Young Jeezy ‘TM103′ to Sell 200,000, Beat Common
With record sales on a very slow uptake, up one percent from last year's dismal tally, some rap vets still appear to be recession-proof.
According to estimates, Young Jeezy's fourth offering, 'Thug Motivation: Hustlerz Ambition,' which was released on Tuesday (Dec. 20), is projected to surpass 200,000 sales in its first week, despite lengthy delays.
Based on one-day reports from retailers, Hits Daily Double claims that the Atlanta rapper will come to close to matching his last album, 'The Recession,' which was released in 2008, and clocked almost 260,000 first-week sales. By comparison, Jeezy's nearest competition is Chi-town legend/film star Common, whose 'The Dreamer, The Believer' is projected to sell a paltry 55,000 - 65,000.
While the landscape may have changed a bit since Jeezy first announced a release date for 'TM103' back in 2009, and several of the chronically delayed album's singles ultimately did not make the cut, including the ill-fated singles 'Jizzle' and 'All White Everything,' the critics have responded with favorable reviews for the Snowman, with the New York Times calling him "a more mature Young Jeezy," and the L.A. Times quipping "Don't call it a comeback; he's been feared for years."
'TM103' will be the final chapter in Jeezy's 'Thug Motivation' trilogy, which was introduced with Jeezy's 2005 debut, 'Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101.'
"I can't ask anyone to understand the thing that was going on in regards to the album, whether it was political or whatever, but my job and my whole goal was to get it done and give the people an amazing album and that was it," Jeezy told The BoomBox in an interview earlier this month.
Young Jeezy's 'Thug Motivation: Hustlerz Ambition' features Ne-Yo, Fabolous, Jadakiss, T.I., Snoop Dogg and the Jay-Z and Andre 3000-featuring single 'I Do,' with typically trunk-rattling production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Drumma Boy and newcomer Lil' Lody, though Shawty Redd is sorely missed.
Watch Young Jeezy's 'F.A.M.E.' Feat. T.I.