Eminem Tops Billboard 200, "Relapse" Sells 608,000 Copies in First Week

Eminem topped the Billboard 200 with his long-awaited album "Relapse," selling 608,000 copies in his first week, according to reports Wednesday.

The sales were not only the best opening week sales of any artist this year, but the best since last October when AC/DC's "Black Ice" began with 784,000 copies sold.

"Relapse" becomes Eminem's fifth straight No. 1 debut. His only album not to debut No. 1 was his debut album "The Slim Shady LP", which peaked at No. 2 in 1999.

His last album,"Encore" (2004), sold 711,000 after an abbreviated debut week. It was released four days earlier than scheduled in order to counter leaks. A little over a year later, his greatest hits package "Curtain Call" opened with 441,000 in December 2005.

Collectively, Eminem's six albums have sold 34 million in the U.S., making him the biggest selling hip-hop act in the SoundScan era (1991-present).

Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown," last week's No. 1, slipped to No. 2 with 166,000, which is down only 23% after its first full week in stores.

Kenny Chesney's "Greatest Hits II" arrives at No. 3 with 89,000, giving the country star his eighth top 10 album overall, and his seventh consecutive album in the top 10.

Method Man and Redman's new "Blackout! 2" starts at No. 4 with 63,000. The album is the sequel to their "Blackout!" album in 1999, which debuted and peaked at No. 3 with 254,000.

Comedian/actor Dane Cook earned his second top 10 album as "ISolated INcident" starts at No. 5 with 61,000. His first top 10 album, "Retaliation" (2005), debuted and peaked at No. 4 with 86,000 and spent 84 weeks on the list.

Busta Rhymes returns to the chart after nearly three years as "Back On My B.S." enters at No. 6 with 59,000. His 2006 album "The Big Bang" debuted at No. 1 with 209,000.

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