Jay-Z is on course to achieve his 10th No. 1 album on The Billboard 200, as his "American Gangster" set (Roc-A-Fella) leads Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart, released today (Nov. 7).
If Jay-Z locks his 10th No. 1, that will tie him with Elvis Presley for second place among artists with the most chart-toppers. Only the Beatles have more, with 19.
Unweighted sales for "American Gangster" through the close of business yesterday from the Building Chart's panel of reporters stood at 179,000. That's the third largest figure seen on the Wednesday Building Chart since SoundScan began compiling it in September. Jay-Z trails only the first-day numbers for Kanye West's "Graduation" (437,000) and 50 Cent's "Curtis" (310,000).
Jay-Z's last album, 2006's "Kingdom Come," opened atop The Billboard 200 last fall with 680,000.
On the Wednesday Building Chart, Chris Brown's sophomore Jive set, "Exclusive," was in second place with 107,000, while the Eagles' "Long Road Out Of Eden" was third with 89,000. Garth Brooks' new "Ultimate Hits" (Pearl Records) claimed the fourth slot, with 61,000.
Two more new albums -- Cassidy's "B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story" (Full Surface/J) and Angels & Airwaves' "I-Empire" (Geffen) -- were among the top 10 sellers.
Billboard estimates that the merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart -- Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Circuit City, iTunes, Border's, Target, Anderson Merchandisers, and Handleman Co. -- represent 79% of the U.S. retail market.
If Jay-Z locks his 10th No. 1, that will tie him with Elvis Presley for second place among artists with the most chart-toppers. Only the Beatles have more, with 19.
Unweighted sales for "American Gangster" through the close of business yesterday from the Building Chart's panel of reporters stood at 179,000. That's the third largest figure seen on the Wednesday Building Chart since SoundScan began compiling it in September. Jay-Z trails only the first-day numbers for Kanye West's "Graduation" (437,000) and 50 Cent's "Curtis" (310,000).
Jay-Z's last album, 2006's "Kingdom Come," opened atop The Billboard 200 last fall with 680,000.
On the Wednesday Building Chart, Chris Brown's sophomore Jive set, "Exclusive," was in second place with 107,000, while the Eagles' "Long Road Out Of Eden" was third with 89,000. Garth Brooks' new "Ultimate Hits" (Pearl Records) claimed the fourth slot, with 61,000.
Two more new albums -- Cassidy's "B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story" (Full Surface/J) and Angels & Airwaves' "I-Empire" (Geffen) -- were among the top 10 sellers.
Billboard estimates that the merchants who report to Nielsen SoundScan's Building Chart -- Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Circuit City, iTunes, Border's, Target, Anderson Merchandisers, and Handleman Co. -- represent 79% of the U.S. retail market.
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