There’s a reason Editor-At-Large Rob Kenner has been running with VIBE for 15-plus years now: He knows his stuff. So when the rest of the VIBE staff got really ambitious last Tuesday with their predictions for the first-week sales of Rick Ross’ Deeper Than Rap (Maybach/Poe Boy/Def Jam, 2009) and Asher Roth’s Asleep in the Bread Aisle (SRC/Universal, 2009), Rob low-balled both of his. He predicted that Ross would move 200,000 units to Roth’s 88,000. In reality, Ross moved 158,000 albums in DTR’s first week and debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart, while Roth finished up at No. 5 after moving 62,000 copies of his debut album. Therefore, Rob’s guess of 288,000 copies sold between the two easily came the closest to the 220,000 albums moved between the two and gave him the victory—and the $11 we’ve kept under tight lock-and-key for the last seven days (the vending machine game over here is something serious, people!).
So, just how did Rob work his magic and earn his well-deserved Ross/Roth stimulation package (pause)? “No disrespect to Asher and the Bawse,” Kenner says, “but the game has changed. You can have the dopest album in the world, but them hackers and bootleggers are gonna get you. Now go get that show money and I’m gonna count my winnings. Next time I see y’all, the first round’s on me!”
Stay tuned for a new installment of VIBE.com’s BUCK SHOT next week when the VIBE staff goes R&B and predicts first-week sales for Ciara’s Fantasy Ride (Jive) and Chrisette Michele’s Epiphany (Def Jam). Oh, and if you’re wondering how the rest of the staff did last week (Ed. note: It ain’t pretty), check out the results below.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS (based on the combined sales of 220,000 for Deeper Than Rap and Asleep in the Bread Aisle)
#1. Editor-At-Large ROB KENNER
DTR: 200,000
AITBA: 88,000
Combined: 288,000
#2. Executive Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief/VIBE TV Reporter SHIREA L. CARROLL
DTR: 217,500
AITBA: 102,800
Combined: 320,300
#3. Articles Editor JOZEN CUMMINGS
DTR: 235,000
AITBA: 90,000
Combined: 325,000
#4. Research Chief KATIE PATTERSON
DTR: 264,962
AITBA: 80,000
Combined: 344,962
#5. Assistant Music Editor BRAD WETE
DTR: 250,000
AITBA: 100,000
Combined: 350,000
#6. Editor-in-Chief DANYEL SMITH
DTR: 261,000
AITBA: 111,000
Combined: 372,000
#7. Art Director MARK SHAW
DTR: 312,000
AITBA: 60,000
Combined: 372,000
#8. Senior Editor BENJAMIN MEADOWS-INGRAM
DTR: 238,164
AITBA: 193,000
Combined: 431,164
#9. Lifestyle Editor CHRIS YUSCAVAGE
DTR: 283,170
AITBA: 173,291
Combined: 456,461
#10. Music Editor SEAN FENNESSEY
DTR: 297,000
AITBA: 161,000
Combined: 458,000
#11. Associate Senior Editor KEITH MURPHY
DTR: 300,000
AITBA: 200,000
Combined: 500,000
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