J. Cole’s ‘Born Sinner’ Album Hits No. 1, Outsells ‘Yeezus’

J. Cole has cemented his status as hip-hop's "Little Engine That Could" this week, as 'Born Sinner' has reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

After debuting at No. 2 behind Kanye West's 'Yeezus,' Cole's sophomore release held constant at No. 2 the following week, behind Wale's 'The Gifted.' Yeezus fell to No. 3 in its second week.

With no major releases coming out last week, Cole and Wale switched places, with 'Born Sinner's' 58,000 units sold edging out 'The Gifted' by 8,000 units. 'Yeezus' meanwhile sold 39,000. After three weeks, Cole has outsold Kanye this summer.

Cole had received a lot of flak heading into the release of 'Born Sinner,' but has certainly withstood that initial criticism with an album that has grown on listeners. Meanwhile, despite the critical acclaim 'Yeezus' received early on, commercial response has been tepid due to its experimental nature. Wale's album has probably done as well as it could have done, considering the intense competitive climate of the summer.

Of course, next week, the charts are due for a major shakeup, as Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' will be making its debut at the top of the charts. For now, read Cole's shoutout to the fans below.