Eminem’s new album set record sales

New album Relapse by Eminem was sold 608,000 copies during the first week in stores – more than any album this year. It also became rapper’s fifth album to debut at the top of the US Billboard.

Relapse has knocked down Green Day's album 21st Century Breakdown to the second position. Earlier, new disk by American rock-band set another record – it became one of only four albums in the 21st century to reach the first place after just two days on sale. The first three albums to become so successful were Metallica’s Death Magnetica in 2008 and two Eminem’s albums – Encore (2004) and greatest hits compilation Curtain Call – The Hits (2005).

Eminem himself performed a free concert in his hometown of Detroit to celebrate the release of Relapse. Tickets for the show were raffled off through various sources including a special lottery on Twitter.com.

Relapse became Eminem’s first studio album in five years – his previous record Encore hit the stores in 2004. New disk was recorded in collaboration with Eminem’s friends Dr. Dre and 50 Cent.