Watch the Throne already rocketed to the top of iTunes charts worldwide when it was released at midnight on Sunday, and now the historic collaboration LP is on track to conquer the Billboard charts as well.
According to Billboard, the Jay-Z and Kanye West release is now expected to sell over 500,000 copies in its first week on the charts, a figure that surpasses initial estimates of between 400 and 500k. That figure would not only give the hip hop megastars a comfortable number-one debut, but would also mark the second biggest opening week of the year after Lady Gaga's 1.1 million selling Born This Way.
Watch the Throne has been sold exclusively through iTunes since its release, and will hit Best Buy on Friday. Other retail outlets will follow. In protest to the duo's staggered release strategy, which was designed to prevent leaks and maximize sales revenue, dozens of independent retailers penned an open letter to the rappers decrying the decision to cut smaller retailers out of the picture.
A number one debut would make Jay-Z's 12th and a fifth for Kanye.

(Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)