Ice Cube Debuts At #1; T.I. Sets Billboard Record

Gangsta and political rap pioneer Ice Cube displayed his independent strength once again, as the veteran’s eighth solo album Raw Footage debuted #1 on Billboard’s Rap and R&B Chart and #5 on the Top 200.

The set sold 69, 234 copies its first week and is on pace to duplicate Cube’s previous effort Laugh Now, Cry Later, which was the highest selling independent Hip-Hop release of 2006.

Ice Cube, who was pleased with the public’s reception, said that he was inspired by the economic woes that are ravaging the United States.

“I made this record to talk about what is going on in the world today,” Ice Cube explained to AllHipHop.com. “We are dealing with a recession, and I know a lot of people feel helpless in a way. I consciously decided to try to give a voice to those who feel voiceless in the world.”

T.I. also set a record this week with his new single “Whatever You Like,” which catapulted from #71 to #1 on the Hot 100 Chart, the biggest one week leap in Billboard history.

Produced by Jim Jonsin, the track is also #1 on the Hot Digital Charts Songs list, posting first week figures of 205,000 downloads.

T.I.’s sixth studio Paper Trail is due in stores September, and contains guest spots from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Rihanna, John Legend, and Fall Out Boy.

Tags: #1, At, Billboard, Cube, Debuts, Ice, Record, Sets, T.I.

Comment by cye young on August 30, 2008 at 6:53pm: looks like t.i....has put his self in the top three...as far as rapping and consistent quality.....not bad man i aint mad....but i still got love for lo.......its young..........

Comment by IM WAT U CALL CHANGE on August 30, 2008 at 7:16pm: t.i he koo i just cant say i really fuck wit him cuz i dont so i guess im not really a t.i fan like he dont spark a plug wit me.

Comment by southjerzmasta on August 31, 2008 at 2:43am: t.i. runs this shit

Comment by Ty Nitty on August 31, 2008 at 2:52am: I been telling niggas he still the king, it's alot of haters, he get alot of that.

Comment by TTT on September 1, 2008 at 10:02am: I agree wit ASHA...TI does nothing for me....he is a little to commercial...."You Can Have Whatever You Like"...dude singing the whole track...idk..i just cant get down wit dude...

Sept. 2....GO COP THAT...."THE RECESSION"....

Comment by Suave_Capone on September 1, 2008 at 6:41pm: what most niggas call "commercial" i call playing the game. TIP keep his female fans feed constantly!!! They actually go buy his shit, not download it like all the "real niggas" do...or should i say the internet gangstaz lol.

TIP know how to sell records, cant knock the man for tapping into his fan base.
But i fucks with ICE Cube, i think he is the single most sucessful entertainer alive, from movies to #1 albums, he is putting out classic shit!

Jezzy, TIP and Cube are in my top 5 (with Jay Z and Andre 3000) for more than one reason

Hip Hop is so opinion based now a days niggas try to hard to impose their thoughts on other niggas. Its cool to have an opinion but its not cool when niggas get mad cuz millions of people fuck with a nigga they dont like......shit i lame to me.

The Recession, 5hours away!