News of November 13, 1996
664,000 in One Week: "The Don Killuminati" Debuts at No. 1
Only Metallica had a stronger start in 1996: Tupac's posthumous album ousted the Beatles from the top in November, his third No. 1 in 20 months.
On November 13, 1996, it was official: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory had debuted at No. 1 on the US album charts. According to SoundScan, roughly 664,000 copies crossed retail counters in the first week. Only Metallica had started better in 1996 with Load, 16,000 copies more. The album pushed the Beatles’ Anthology 3 to No. 5.
Three Top Spots in 20 Months
It was Tupac’s third debut at No. 1 within 20 months. Me Against the World had started in March 1995 with 211,000 copies, All Eyez on Me in February 1996 with 566,000. Together, the two predecessors reached an estimated 4.7 million albums sold.
A Death Row spokesperson called the label “ecstatic”. Two weeks later, the Interscope group occupied the top four spots on the charts with Bush, Snoop Doggy Dogg, No Doubt and Tupac, something a single company accomplished for the first time in 20 years.