9/18/2009

[Shanece Taylor](/columnists/Shanece+Taylor)

The Blueprint 3 has topped the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart of U.S. album sales.

[![2009 MTV Video Music Awards - After Party](http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/7/a/3/0/2009_MTV_Video_f0b1.jpg?adImageId=3098804&imageId=6462703)](http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=Jay Z&iid=6462703)


On September 8, rapper Jay-Z released his 11th studio album, "The Blueprint 3." The album released three days earlier than its original Sept. 11th release date due to the album leak over the internet. The highly anticipated "The Blueprint 3" features R&B stars Alicia Keys and Rihanna. And, now it is dominating in record sales.  
  
Entertainment Weekly reports Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 3" has topped the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart of U.S. album sales. In its debut week, the album sold 476,000 copies. This marks Jay-Z's 11th album to rank No. 1 on the Billboard charts. He has beat Elvis Presley's record for the most No. 1 albums of any solo artist. However, the Beatles still lead with the most chart-toppers with 19 No. 1 albums  
  
Jay-Z needs eight more albums to top the charts at number one just to tie with the Beatles, but, Newsweek reports the Beatles recently released remastered albums are still holding strong in sales. Over the past weekend, albums sales reached 626,000. And, according to Billboard, "Since SoundScan began tracking music sales in 1991, the Beatles have never sold less than 1 million albums in a year."