based on first day numbers, T.O.S. was slated to move about 700k units in the first week.

Then, MediaTakeOut (renowned for posting bullshit) “leaked” this supposedly internal email:

From: xxxxxx@umusic.com
Sent: Fri Jun 27 16:13:53 2008
Subject:

Guys we understand u are pissed, all we can say is 2nd week #s will be out of here.

We acknowledge we SIGNIFICANTLY underestimated the G unit fan base and online awareness. Therefore we have ordered an immediate increase in production, effective 9am today. Early first week estimates stand at around 700K to 800K US…. We are working to rectify the international shortcomings and put product in place by early next week. Don will be in touch.

Other reports were stating that they’d only shipped about 100,000 copies. Now this could just be a rumor started by the G-Unit camp or MTO, but we won’t argue that here. Note though that they only mention INTERNATIONAL shortcomings (does that include the U.S.?)

Here we are at week 2, and the numbers posted above from HDD (which usually underreports a little bit - they put the carter at just under a milli when soundscan said over a milli), and we see that T.O.S. actually sold almost exactly 100k copies… exactly what Interscope was to have shipped? Interesting.

Now the counter to that? Well, I don’t buy albums in the stores anymore so I can’t comment on that, but I don’t remember ever seeing Amazon.com out of stock on the album, and the last time I checked, they were included in soundscan (speaking of, why aren’t iTunes and Amazon downloads included?). Add to that, T.O.S. was the #1 rap album on iTunes and #3 album overall and then dropped to #13… But… perhaps people don’t like buying albums online. You decide.

To close out, goddamn Wayne’s still going! Doing more than T.O.S.’s first week a month after its own release. Well… at least they outsold John Mayer… and before you guys on about who cares about sales… remember that 50 started it.

For an album that was “rumored” to sell 700k first week, this is a fucking shame.

Granted, Weezy had a huge buzz, and Rihanna did just re-release her album a few weeks ago, but for the once-mighty unit, it’s embarrassing to be below an album that came out weeks ago, and only slightly above an album that is only a year old.

Early soundscan numbers typically only reflect the sales of the more mainstream music accurately, so we’ll see how things ago as the numbers pile in.

*update*
To add to the irony, 50 recently told MTV he thinks he’s gonna sell a million first week:

“Fourth quarter,” he said of the release date. “I got some music. But I’mma make music until I reach a closing date. I’mma stay creative and continue to try and progress.

“I want to focus on the positive, and I feel I’m one of the more vocal people in hip-hop,” he added. “Even when it’s not about music, people pay attention to me, because I have something to offer. I’ll continue to create quality music at a pace they haven’t seen.”

Sounds like Boo Boo is a bit jealous of Wayne

Hate him or love him, the nigga’s put in some work in the last 2 years in the mixtape game, which has all paid off. Wayne went Gold first week, and according to soundscan (which actually counts shipped CDs, not necessarily sold), Wayne also went plat in a week. If memory serves correct, The Massacre was the last release to do that back in ‘05.

In any case, Wayne went into the studio and created an A Millie remix for the fans — free of charge (again).

Congrats to Wayne AND Plies. Definitely a good week overall.

Buck finally strikes back. Guess he’s looking for a full release from the label. In related news, Fat Joe takes shots at Buck in his new remix with Game & Wayne:

Wayne is still expected to do 900k - 1million and Plies is expected to do up to 250,000. We all suspected Wayne, but Plies? Seriously? Word on the street is that even people in his hometown were surprised.

Either way, 4 acts in the Top 10 so far? Big week for Hip-Hop & “Urban” music in general.

Ya…. Wayne is predicted to do over 900k FIRST WEEK. I don’t think any “rap” album has done that much first week since Fiddy’s second album.

That’s all. No fun-making. No wise-cracks (we all actually like the album). Just jaws dropping.

Oh… did we mention he’s being sued by a guy he never paid to hook up his car? Ya.

Shout out to Mike Prat and Young J.

….and commence the fighting.

Wayne, Wayne, Wayne. Look what you ‘don started. Well, in reality, no one is gonna really hear this and care.

*Update* Apparently this is a chop up and Flip claims it’s not a shot at Wayne:

Karma Ann Swanepoel sings a folky-guitary song called “Once” which is — let’s just say — very prominently featured in [Lil Wayne’s] hit song “I Feel Like Dying.” In a lawsuit filed in Louisiana, Karma says that Wayne’s label has actually been trying to make a deal to use her song, but they haven’t agreed. But Lil’ W has been pimping out his song everywhere — MySpace, YouTube, and live on his tour. And now Karma wants relief — in the form of cold, hard cash.

You decide:

Read the documents here. Spotted via T.M.Z.

What happened here? No fucking clue. I can’t see a G-Unit vs Cash Money beef though since both artists are just outlanders when it comes to their respective groups.