Derek Minor has been building God’s empire through music for years.  Since releasing his project The Black Out in 2008, Minor has dropped Redemption (2010), Dying To Live (2011), Minorville (2013), and most recently Empire (2015).  In 2014, the “Dear Mr. Christian”-rapper announced that he parted ways with Grammy award-winning record label Reach Records on good terms to move forward with his imprint, Reflection Music Group.  He gained a lot of wisdom on Reach Records co-laboring alongside fellow Christian emcees like Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee, KB, and Tedashii.

On January 27, 2015, Derek Minor dropped his first post-Reach album, Empire, and some wondered how it would do on the charts not released under Lecrae’s label.

Empire made an impressive debut on the charts.

Derek Minor’s Empire landed at #2 for Billboard Christian Albums, #6 for Billboard Rap Albums, #10 for Billboard Independent Albums, #17 for Billboard Digital Albums, #37 for Billboard Top Album Sales, and #54 for Billboard 200.

Empire sits right above Rae Sremmurd’s SremmLife and right below Joey Bada$$’ B4.Da.$$ and Lupe Fiasco’s Tetsuo & Youth in the Rap Albums category.

Minor’s fourth 2013 studio album, Minorville, debuted at #1 for Billboard Gospel Albums, #2 for Billboard Christian Albums, #6 for Billboard Rap Albums, #6 for Billboard Independent Albums, #19 for Billboard Digital Albums, #40 for Billboard Top Albums Sales, and #40 for Billboard 200.

Empire features Lecrae, Social Club, Colton Dixon, and Leah Smith, among others.

Buy Empire On iTunes Buy Empire On Amazon.com

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