The rapper whose 2005 album The Documentary debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 was The Game. Released on January 18, 2005, it was his major-label debut and introduced him to a much wider audience after his independent album Untold Story.
The album opened with roughly 586,000 copies or equivalent units in its first week, giving The Game an immediate chart-topping breakthrough. It was released through Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, and Interscope, with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent serving as executive producers. The project helped reinforce the visibility of West Coast hip hop in mainstream rap during the mid-2000s.
The Documentary features guest appearances from 50 Cent, Eminem, Nate Dogg, and Faith Evans. Its best-known singles include “How We Do” and “Hate It or Love It,” the latter featuring 50 Cent. A common mix-up is confusing The Documentary with The Game’s later albums: Doctor’s Advocate also debuted at number one in 2006, while The Documentary 2 reached number two in 2015. The original album was certified double platinum by the RIAA in March 2005.