In the ever-shifting landscape of the Billboard charts, a classic showdown unfolds. Tomorrow, the Canadian power duo of Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR are set to dethrone Kendrick Lamar from his reign atop the Billboard Hot 200 with their collaboration album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. Talk about a plot twist worthy of a blockbuster film! With initial sales reports suggesting a jaw-dropping 246,000 units—though some sources whisper about 248.7K—it’s clear this release has struck a chord with listeners young and old. Just when you thought Kendrick was riding high after his explosive Super Bowl Halftime show, boom, Drake swoops in to claim the spotlight! It’s like watching your favorite sports team perform a last-minute heist; just when you think all is lost, a miracle happens. So, what does this mean for the hip-hop landscape and our music-loving hearts? Buckle up, because we’re diving into the numbers, the drama, and the fervor surrounding Drake’s ever-expanding empire as he nudges ever closer to music history. Whether you’re Team Drake or Team Lamar, this lyrical saga is a must-see, so let’s break it down!
In just one day, Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR will be replacing Kendrick Lamar on top of the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The sales numbers are in for the Canadians’ collaboration album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U and they are quite strong at 246,000 units. However, per HITS Daily Double, that number currently sits at 248.7K. Regardless of what the final figure will be, it’s enough for the OVO tandem to surpass Kendrick and GNX. The sixth studio LP from the latter saw a resurgence to the top of the chart after his viral Super Bowl Halftime Show. It would wind up selling another 247.1K units last week, with most of them being physical sales (126,000+).
Drake and PND did most of their damage on streaming platforms as HDD reports just over 27,000 in physical sales. But regardless, a spade is a spade, and fans of The Boy couldn’t be any happier for their guy and for him taking down Lamar. Of course, some of his stans are making lofty claims amidst this victory lap, with one person tweeting, “Drake will always be the goat of music.” Others are defending the quality of $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. “This Drake and PND album is waaaay better than yal wanna admit,” another user adds.
Moreover, folks are taking this moment to give Drizzy and his running mate their due props for this achievement. “Drake just stacking number ones at this point, big moment for partynextdoor too.” The former sure is as this is now his 14th chart-topping album. For the “Recognize” songwriter, it’s his first. Overall, whether you love him or hate him, this is an incredible milestone for Drake.
With him now getting to this number, it ties him with just two other artists who have achieved this similar feat. Only Jay-Z and the queen of pop, Taylor Swift, have done this. The Beatles, surprise, surprise, remain all alone in this category. They possess a staggering 19 number one records. Overall, though, while Drake didn’t win the lyrical battle with Kendrick, he’s still proving himself as one of the most commercially successful MCs in the history of hip-hop. At the end of the day, that is something you cannot take away from him.