IN THE STREETS & ON THE WEB

T.I.'S "TROUBLE MAN: HEAVY IS THE HEAD" COMES IN AT #2 ON THE CHARTS WITH 180K SOLD

T.I. sees a surge in "Trouble Man" sales as compared to "No Mercy," after a tight race. Chief Keef sells 50,000 copies on his "Finally Rich" debut.

As predicted, T.I. snagged a Top 3 debut with his latest bounce-back album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head. Tip edged out One Direction and label-mate Bruno Mars by a margin of less than 1,500 units to grab the #2 spot. This is an improvement from the Grand Hustle leader's #4 debut with No Mercy just over two years ago.

Chief Keef's Glory Boys/Interscope Records debut scored a Top 30 entry to the charts. The 17 year-old Chicago, Illinois sensation grabbed features from 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa and Young Jeezy on his breakthrough album. Finally Rich features the 2012 grassroots hits "I Don't Like" and "Love Sosa." The album featured extensive production from Keef's in-house affiliate, Young Chop.

Without further new album additions, other 2012 Hip Hop releases saw a sales surge in the holiday shopping wave. The next key release is A$AP Rocky's LongLiveA$AP, currently planned for January 15, 2013 release.

T.I.'s Commercial Career Is Not In Trouble, Man

T.I. improved his recent sales record by two spots and over 20,000 units. Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head, Tip's eighth solo album grabbed a competitive #2 spot, selling just under 180,000 units. The Atlantic Records flagship artist enlisted the likes of Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and A$AP Rocky on this conceptual release addressing his most recent legal troubles. The P$C alum also worked with go-to producers such as DJ Toomp and Pharrell, in addition to No I.D.

The 16-track release includes the hit single "Ball."

Cee Lo Green Gets His Magic Moment

Goodie Mob/Gnarls Barkley alum Cee Lo Green returned to the Top 25 with his Holiday covers album, Magic Moment. The emcee/singer who also has a role on hit competition series The Voice did renditions of songs such as "Silent Night" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for his fourth solo effort.

Cee Lo has promised his return to Goodie Mob in the group's fifth album, which changed its title from We Sell Drugs Too to Age Against The Machine.

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/23/2012

#2. T.I. - Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head - 179,000 (179,000)

#25. Cee Lo Green - Cee Lo's Magic Moment - 51,000 (164,000)

#27. Chief Keef - Finally Rich - 50,000 (50,000)

#35. Game - Jesus Piece - 35,000 (122,000)

#39. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city - 34,000 (540,000)

#41. Wiz Khalifa - O.N.F.I.C. - 33,000 (215,000)

#73. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist - 15,000 (192,000)

#87. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up - 14,000 (772,000)

#96. Big Boi - Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors - 12,000 (43,000)

#118. Meek Mill - Dreams & Nightmares - 9,300 (283,000)

* data comes from Nielsen Soundscan, rounded to nearest thousandth for units above 10,000, nearest hundredth for units below 10,000.