Eminem may already be penciled in history books for being the best-selling rapper of all time, but the early commercial response to his 12th studio album – the July 12-released ‘Death of Slim Shady‘ – suggests he’s well on his way to extending that record.

Eminem’s ‘Death of Slim Shady’ 

First-Week Sales (Predicted):  270,000 – 290,000 units

Billboard 200 Debut (Predicted):  #1

On the wings of his controversial singles ‘Tobey‘ and ‘Houdini‘ (which marked his highest Hot 100-charting hit in a decade), Em delivered ‘Death’ to critical acclaim – fanfare that industry analysts are predicting will be mirrored commercially thanks to gargantuan sales and streams.

Forecasted to move nearly 300,000 units by the end of its first sales tracking week, the 20-track project – which features collaborations with the likes of Dr. Dre, Big Sean, Cole Bennett, Bizarre, JID, Skylar Grey, Jelly Roll, BabyTron, and more – is a shoo-in for the Billboard 200’s crown position next week should the prediction ring true.

The numbers are not only enough to end the historic chart reign of Taylor Swift‘s latest blockbuster ‘Tortured Poets Department,’ but also enough to tally the biggest opening figures of any album released by a rapper or male performer overall this year.

In fact, the only 2024 releases to best the debut week of ‘Death’ are Swift’s ‘Tortured’ (2.6 million) and Beyonce‘s ‘Cowboy Carter.’

As if the aforementioned isn’t enough to boast, the #1 arrival of ‘Death’ will make Em only the third rapper in history to have 10 or more consecutive #1 hits on the Billboard 200 chart.

At writing, only JAY-Z (11) and Kanye West (11) have more. Taylor (14) holds the overall record when her re-releases are included in the count.

Keep it locked to That Grape Juice to find out just how many units the project moved when the final figure is revealed on Sunday (June 21).

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