Its Official, Yeezus is No. 1

25 Jun, 2013

It’s official: Kanye West’s new album “Yeezus” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 327,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It’s the biggest week for a rap album since Drake’s “Take Care” arrived with 631,000 at No. 1 in November of 2011.

The latest sales week ended at the close of business on Sunday, June 23.

“Yeezus” marks West’s sixth No. 1 album and sixth straight chart-topper. Only his debut album, “The College Dropout,” missed the top slot. It bowed and peaked at No. 2. His tally of six leaders includes his 2011 collaborative album with Jay-Z, “Watch the Throne.”

West’s sixth No. 1 album ties him for the second-most No. 1s among rap acts in history. His sum is equal to Eminem and Nas. Only West’s “Watch the Throne” partner, Jay-Z, has more No. 1s: 12.

The full top 10 of the new Billboard 200 will be revealed on Wednesday, June 26.

With 327,000 sold, “Yeezus” also earns the third-largest sales week this year. Ahead of it are the debuts of Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience” (968,000) and Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” (339,000).

However, “Yeezus” also tallies West’s lowest sales debut yet. All of his previous efforts have bowed with a debut north of 400,000. Until now, his smallest solo start was logged by “The College Dropout,” with 441,000.

On the Friday before its release (June 14), industry sources had forecast “Yeezus” to sell perhaps 500,000 in its first week. Those projections were scaled back the day after it went on sale (June 18) to 360,000 to 380,000. By last Friday (June 21), the “Yeezus” forecast fell to 330,000 to 340,000.

Billboard

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