Justin Bieber, Wale Reign Atop Albums Chart
Justin Bieber and Wale have reason to celebrate. The pop star and rapper claim the top spots on the albums chart this week.
The 17-year-old singing sensation got an early Christmas present as his holiday album Under the Mistletoe debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 210,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It marks the first Christmas collection by a male artist to open at No. 1 in the chart’s 55-year history and is also the third-best sales week of Bieber’s career.
After the disappointing sales of his debut, Wale makes a triumphant return at No. 2 with his sophomore effort Ambition. The D.C. rapper, who is now signed to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, earns his highest-charting album yet with first-week sales of 164,000. His 2009 Interscope release, Attention Deficit, fell off the chart in two weeks after debuting with 28,000.
A grateful Wale took to Twitter to thank his fans. “I love my fans .. I’m so grateful.. Thank you Thank you… I’m speechless hip hop for life,” he tweeted.
Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, R&B fans accepted Tyrese’s Open Invitation. The singer’s fifth album, released independently via his label Voltron Recordz, takes the No. 9 spot with 76,000.