Like it or not, Eminem is laughing all the way to the bank.
The scurrilous rapper’s latest album, “The Marshall Mathers LP,” has sold 1.7 million copies since its debut last week, according to sales data released today.
The staggering sales figure helped Eminem break a couple of records: (1) “Marshall Mathers” has sold more units than any other rap album in its opening week; and, (2) “Marshall Mathers” has become the second fastest-selling album of all-time, a record held previously (and very, very briefly) by 18-year-old Britney Spear’s “Oops! … I Did It Again,” which sold 1.3 million units last week. (Boyband ‘N Sync is the all-timer with 2.4 million first-week copies sold of its 2000 album, “No Strings Attached.”)
Sorry to report, “The Marshall Mathers LP” has also knocked Spears’ “Oops!” from the No. 1 spot on the pop-album charts to be released later today.
Controversial even before its release, “The Marshal Mathers LP” is hitherto best known for ticking off various entertainment people with “The Real Slim Shady,” a track which contains a suggestive scenario involving pop idol Christina Aguilera, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and MTV VJ Carlson Daly.
