Keith Sweat

50 Cent Slams Into Albums Chart With Record-Breaking Debut LP

12 Feb 2003 02:13:00 EST

Rapper's Get Rich or Die Tryin' moves more than 872,000 copies its first week.
By Joe D'Angelo

50 Cent
Photo: ShadyAftermath

In less than a week, Get Rich or Die Tryin' has turned 50 Cent into a cash cow for his record label.

Get Rich or Die Tryin' will be the top-selling album on next week's Billboard albums chart, moving in excess of 872,000 copies, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (February 12). With the tremendous total, the LP is the best-selling debut album since SoundScan started its tracking system in May 1991. Only Snoop Dogg's 1993 debut, Doggystyle, comes close, with more than 802,000 copies sold in its first week.

The Queens MC sold more copies of his debut LP last week than all the other top 10 albums combined; and 50's one-week tally is the largest since Shania Twain moved more than 874,000 copies of Up! in November.

Even more remarkable is the fact the volume was attained in a shortened sales cycle. Although 50's album was released five days early to combat bootlegging (see "Industry Insiders Say Bootlegging Won't Dent 50 Cent"), it's questionable whether having the extra two days would have increased his total, since many retail outlets reported the album sold out after the first couple of days on the shelves.

While Get Rich ... couldn't climb any higher, 50's last release, Guess Who's Back? lost chart ground for the first time in weeks, down to #45 from its previous #25 spot. The 18-track "mixtape" compiles songs previously available on older street records, as well as some live, freestyle tracks recorded from radio shows.

Eminem's The Eminem Show, which made its chart debut with just 284,000 copies sold, was also given an early release to combat bootleggers. Following that weekly total, achieved after officially being on sale only one day, Em's third album moved more than 1.3 million after its first full week in stores.

50 Cent's admission will push previous #1 album, the Dixie Chicks' Home, down to #2 (114,000). Close behind will be Kid Rock's Cocky, which, after more than 14 months, achieved its highest chart position at #3, with more than 103,000 copies sold last week due to the crossover success of its latest single, "Picture."

Country singer Blake Shelton will have the next-highest charting debut with his second album, The Dreamer, which will land at #8 with more than 76,000 copies sold.

LL Cool J returns to the top 10 with authority as his 10 will rocket up 75 spots to #9 (66,000). Thanks to his new film "Deliver Us From Eva," which opened in theaters last week, and the subsequent attention derived from working the late-night talk-show circuit, the muscle-bound MC's 10th album enjoyed a weekly sales increase of more than 55,000 copies.

The remainder of the top 10 will find Norah Jones' Come Away With Me dropping two spots to #4 (100,000); Avril Lavigne's Let Go taking a step back to #5 (82,000); the soundtrack to Oscar favorite "Chicago" holding onto its #6 position (81,000); Jennifer Lopez's This Is Me ... Then taking a two-step drop to #7 (79,000); and Missy Elliott's Under Construction slipping a spot to #10 (65,000).

The soundtrack to the superhero blockbuster "Daredevil," which features contributions from Nickelback and Saliva, and a collaboration between Rob Zombie and Drowning Pool, will come in at #11; while the debut album from the All-American Rejects, swimming in the buzz surrounding its first single, "Swing Swing," will drop in at #25, with more than 40,000 copies sold.

Other notable chart debuts include country rockers Alabama's Valentine's Day accouterment In the Mood — Love Songs at #15; Lionel Richie's best-of set Definitive Collection at #21; Christian rockers Jars of Clay's live-studio hybrid Furthermore — From the Studio, From the Stage at #64; Juliana Theory's third album, and first for a major label, Love, at #71; soul seducer Keith Sweat's Keith Sweat Live at #86; and the soundtrack to "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days at #158; and the '80s vets the Pet Shop Boys' compilation Disco 3 at #188.

Be sure to check out our full-length feature on 50 Cent, "50 Cent: Money To Burn".

Watch the MTV News Now special "All Eyes On: 50 Cent." Click for schedule.

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Nelly, Eminem Back On Top of Billboard Chart

21 Aug 2002 02:46:00 EDT

Rappers stop Springsteen's two week run at #1.
By Joe D'Angelo

Nelly
Photo: Universal

It's not like they drifted very far, but Nelly and Eminem will retake their places at the top of next week's Billboard album chart.

After being temporarily relocated by new releases by Dave Matthews Band, Toby Keith, and most recently, Bruce Springsteen, Nellyville and The Eminem Show will come at #1 and #2, respectively. Both albums have been in or near the top five since their release more than two months ago. Nellyville moved another 183,000 copies last week, while Eminem's take of more than 178,000 puts his third LP above the 5 million mark, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday.

Last week's top album, The Rising by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, which held its ground for two consecutive weeks, will drop to #3 with more than 166,000 sold.

Poetic singer-songwriter James Taylor, 54, proves that sensitive guys can still pack a wallop on the album chart, despite the abundance of whippersnappers like Avril Lavigne, whose Let Go will move up four places to #5, and Linkin Park, whose Reanimation will slip a spot to #8. Taylor's October Road, his first studio album in five years, will take the #4 spot with more than 153,000 copies.

Another veteran not quite as long in the tooth as Taylor, Keith Sweat proved he can still generate some chart heat after 14 years. The Harlem-born R&B crooner's latest, Rebirth, will come in at #14, with more than 57,000 copies sold.

Other new releases will bring up the rear of the chart's Top 20. Bluegrass trio Nickel Creek's second album, This Side, which features a cover of Pavement's "Spit On A Stranger," will land at #18. Snoop Dogg presents … the Doggy Style All Stars: Welcome to Tha House, Vol. 1, featuring contributions from the pimping Long Beach MC himself as well as Lady of Rage, RBX and Soopafly, will come in at #19. And just two months after dropping their mix tape album Dirty District, Slum Village's Trinity (Past, Present and Future), which marks Elzhi replacing founding member MC/producer Jay Dee, will touch down at #20.

The remainder of next week's top 10 albums find Now That's What I Call Music! Volume 10 slipping a spot to #6; Toby Keith's Unleashed doing the same to #7; the soundtrack to the Vin Diesel-powered "XXX" entering the top 10 at #9 from its previously held #11 spot; and Scarface's The Fix falling farthest of any top 10 LP, moving from last week's #4 debut to #10.

While Scarface slipped, Project Pat plummeted. His Layin' the Smack Down took a beating at record stores following its impressive chart debut at #12. The fourth album by the Memphis mouthpiece will dive 14 spots to #26 (34,000) while selling roughly 50 percent fewer copies than it did the week prior.

Thanks to the new single "Goodbye to You," Michelle Branch's The Spirit Room will set foot on higher ground, rising 16 places to #54. After over a year in the running, the singer/songwriter's debut LP has sold more than 1.1 million copies.

Last week's death of singer Dave Williams (see "Drowning Pool's Williams Remembered As One Of Rock's Nicest") must've made many rock fans realize they were missing out on something as Drowning Pool's Sinner re-enters the chart at #141 with twice as many sales than the previous week.

The biggest leap on next week's chart comes courtesy of the King. Amidst the hoopla surrounding the silver anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, his sensitive side was in high demand as last year's 12-track collection The Very Best of Love, featuring "Love Me Tender," "Can't Help Falling in Love," and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" rockets up 117 places to #81.

Other notable chart debuts include Chi-town rappers Do or Die's Back 2 the Game at #64; Wiretap Scars by Sparta, one of two offshoots of the now-defunct At the Drive-In, at #71; Mary J. Blige's remix album Dance for Me at #76; pop quintet Jump5's All the Time in The World at 86; the soundtrack to the Disney TV series "Lizzie McGuire," featuring songs from Smash Mouth, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore, at #126; the original cast recording of the Broadway musical "Hairspray" at #131; the re-release of 8ball's Lay it Down, featuring tracks from the rapper's underground days, at #143; Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, from Omaha emo-kid Conor Oberst's project Bright Eyes, at #161; and the soundtrack to "Blue Crush," featuring contributions from Lenny Kravitz, Nikka Costa and Doves, at #197.

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In Stores Now And Coming Soon: New Music From Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Sparta, Bright Eyes, Slum Village & More

13 Aug 2002 07:52:00 EDT

Snoop Dogg
Photo: MTV News

Snoop once accused fans of only loving his Doggy Style, and this week, that just might be true. Hopefully going over better than Doggy's Angels is Snoop Dogg Presents... Doggy Style All Stars: Welcome to Tha House, Vol. 1, featuring tracks by the Doggfather himself plus Lady of Rage, RBX and Soopafly.

The Reindeer Section — brainchild of Glasgow musician Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol — showcase the talents of their 27-odd members including folks from Mogwai, Belle and Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, the Vaselines and Arab Strap on their new release, Son of Evil Reindeer.

Brit rock doyenne Marianne Faithfull releases Kissin' Time with guest spots from Beck, Blur, Pulp and Billy Corgan alongside new albums from Sparta (Wiretap Scars), Brad (Welcome to Discovery Park), and Slum Village (Trinity).

And just when we thought it was possible to go a week without writing some such about so-and-so's new remix album, along comes Dance for Me by Mary J. Blige. The album features re-workings of "No More Drama," "Rainy Dayz," and "Family Affair." No hateration, please.

Out Tuesday, August 13:

Bernard Allison - Storms of Life (Tone-Cool)
Karrin Allyson - In Blue (Concord Jazz)
Yolanda Aranda & Enrique Coria - Intimo (Acoustic Disc)
Beatsteaks - Living Targets (Epitaph)
Howie Beck - Hollow (Future Farmer)
Mary J. Blige - Dance for Me (MCA)
Blue Mountain - Tonight It's Now or Never (2 CDs, DCN)
Joe Bonamassa - So, It's Like That (Medalist)
Brad - Welcome to Discovery Park (Redline)
Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (Saddle Creek)
Read: "Dashboard Confessional, Custom, Abandoned Pools Don't Need No Stinkin' Band"
Constant Flux - All Things Change (:\run)
The Cost - Chimera (Lookout!)
Éamonn Coyne - Through the Round Window (Compass)
Do or Die - Back 2 the Game (Virgin)
Bill Douglas - Homeland (Hearts of Space)
Cliff Eberhardt - School for Love (Red House)
End on End - Why Evolve We Can Go Sideways? (Substandard)
Marianne Faithfull - Kissin' Time (Virgin)
Read: "Marianne Faithfull Records With Billy Corgan"
Jay Farrar - ThirdShiftGrottoSlack (EP, Artemis)
Flipp - Volume (Popularity/ Artemis)
Steve Forbert - More Young Guitar Days (Rolling Tide)
Russ Freeman - Drive (Peak)
Frou Frou - Details (MCA)
The Future Sound of London - The Isness (Hypnotic)
Vance Gilbert - One Thru Fourteen (Disismye/ Louisiana Red Hot)
Thea Gilmore - Rules for Jokers (Compass)
Guttermouth - Gusto! (Epitaph)
Winsor Harmon - Stars of Texas (Neurodisc)
Hellnation - Dynamite Up Your Ass (Sound Pollution)
Alan and John Kelly - Fourmilehouse (Compass)
Paul Krassner - Irony Lives (Artemis)
Made Men - Black Friday (Surrender)
Branford Marsalis - Footsteps of Our Fathers (Marsalis Music/ Rounder)
Mary Lee's Corvette - Blood on the Tracks (Bar/None)
Maserati - The Language of Cities (Kindercore)
Brad Mehldau – Largo (Warner Bros.)
Milemarker - Satanic Versus (EP, Jade Tree)
Peter Mulvey - Ten Thousand Mornings (Signature Sounds)
Nerf Herder - American Cheese (Honest Don's)
Nickel Creek - This Side (Sugar Hill)
Noise Therapy - Tension (Redline)
Norma Jean - Bless the Martyr, Kiss the Child (Solid State)
Paul Oakenfold - A Voyage Into Trance (Hypnotic)
Eliades Ochoa - Estoy Como Nunca (Higher Octave World)
Plankton Man vs. Terrestre - Plankton Man vs. Terrestre (Provider/ :\run)
Pseudopod - Pseudopod (Interscope)
The Reindeer Section - Son of Evil Reindeer (PIAS America)
Rockapella - Smilin' (Amerigo)
Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo - Roots of Our Nature (Blind Pig)
Saeta - Resign to Ideal (Fish the Cat)
Sick of It All - Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck Chords)
Slum Village - Trinity (Priority/ Capitol)
Soundisciples - Audio Manifesto (Peaceville)
Sparta - Wiretap Scars (DreamWorks)
Read: "Sparta Rise From At The Drive-In's Ashes With EP, Tour"
Peter Stuart - Propeller (Vanguard)
Keith Sweat - Rebirth (Elektra)
James Taylor - October Road (Columbia)
Paul Thorn - Mission Temple Fireworks (Back Porch)
The Two Dollar Pistols - You Ruined Everything (Yep Roc)
Various artists - AC/DC Tribute: Backed in Black (Reverberations)
Various artists - Blue Light One (Nettwerk)
Various artists - Old Skars & Upstarts 2002 (Disaster)
Various artists - Raices Latinas: Smithsonian Folkways Latino Roots Collection (Smithsonian Folkways)
Various artists - Snoop Dogg Presents... Doggy Style All Stars:
Welcome to Tha House, Vol. 1 (MCA)
Various artists - Hairspray (Sony Classical)
Various artists - So Little Time (Trauma)
Wonderlick - Wonderlick (Future Farmer)
Zeromancer - Eurotrash (Cleopatra)

August 20:

Lady May - May Day (Arista)
Read: "Lady May: Savage Hip-Hop Straight From the Suburbs"
Maná - Revolución De Amor (Warner Music Intl.)
Murderdolls - Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls (Roadrunner)
Read: "Corey Taylor Insists His Other Band Is No Slipknot Jr."
Orbital - Work 89-02 (FFRR/ WSM)

August 27:

Erykah Badu - TBD (EP, Motown)
Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash - Distance Between (Ultimatum)
BBMak - Into Your Head (Hollywood)
Beenie Man - Tropical Storm (Virgin)
The Black Crowes - The Black Crowes Live (V2)
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (Nettwerk/ Capitol)
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Irony Is a Dead Scene (EP, Epitaph)
Dixie Chicks - Home (Open Wide/ Monument/ Columbia)
Eve - Eve-olution (Ruff Ryders/ Interscope)
Read: "Eve, Alicia Keys Team Up For Some 'Gangsta Love'"
Buy Now: Eve-olution (Ruff Ryders/ Interscope)
Gus Gus - Attention (Moonshine)
Aimee Mann - Lost in Space (Superego)
Mudhoney - Since We've Become Translucent (Sub Pop)
Ms. Jade - Girl Interrupted (Beat Club/ Interscope)
Read: "Ms. Jade's 'Big Head' Is Meant To Move Your Big Butt"
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (Interscope)
Read: "Queens Of The Stone Age Flex Their Star Power"
Buy Now: Songs for the Deaf (Interscope)
Silverchair - Diorama (Atlantic)
Read: "Silverchair Craft U.S. Diorama, Plan New York Dates"
Stone Sour - Stone Sour (Roadrunner)
Read: "Corey Taylor Insists His Other Band Is No Slipknot Jr."
Trina - Diamond Princess (Slip-N-Slide/ Atlantic)
Read: "Diamond Princess Trina Recruits Tweet For 'No Panties' Single"
Viva Death - Viva Death (Vagrant)

September 17:

Cassius - Au Rêve (Astralwerks)
Ladytron - Light & Magic (Emperor Norton)
Nine Days - So Happily Unsatisfied (Epic)
OK Go - OK Go (Capitol)
Shadows Fall - The Art of Balance (Century Media)
Read: "You Hear It First: Shadows Fall"

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Keith Sweat Pours Emotion Into Coming

13 Nov 2000 10:00:00 EST

Keith Sweat

R&B singer Keith Sweat's reputation as a master crooner was established early in his career, when his 1987 debut album, Make It Last Forever, sold more than 3 million copies.

The album spawned a string of top-10 hits, including "I Want Her," "Something Just Ain't Right," "Don't Stop Your Love," and the title track.

He followed that with a procession of successful chart-topping albums and singles that held their own in the face of evolving musical trends.

Didn't See Me Coming, Sweat's eighth album, due Tuesday, continues the singer's tradition of addressing matters sensual and emotional.

"I guess you can say I picked up where I left off and [did] whatever else came to mind," the 39-year-old, Harlem, New York-born singer, songwriter and producer said recently. "When I'm creating, it's about whatever I'm feeling."

Like Sweat's previous recordings, the album deals with the ups and downs of love, and he said some of the songs are based on true stories.

"Some of them are from other people's experiences, like 'Caught Up' — people being caught up in a relationship, and no matter how much you get dogged out, you stay in the relationship, because you're all caught up, for whatever reason, whether it be sexually, financially, whatever. That's true for a lot of people out there. 'Games' is about people playing games. I don't want to play no games. If you don't want me, go ahead out the door. Leave, stop playing with me."

Sweat attributed his success over the past 13 years to making music that his fans can relate to. "I think the reason people can relate to my album and relate to the stuff I do is because I'm hitting home with a lot of stuff," he said. "I'm not trying to sing about things that people don't actually go through. I've got maybe one or two songs that talk about the Bentleys and the diamonds and stuff, and a lot of people can't relate to that, because a lot of people don't have that, but they do have the relationships, and that's why I try to keep it there."

The album's first single, "I'll Trade (A Million Bucks)," with Lil' Mo, is one of six tracks that feature guest appearances. Checking in are Busta Rhymes and Rah Digga on "Things," TLC's Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins on "He Say She Say," David Hollister on "Don't Have Me," and Lil' Wayne on "Why U Treat Me So Cold." Rodney "Dark Child" Jerkins produced "I Put U On," a song originally featured on the "Blue Streak" soundtrack.

Sweat said he selected artists with whom he'd never worked and found he was able to blend with them vocally.

"A lot of people wouldn't think I would blend with a lot of people, but I can adjust the way I sing to anybody. Like Levert. Sweat. Gill., (a 1997 album he recorded with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill). People didn't think that was gonna work. But it's not hard for me to adjust. I'm a street singer. I wasn't trained by anyone. I'm more of a vibe singer, if you want to call it that. So I really just feel where somebody is going, and I just go with them. That's why I can do uptempo as well as slow. I have a real street edge about the way I sing, and I think that's what's made me last in the business and has made people very receptive of me."

In true Keith Sweat fashion, Didn't See Me Coming balances steamy ballads and thumping uptempos. Having recorded hits that heat up the dance floor as well as the bedroom, Sweat said he has no preferences.

"I prefer whatever is hot. Sometimes I'm in an uptempo mood. Sometimes I'm in a ballad mood, and it really depends on what I'm talking about in a song and how fly the beat is. So it really doesn't matter to me, because it's not hard for me to do an uptempo song."

Known for mentoring and launching the careers of other artists — such as Silk, Ol' Skool, Kut Klose and most recently, female rapper Strings — Sweat said he's now focusing solely on his own career.

"Basically, I've been concentrating on me. That's because if I'm not hot, I can't do nothing for nobody else really. I can piggyback them off me if I'm doing well. Right now, my whole focus is making this a successful album." And though he's focused, Sweat said he is not nervous about how the album will be received. "I have a following, and I believe God's gonna take care of me, regardless."

Paul Penrose, urban sales specialist for Valley Distributors in Woodland, California, said the guest appearances on Didn't See Me Coming neither add to nor detract from the album.

"[Sweat] is the talent, so he doesn't need to hide behind guest appearances, so I don't really look at them very seriously," Penrose said. "He's a strong enough artist that it's nice to have [other artists] on, but the Keith Sweat fans are the ones that are gonna buy it, and I think this will get some new fans for him."

Penrose was complimentary of the album. "I definitely think it's a lot stronger than the last album, and it's definitely more radio-friendly," he said. "The only problem that I can see is just making sure that they release the right single."

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Keith Sweat

Sweat, Gill, Levert Form Trio

15 Aug 1997 10:00:00 EDT

August 15 [10:00 EDT] -- In what could be one of the biggest side projects of the year, Keith Sweat, Gerald Levert, and Johnny Gill are hooking up to form a vocal trio.

Our colleagues at the MTV Radio Network report that the group is called LSG, and they will release their debut album this fall. The as-yet-untitled album includes a song called "All The Time," produced by Levert and featuring Missy Elliot, Faith Evans, and Coko from SWV.

Puff Daddy also helps out by handling production duties on the track "You Got Me" while Sweat produced the song "Round And Round."

Atlanta's own Jermaine Dupri also does two tracks on the album, "Love Can't Hurt" and "Where Did I Go Wrong."

The first single, the Delite-produced "My Body," is set for release on October 14, with the album following on October 29.

While two of the three members of LSG are currently on the road on separate tours (Johnny Gill is on tour with New Edition, and Keith Sweat is out with the Jamizon tour), the trio plans to regroup in late September to promote the album.

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Magic's Jamizon to Feature Morrison, Sweat

3 Jul 1997 10:00:00 EDT

July 3 [10:00 EDT] -- It turns out that the national urban festival tour known as Jamizon that we told you about last month is being organized by a group that includes NBA great Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Jamizon, which kicks off July 23 in Jacksonville, Florida and wraps up August 24 in Concord, California, is scheduled to include Keith Sweat, SWV, Kenny Lattimore, Brownstone and the notorious Mark Morrison as we reported in June. Johnson himself will be hosting many of the events.

Johnson, along with Quincy Jones' Vibe magazine and other backers are obviously relieved that bad-boy singer Morrison has been released from jail and is able to participate in the tour. Morrison, best known for his hit "Return of the Mack," was in jail in his home country of England the past six weeks on a variety of offenses, including an attempted stun gun assault on a police officer.

Jamizon, says organizers, will "salute urban music and its impact on popular culture by showcasing a celebration of urban music, fashion, sports and art." The sites will include interactive sports displays; food; film and video; comedy; art, memorabilia and fashion displays; and local musicians in addition to the touring celebrities.

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Keith Sweat Discusses Chart Success

28 Jan 1997 02:00:00 EST

Jan. 28 [14:00 EST] -- New-Jack crooner Keith Sweat is in the pop top ten with his current single "Nobody." Only a few weeks ago, "Billboard" magazine declared that his previous single "Twisted" was the number three pop single of 1996.

Maybe all those sales are why Sweat, who's now on tour with New Edition and BLACKstreet, says he likes to keep things on the safe side, musically, when he takes it to the stage.

"I pretty much like to keep my songs similar to what they hear on the record, because that's what they want to see, nine times out of ten," Sweat told MTV News.

"When you change it up, a lot of people might say, 'Hey, I love that record 'Twisted',' but they just want to see you do it live, see if you can really do it, like what's on the album or whatever, so I pretty much like to keep it the same way that's on the album, because that's what people are coming to see."

Keith Sweat's "Nobody" is at number five on this week's "Hot 100" singles chart.

Elsewhere on the chart, the late Tupac Shakur re-enters the top ten album chart with his "Makaveli" record, "The Don Kiluminati."

We'll have an in-depth report Tuesday night on "Gridlock'd," the new Tupac movie that opens on Wednesday.

In the meantime, here's rundown of "Billboard's" top 10 pop albums:

*For week of February 1, 1997

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