The album debuted at number one on the U.S. "Billboard" 200 chart, selling 355,880 copies in its first week. His fourth U.S. number-one album, it had sold 941,000 copies by November 2008, eventually over time it went platinum by the RIAA. Upon its release, "Hip Hop Is Dead" received generally positive reviews from most music critics. "Hip Hop Is Dead" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, ultimately losing to Kanye West's "Graduation" at the 50th Grammy Awards.