(CNN) — Jay-Z’s sixth studio album, “The Blueprint,” hit record stores on the fateful morning of September 11, 2001.
Despite the horrible coincidence, the New York rapper’s album — featuring the hit track “Izzo (H.O.V.A)” – sold more than 420,000 copies in the first week.
That’s an impressive feat for any musician in a time of declining sales — let alone while Americans were still reeling from the worst terror attack on U.S. soil in modern history. The album went on to sell more than 2 million copies, earning a multi-platinum certification, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, which tracks music sales.
So why did “The Blueprint” do so well amid the chaos of 9/11?
Music experts say that music sales that day and week were at least partially driven by a group of youthful consumers, who were somehow and incredulously untroubled — or at least not paralyzed — by the events of 9/11.
Did you buy Jay-Z’s Blueprint album on 9/11/01?
“I remember waking up late that morning (around 9:11 am/est) to breaking news of airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center. My college classes were canceled this day due to the terrorists attacks, so I ran up to Best Buy and bought Jay-Z’s Blueprint CD as well as Fabolous’ 1st album Ghetto Fabolous on 9/11/01. True story.” –Beezy Tarantino (director of GWOP Magazine)
*note: Fabolous Ghetto Fabolous sold $143k copies 1st week
GWOP MAGAZINE 