Happy Birthday Eminem: ‘Marshall Mathers LPs’ named best-selling rap album series of all time

Eminem’s “Rap God” status in the hip-hop industry remained undisputed despite three lackluster years as his “The Marshall Mathers LP” 1 and 2 has been named as the best-selling rap album series of all time.

According to Billboard, Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP 1 and 2” have sold 13.427 million copies between 2000 and 2013, making it the best-selling hip-hop album collection so far.

Released in May 23, 2000, the original “Marshall Mathers LP” sold 11 million copies, outselling every collection on Billboard’s Top 10 best-selling album series list. The sequel, “Marshall Mathers LP 2”, meanwhile, recorded 2.4 million sales since its release in Nov. 5, 2013.

Eminem may have fallen behind his counterparts in terms of net worth, given his scarcity of album releases and gigs. But Jay Z’s “Volumes” can’t outdo Eminem’s sales record. Jay Z’s three-album “Volumes” collection, composed of “In My Lifetime Vol. 1,” “Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life” and “Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter” recorded a total combined sales of 10 million copies from 1997 to 1999.

Lil Wayne’s “The Carter,” meanwhile, trailed at the third spot after selling 9.5 million copies of his four-album “Tha Carter 1-4” series between 2004 to 2011.

Eminem new album release

Eminem has yet to release his ninth studio album. But at the end of last year, four of his eight albums remained on Billboard’s Top 200 album list. Eminem’s “Marshall Mathers LP 2” ranked 96 on Billboard Top 200 albums of 2015. Slim Shady’s 2002 album “The Eminem Show” followed at the 99th spot, Eminem’s first greatest hits compilation released December 2005, “Curtain Call: The Hits” ranked 107th and his 2010 album “Recovery” landed on the 175th spot.

Rumours have it that Eminem’s upcoming album will feature 12 new tracks and will be titled “Root.” However, the 44-year-old rapper has not confirmed or denied speculations, keeping his fans in the dark.

But due to his limited appearances and gigs, Eminem dropped out of the Forbes magazine’s list of highest-paid rappers of 2016. Nevertheless, Mathers has been named as the ninth top-earning hip-hop act of the decade after making US$151 million (AU$197 million) since 2007. (Read: Eminem drops out of Forbes' top 10 rappers of 2016, ranks 9th on hip hop's cash kings of the decade)

Eminem turned 44 Monday. His rap career started early in Detroit but his international hip-hop career started in New York City. (Read: Eminem birthday countdown: Marshall Mathers' year in review before he turns 44)