Michael Jackson's 'Xscape' Debuts at No. 2
Five years after his death, the King of Pop returns to the charts with his posthumous album Xscape.
The eight-song set sold 157,000 copies and debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Xscape, which features production from Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, and Stargate, is Jackson’s tenth top 10. His 2010 posthumous album Michael debuted at No. 3 with 228,000.
The lead single, “Love Never Felt So Good” featuring Justin Timberlake, became his 28th top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it debuted at No. 20.
The Black Keys took the top spot from the King of Pop with their album Turn Blue, which sold 164,000 copies.
The band had been vocal about competing with Jackson on the charts. “We want to have a #1 album, but Michael Jackson releases something from the grave and cockblocks us,” Patrick Carney told MTV News.
Elsewhere, the Now 50 compilation sits at No. 3 (82,000), while the soundtrack to Frozen slides 2-4 with 73,000.