2015 DMX Challenge
There are levels of success that few artists achieve, yet alone Hip-Hop artists. Only 15 artists in the history of Billboard have had more than 1 album reach the #1 spot in the same year. To put that in perspective, artists in that category include Elvis, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. Of those 15 artists, only 4 of them are hip-hop acts. 2Pac, Jay-Z, Eminem, and DMX are some of the best-selling rap artists of all time, so it makes sense. However, each artist earned that achievement in a different way.
2Pac was the first rapper to achieve the feat. In 1996, he released All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, both massive commercial successes. Both albums failed to debut at #1 on The Billboard 200, but they both managed to peak at #1 on the chart. Fast forward to 2004, and Eminem and Jay-Z are taking on the same challenge. Unlike 2Pac, Eminem released 1 solo album and 1 album with D12. While Encore immediately assumed its place at the top of charts, D12 World had to climb the charts first. On the other hand, both of Jay Z’s 2004 albums debuted at #1, but they were both collaborative albums. Unfinished Business with R. Kelly and Collision Course with Linkin Park may not have been solo efforts for Jay-Z, but they were the first time a Hip-Hop artist had two albums debut at #1 within the same year. Now rewind to 1998. This was the year of DMX. By releasing It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot in May and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood in December, DMX became the first hip-hop artist to have two solo albums debut at #1 in the same year.
Last year, a few artists released multiple projects within the same year. Rick Ross was the biggest name to do so with one #1 album and one #6 album. Regardless other artists like Gucci Mane, YG, and Future have steadily increased their outputs as well, with some of them having more than one charting album last year. Based on the increasing frequency of projects from today’s artists, I think that atleast 1 artist this year will have two solo albums debut at #1.
In essence, that is the 2015 DMX Challenge. The shoo-in for 2015 is probably Drake. With one album nearing platinum status, Drake has another album slated for 2015. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late may have been called a mixtape, but it was sold and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Drake’s popularity this year hasn’t waned, so he is the most popular contestant. Another person who could capitalize in this challenge is Future. Although his albums don’t sell a lot, he is growing more and more popular by the day. Releasing Dirty Sprite earlier this month, he controlled the charts, and fans are already asking for another project from the Atlanta MC. However, Future will probably just go back to mixtapes for a while, so that will probably be his deciding factor. Other than that, big-ish names like Big Sean and Meek Mill could possibly go for the challenge because they both have number 1 albums under their belt in 2015, but they aren’t really being demanded at this point in the year.
In the end timing, popularity, and quality are what will determine who can actually pull it off. I’m rooting for Drake. Who do you think will conquer the 2015 DMX Challenge?