4. Outkast

22 Million Albums Sold
6 albums released
Average: 2.7 million

The best Southern group ever. While Outkast we’re on a creative high for much of the 90’s and early 2000’s, they haven’t released an album since 2006’s Idlewild, which just squeaked by platinum. To put that number into perspective, Outkast’s previous album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below scanned 11 million units.

3. Jay-Z

27 Million Albums Sold
11 solo albums, 4 collabo albums, 5 compliation albums
Average: 2.5 million

Jay-Z maybe worth half a billion dollars, married to the hottest chick in the game Beyonce, recognized as one of the greatest rappers of all time, but he still doesn’t have one accolade: the top sales slot. It’s okay, because aside from likely winning the world’s greatest dad in 2016, Jay-Z will probably lock in that number two spot by then.

2. Eminem

35 Million Albums Sold
7 albums released
Average: 5 million

Eminem has had an amazing run over the last few years after almost quiting rap in 2006 after almost succumbing to a drug addiction to coming back to the forefront releasing chart topping albums in both 2010 and 2011. It is extremely likely that Eminem will surpass Tupac with his next three albums.

1. 2 Pac

38 Million Albums Sold
11 albums released
Average: 3.5 million

Having released 6 albums while alive, and 8 albums posthumous, Pac is the Elvis of Hip Hop. Considering Tupac hasn’t been alive since 1996, it is pretty remarkable and a testament to his music that in 2011 he’s still the #1 selling rapper of all time. All eyes on him.

*All numbers taken from RIAA and are only US sales.