S. Samuel
Maybach Music Group rapper Wale's The Gifted dominated its competition this week debuting atop the sales chart at number one.
After seven days on stores shelves, the LP sold nearly 160,000 copies.
Wale scores his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week with The Gifted. The third album from the D.C. rapper sold 158,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It marks Wale’s second top 10 album following 2011?s Ambition. Last week’s No. 1, Kanye West‘s Yeezus, drops to No. 3 with an 80% decline in sales. After selling 327,000 copies in its first week, the album only sold 65,000 in its second week. J. Cole‘s sophomore set Born Sinner remains at No. 2 in its second week, selling 84,000 (down 72%). Meanwhile, India.Arie returns to the charts at No. 7 with SongVersation (31,000), her fifth top 10 album on the Billboard 200. (Rap-Up)
Last weeekend estimates had Ralph Folarin’s new LP expected to chart atop the competition.
YOUR MID-WEEKS: Wale will debut at #1 next week, as Rap holds the top three spots for a second week. Here’s how it looks headed into the weekend: *Wale (Atlantic) 140-150k J. Cole (Roc Nation/Columbia) 90-95k Kanye West (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/IDJ) 70-75k *Skillet (Atlantic) 50-55k Daft Punk (Columbia) 30-35k Florida Georgia Line (Republic Nashville) 27-30k Black Sabbath (Republic) 27-30k *August Burns Red (Solidstate) 24-27k Kelly Rowland (Motown) 24-27k Mac Miller (Rostrum) 23-26k (YOUR Mid-Weeks)
Initial estimates based on one-day estimates had the Washington, D.C. native’s new LP expected to sell up to 160,000 copies.
YOUR ONE-DAYS: Rap will remain at the top next week, as Wale is expected to reach #1. Here are this week’s key debuts: Wale (Atlantic) 140-160k Skillet (Atlantic) 50-55k India.Arie (Def Jam/IDJ) 24-27k August Burns Red (Solidstate) 21-24k Amon Amarth (Metal Blade) 14-17k (HITS Daily Double)
The new LP has received support from Wale’s fellow hip-hop star pals like Drake.
“Just bought @Wale album for the drive home.,” Drake tweeted June 26th. (Drake’s Twitter)
