Eminem’s Career-Making Album Surges 2,220% In Sales — But Why?

By the time Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP back in 2000, he’d already made a name for himself as not just a hitmaker, but one of the most interesting and controversial voices in rap music. His sophomore major-label full-length helped show that he was not a flash in the pan or a gimmick, but rather, a figure who would be around for years to come. The rapper recently released a twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the project on vinyl, as it had been out of print on that format for years. Following the move, the set bounces back onto multiple Billboard charts with a massive increase in sales.

The Marshall Mathers LP’s Massive Sales Increase

According to Luminate, in the tracking week reflected on this week’s Billboard charts, The Marshall Mathers LP sold just under 5,500 copies. Many of those were on vinyl, thanks to the anniversary reissue, and digital downloads, CDs, and cassettes were also factored into that sum. The frame before it was pressed on vinyl again, the title didn’t even get to 250 sales. From one frame to the next, the generation-defining hip-hop album saw its purchases skyrocket by 2,220%.

The Marshall Mathers LP Debuts on Vinyl Albums Chart

For the first time, The Marshall Mathers LP appears on the Vinyl Albums chart. The set debuts at No. 7 and earns Eminem his sixth career entry — as well as his sixth top 10 — on the roster. Clearly, there was pent-up demand for a vinyl version of the decades-old set, as it was able to compete with exciting new releases by some of today’s stars, launching inside the highest tier alongside brand new sets from names like Olivia Dean, Mariah Carey and Doja Cat, whose just-shared effort Vie kicks off its time at No. 1.

Has Eminem Ever Charted a Vinyl No. 1?

Somewhat surprisingly, Eminem has never made it to No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart. That makes it one of the few Billboard rankings focused on albums that he has yet to conquer. He came closest to doing so this past November when The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) debuted and stalled in the runner-up spot. Music to Be Murdered By and The Marshall Mathers LP 2 — a sequel to the original that launches this frame — both climbed to No. 4. Two other titles, Fortnite Radio and Curtain Call 2 (20 Track Version), sit below where The Marshall Mathers LP launches this frame, as they both spent just one frame at No. 8.

Where Does Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP Appear on the Charts?

As it debuts on the vinyl roster, The Marshall Mathers LP reappears on three Billboard charts. It breaks back in highest on the Top Album Sales roster, coming in at No. 23. The bestseller also manages to find its way into the top 40 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list — but only barely — as it sneaks in at No. 39.

On the Billboard 200, the all-encompassing ranking of the most consumed albums and EPs in the nation, The Marshall Mathers LP is back at No. 129. In the past, Eminem’s set has reached No. 1 on all three tallies.

How Long Has Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP Spent on the Billboard 200?

Among those three rankings where The Marshall Mathers LP returns, it has spent the least amount of time on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ranking, as it’s now up to 67 frames. The full-length has already passed 170 turns on both the Billboard 200 and Top Album Sales charts, as it’s racked up multiple years as a strong performer.

Eminem’s Landmark Album Turns 25

Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP in mid-2000, just a year after The Slim Shady LP turned him into a household name. The set was anchored by huge singles like “The Real Slim Shady,” “The Way I Am,” and “Stan,” all of which are still regarded as defining tunes in his discography.

The full-length gave the rapper his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified diamond, as it has shifted 11 million equivalent units in the U.S. The twenty-fifth anniversary vinyl edition includes the original album’s complete tracklist, as well as two live performances that were recorded at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.