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

by FuKdAtShHh on Aug.29, 2008, under Hip Hop News

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.