How Come J Cole Does Higher First Week Numbers Than Kendrick Lamar With Less Buzz?

I have been wondering this all morning; how come Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly is going to sell less than J Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive album, but Cole has less popularity when compared to Kendrick. Everywhere you go, off and online in any hip hop community, there is always a discussion about Kendrick Lamar. Some even call him the best rapper ever. I would expect someone of that status to sell more than J Cole in his first week of release.






Forest Hills Drive sold about 400k copies in its first week, and Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly (which was released a few days ago) has been projected to sell around 300-325k copies first week. How come? How does Cole do it? He most really have some dedicated fans who walk their talk.


If you compare their previous albums, you will come to the same conclusion. J Cole's Born Sinner (2013) sold about 290k copies first week, and Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, Maad City (2012) album sold 240k copies.