Future Makes History with Back-to-Back No. 1 Debuts
Future makes history. Last week, the Atlanta rapper’s self-titled album led the Billboard 200 and this week, his new LP HNDRXX arrives at the top, making him the first artist ever to notch back-to-back No. 1 debuts in consecutive weeks.
HNDRXX helps Future earn this honor with 121,000 equivalent album units (48,000 traditional). Meanwhile, his self-titled album drops 1-2, selling 64,000 units.
The last artist to have the No. 1 and No. 2 albums simultaneously was Prince. Shortly after his death last year, he topped the chart with The Very Best of Prince and Purple Rain, which arrived at No. 2. Prior to that, Nelly had No. 1 and No. 2 debuts at the same time with Suit and Sweat back in 2004.
There’s even more history being made. Future is the first solo act to replace himself at No. 1. Before him, Simon & Garfunkel did it as a duo twice in 1968 with Bookends and the soundtrack to The Graduate.
HNDRXX marks Future’s fifth No. 1 overall and second this year. Taking to Twitter, the Freebandz boss announced the news and thanked fans by saying he’s proud of them for the achievement.
Back to Back No.1
— FUTURE/FREEBANDZ (@1future) March 5, 2017
So fucking proud of u
— FUTURE/FREEBANDZ (@1future) March 5, 2017
Right behind Future is Bruno Mars with 24K Magic, which slips 2-3 with 58,000 units sold. Elsewhere, Justin Timberlake’s Oscars performance of “Can’t Stop the Feeling” helps the Trolls soundtrack jump to No. 5, Migos falls 5-6 with Culture, The Weeknd dips 4-7 with Starboy, and Big Sean drops 6-9 with I Decided.
Billboard 200 Top 10
1. Future – HNDRXX – 121,000
2. Future – Future – 64,000
3. Bruno Mars – 24K Magic – 58,000
4. Little Big Town – The Breaker – 51,000
5. Various – Trolls Soundtrack – 50,000
6. Migos – Culture – 47,000
7. The Weeknd – Starboy – 46,000
8. Various – Moana Soundtrack – 39,000
9. Big Sean – I Decided. – 39,000
10. Aaron Watson – Vaquero – 39,000