According to Billboard, Kanye “The Fashionista” West’s album sales were in the lead based on reported sales this afternoon.

According to executives with three of the major labels, whose job duties include projecting first week scans based on early store sales reports, “Graduation” could come in at the 575,000-700,000 range, while “Curtis” is being projected in the 500,000-600,000 range.

Even more interesting is the fact that country music’s heartthrob Kenny Chesney, whose sales were expected top those of both rappers, is now predicted to sell the least by the end of the week.

…Kenny Chesney’s Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates also released today, is projected to arrive the 400,000-550,000 range, with one sales projecting guru putting the country star neck and neck with 50 Cent.

So I guess the temper tantrum ‘Ye-ye had over the VMA’s was just the publicity he needed to boost sales and temporarily mute Curtis “The Gorilla” Jackson a.k.a. Fiddy. Work Kanye! We knew any man with as fierce a collection of “man bags” as you was destined to reign supreme… though you mouth could probably use something shoved in it. Any suggestions?