JAY-Z's '4:44' Tops Billboard 200
JAY-Z makes history with his latest album 4:44, which becomes his 14th No. 1 on the Billboard 200. This gives him the most chart-topping LPs of all time among solo artists and second-most No. 1s overall, only trailing The Beatles (19).
In its first week of eligibility on the chart, 4:44 sold 262,000 equivalent album units (174,000 traditional), the fourth largest week for any 2017 album. Prior to being available on iTunes and CD, the album was a TIDAL exclusive (starting June 30), but the streaming service didn’t provide its data to Nielsen Music, making it ineligible for the chart before this week.
All of JAY’s solo albums have soared to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 since his first chart-topper, 1998’s Vol.2… Hard Knock Life. He’s earned 14 top spots thanks to joint projects with R. Kelly (Unfinished Business), Linkin Park (Collision Course), and Kanye West (Watch the Throne).
‘4:44’ – @S_C_’s 14th #1 debut on @Billboard 200 Chart. He continues to have the most #1 albums of all solo artists. https://t.co/zrWz0UN8tF pic.twitter.com/3RRXdaJmwJ
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) July 16, 2017
21 Savage’s debut Issa Album opens at No. 2 with 77,000 equivalent album units (22,000 traditional). This marks 21’s first top 10 entry and his second since last year’s Metro Boomin-produced Savage Mode, which peaked at No. 23.
Number 2 album in the country thank the fans ❤️ 4L
— Saint Laurent Don (@21savage) July 16, 2017
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. holds at No. 3 with 54,000 units, while DJ Khaled’s Grateful dips 1-4 with 50,000. It’s the first time hip-hop has dominated the top 4 slots in more than two years, according to Billboard.
Elsewhere, Ed Sheeran’s ÷ remains at No. 5 (36,000), Calvin Harris’ Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 appears at No. 8 (30,000), and Drake’s More Life slips 9-10 (29,000).
Billboard 200 Top 10
1. JAY-Z – 4:44 – 262,000
2. 21 Savage – Issa Album – 77,000
3. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. – 54,000
4. DJ Khaled – Grateful – 50,000
5. Ed Sheeran – ÷ – 36,000
6. Imagine Dragons – Evolve – 35,000
7. Him – Something to Tell You – 32,000
8. Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 – 30,000
9. Various – Moana Soundtrack – 29,000
10. Drake – More Life – 29,000