Chart-Topping Success
Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album, GNX, just hit Number One on the Billboard 200, marking his fifth time topping the chart.
With 319,000 units sold in the U.S., most of which came from over 379 million streams, this album had an impressive debut. It ranks as the third-biggest streaming week for an R&B/hip-hop album in 2024, only behind two weeks of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department. Notably, Lamar dropped the album without any announcement around noon on November 22.
Fans love surprises like this because they make things exciting and unpredictable.
Wicked’s Record-Breaking Debut
The Wicked soundtrack, featuring songs from the movie starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, made history by debuting at Number Two with 139,000 units, becoming the top-grossing big-screen musical adaptation ever. At the same time, Sabrina Carpenter’s album moved up to third place from fifth, selling 69,000 units.
Lamar’s previous chart successes include albums like Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, DAMN., Untitled Unmastered, and To Pimp a Butterfly. He also scored Number Ones on the Billboard Hot 100 with songs “Not Like Us” and “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin.
Upcoming Performance
Lamar is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans on February 9, his second time performing at the event after joining Dr. Dre’s hip-hop showcase in 2022.
