first week sales

Travis Scott’s “Utopia” First-Week Sales Projections Updated To Over 485K

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Travis Scott finally unveiled his highly-anticipated fourth studio album, UTOPIA, last month. He dropped it on July 28 after years of perpetually teasing the new project. The LP boasts several high profile features, including Drake, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Westside Gunn, and more. It even features a surprise-appearance from Beyonce.

UTOPIA was previously projected to sell between 245-275K album equivalent units from streaming, and around 200K from physical sales. That adds up to somewhere around 450K in first-week sales. The estimates have recently been updated, however, and it’s looking like UTOPIA could be surpassing expectations by quite a bit. The album is now expected to sell around 485K album equivalent units in it’s first week. It’s also projected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The news isn’t terribly shocking considering the fact that on it’s first day alone, it got more than 128 million streams on Spotify.

Read More: Travis Scott Reveals His Thoughts On “Astroworld’s” Massive Success

Travis Scott’s UTOPIA Expected To Debut At No. 1 On Billboard 200

UTOPIA‘s release was accompanied by a new film from Travis Scott called Circus Maximus, as well as a zine. The zine features some interesting imagery to go along with the album, giving fans a more immersive experience. It’s clear that the rapper is pulling out all the stops for his latest project. He was even scheduled to perform at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt the day of the album’s release, however, the show was ultimately canceled.

Luckily for fans, he did promise that the infamous Pyramids show will happen eventually, once all of his ducks are in a row. “Egypt at the pyramids will happen But due to demand and detail logistics They just need a bit a time to set lay on lands,” he told followers on Twitter/X. Fans can now catch Travis Scott in Rome, Italy tomorrow (August 7), where he’s scheduled to perform in the city’s historical venue Circus Maximus.

Read More: Travis Scott & Live Nation Settle Lawsuit With Third Family Over Astroworld Festival Tragedy: Report

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Lil Uzi Vert’s “Pink Tape” First-Week Sales Suggest It’ll Be First No. 1 Rap Album Of 2023

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We’ve spent a little over a week with Pink Tape by Lil Uzi Vert, and it made a massive impact when it landed after a lot of anticipation. Whether for its variety, its fan favorites, or its most experimental moments, it seems like everyone has something to say about it. Not only that, but for the first time in 2023 for a rap album, it looks like enough people tuned in to take it to the top commercially. Moreover, HITS Daily Double reported that Pink Tape garnered 165K equivalent album unit sales in its first week. In addition, this marks the first time a hip-hop project in 2023 is expected to go No. 1, as it beat out Morgan Wallen’s dominant 36-track behemoth One Thing At A Time for the top spot, with that album selling 111K this week.

Furthermore, other Top 10 debuts this week include K-pop group MY WORLD – The 3rd Mini Album at No. 9 and Rylo Rodriguez’s Been One at No. 10. Another debut didn’t make the Top 10, but still did great numbers, and that’s Puerto Rican reggaetón (and more) producer Tainy with his star-studded album DATA at No. 16. Other hip-hop chart mainstays this week are Young Thug’s BUSINESS IS BUSINESS at No. 13, Gunna’s a Gift & a Curse at No. 8, Lil Durk’s Almost Healed at No. 15, and Metro Boomin’s Spider-Verse soundtrack at No. 19. Of course, SZA’s SOS still got a lot of sales this week, as well, with it placing at No. 7.

Read More: Travis Scott & Lil Uzi Vert Perform “Aye” For 1st Time Together In Ireland

Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape‘s First-Week Sales

Given how many great hip-hop albums are included, to make a huge fuss over Pink Tape being the first to go No. 1 would be a disservice to the quality releases this year. Sure, maybe the output hasn’t been as great as last year at this point, but it’s also just been harder to break through. Regardless, Lil Uzi Vert had previously said that if their album goes No. 1, they’ll drop “[the] album [we’re] really looking for.” As such, no matter how you slice it, this is great news.

Meanwhile, many fans expect this to be Luv Is Rage 3, as teased on their social media bio. With 26 tracks and a whole lot of styles, at least Pink Tape will surely contain highlights for many fans to enjoy throughout the whole year. As such, with one hyped rollout ending, another takes it place swiftly, and fans are very excited for more. On that note, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Lil Uzi Vert.

Read More: Lil Uzi Vert Tour 2023: Dates, Tickets & More

The post Lil Uzi Vert’s “Pink Tape” First-Week Sales Suggest It’ll Be First No. 1 Rap Album Of 2023 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Jack Harlow’s “Jackman” First-Week Sales Numbers Are In

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After a riveting weekend of new music, Monday (April 8), has brought with it the first-week sales numbers for some major recent releases. Among them is Jack Harlow’s surprise Jackman effort, which found him delivering bars on bars across 10 featureless titles at the end of April. While many were happy to hear the Kentucky native return to his rapper roots, the project has failed to achieve the same support that his sophomore release Come Home The Kids Miss You, amassed in 2022.

That album, which features Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, Drake, and more, landed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 after earning 113K album-equivalent units (including 8K pure sales) during its first week out. Jackman, on the other hand, earned Harlow a spot at No. 13, with just over 34K in streaming sales and 2K in pure for a total of 36K. This puts the 25-year-old behind artists like Trippie Redd and Kali Uchis, with their Mansion Musik and Red Moon In Venus efforts respectively.

Jack Harlow’s Jackman First-Week Sales Dip from Sophomore Album

Jack Harlow attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Regardless of what the numbers have to say, Harlow seems proud of his latest work – even if it has earned him some backlash online. More specifically, the second track, “They Don’t Love It,” finds the White Men Can’t Jump star rhyming about being “the hardest white boy” since Eminem. Not only did hip-hop heads on Twitter have plenty to say about this, but some other noteworthy Caucasian lyricists chimed in on the conversation as well.

On Saturday (May 6), Machine Gun Kelly leaned back into his rap skills, sharing a new cypher in which he dissed the “Nail Tech” hitmaker with absolutely no shame. Not only did he urge the young star to return Drake’s flow back to him, but he also included a double entendre about underwater sea creatures. Tap into Jack Harlow’s Jackman album on Spotify below if you haven’t already. Afterward, tell us if you’re surprised by his latest work’s first-week sales numbers in the comments, and tap back in later for more hip-hop news updates.

Revisit the New Album

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Chlöe’s “In Pieces” First-Week Sales Come In At 10K, Social Media Reacts

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It’s no secret that internet trolls love to throw shade at artists based on their first-week sales numbers – particularly women in the industry. In the past, names like Saweetie and Doja Cat have been clowned for selling less than 10K or failing to chart. Now, it’s Chlöe who’s feeling the heat. After teasing her fans for over a year, the R&B darling finally unveiled her In Pieces album back in March. It boasts impressive solo efforts, as well as features from the likes of Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, and Future.

The Atlanta-born artist poured plenty of hard work and dedication into the 14-track effort. Ultimately, however, she seems to have missed the mark with most of her audience. After an impressive rollout, Chlöe’s In Pieces moved just 10K units in its first week out, charting at #119 on the weekly Billboard 200 update. In comparison, she and little sister Halle Bailey sold 24K units with their joint project, Ungodly Hour, which charted much higher at #16.

Chlöe’s First Solo Album Debuts at #119

@chartdata shared the numbers via Twitter early on Monday (April 10) morning. Since then, users have had plenty to say about In Pieces. “Who cares where it charted? It was an amazing project,” one person insisted. In response, someone else chimed in, “It seemed rushed, I didn’t like it.” Elsewhere, some blamed Beyoncé’s lack of support as a reason for Chlöe’s flop, while others accused her fans of not showing out for her in the way that they should. “If her fanbase wouldn’t compare her to artists 30x bigger than her and actually bought her music this wouldn’t have happened,” they wrote alongside a GIF of an exasperated Bad Bunny pouring himself a drink.

Further down in the replies, another fan reminded us that Doja Cat’s Hot Pink project sold just 7.9K units following its debut, ultimately landing at #93 on Billboard‘s ranking. Even with such low initial numbers, the Planet Her hitmaker has still gone on to have a successful career, in the same way that the “Surprise” songstress is bound to as well. Keep scrolling to read more Twitter reactions to Chlöe’s first-week sales. Afterward, tell us your thoughts on her In Pieces album in the comments.

Social Media Reacts

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NBA YoungBoy’s “I Rest My Case” Sells 30K Copies In First Week

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One of hip-hop’s most prolific artists continues to rake in numbers with each new release. NBA YoungBoy’s latest album, I Rest My Case, sold 30,000 copies in its first week according to HITS Daily Double. While some fans thought it was too derivative to be considered great, there’s no denying it made a splash. In other sales news, Coke Boys 6 by French Montana and DJ Drama sold 21,000 units. Meanwhile, Real Boston Richey’s Public Housing, Pt. 2 sold 15,000 copies.

ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 29: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Rapper NBA YoungBoy performs onstage during Lil Baby & Friends concert to promote the new release of Lil Baby’s new album “Street Gossip” at Coca-Cola Roxy on November 29, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

These albums joined the charts amid some of last year’s most enduring hot releases. SZA’s SOS still sits comfortably at the top, with smash hits like Midnights by Taylor Swift and Heroes & Villains by Metro Boomin close by. I Rest My Case cracked the top 10 at No. 9, falling between Lil Baby’s It’s Only Me at 8 and Harry Styles’ Harry’s House at 10.

Moreover, these numbers are relatively consistent with YB’s project output and the sales he makes from them. His previous mixtape Ma’ I Got A Family garnered 39,000 sales in its first week. While I Rest My Case netted three quarters of that, it also dropped during the holiday season with not as much promotion or hype behind it. However, it represents YB’s lowest sales since his career got off the ground. Through songs like “Black,” however, the Louisiana rapper definitely switched things up on this album with some new experiments in rage. So, even if it isn’t YoungBoy’s peak, he’s always pushing something forward with each project.

Also, it seems the 23-year-old took even more steps to change. Recently, he hopped on a FaceTime call with Kodak Black, seemingly squashing their beef. In addition, he reportedly got a marriage license with Jazlyn Mychelle, with whom he shares two children. As one of the most enigmatic, divisive, but undeniably influential rappers working today, seeing his career evolve is more gratifying than ten million copies.

What do you think of these first-week numbers from NBA YoungBoy, French Montana, and Real Boston Richey? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, check back in with HNHH for the latest releases, discussions, and numbers in hip-hop.

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SZA Earns First #1 Album With “S.O.S”

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SZA tops the chart for the first time in her career following the release of her highly-anticipated second studio album.

Hits Daily Double reports SZA’s latest studio album, S.O.S., soared to #1 on the Billboard 200 this week with 315K units. Not only does this mark her first #1 album of her career, but she’s also debuted with the largest R&B streaming week in history. Needless to say, SZA didn’t fall for the sophomore slump and delivered a body of work that might end up having the same staying power as Ctrl.

SZA’s joined by great company in the top 5 of the Billboard 200 this week. Taylor Swift continues to have a hold on the charts with Midnights, which holds the #2 spot with 137K. Right underneath at #3 is Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains, then Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss at #4. Rounding out the top 5 is Michael Bublé’s Christmas.

Following the success of S.O.S., SZA plans on hitting the road in support of the album. Last week, she announced her upcoming arena tour across North America with Omar Apollo as her supporting act. The tour kicks off on Feb. 21st in Columbus, OH. From there, SZA will stop off in Chicago, Atlanta, New York and other major cities, like Los Angeles, where she’ll close out the tour on March 22nd.

ACCRA, GHANA – SEPTEMBER 24: Sza performs on stage during Global Citizen Festival 2022: Accra on September 24, 2022 in Accra, Ghana. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Unfortunately, it seems like S.O.S. could be SZA’s final outing for a while. Though it took five years for her follow-up to Ctrl to drop, she recently hinted that she might “disappear” soon.

“I’m gonna disappear, definitely, for as long as I can,” she explained of her plans following the album’s release. “I need to shoot as many videos as I can, so I can disappear for longer.”

We’ll keep you posted on any more updates regarding SZA’s upcoming plans. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on S.O.S. in the comments.

Metro Boomin’s “Heroes & Villains” First Week Sales Are In

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Metro Boomin came through clutch this year, ending the year on a high note with the release of Heroes & Villains. The St. Louis producer kept most of the project under wraps until its release. He didn’t drop a single, just a few social media posts and a short film to kick off the campaign.

Nonetheless, Metro proved that the wait was evidently worth it. Throughout the past week, first-week sales projections for Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains increased. Industry forecasters initially projected that Heroes & Villains would move upwards of 150K in its first week. Then, those numbers increased by nearly 30K.

rtNEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 30: Metro Boomin speaks onstage during “Metro Boom” New York Screening & Listening Event on November 30, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Billboard confirmed Metro Boomin sold 185K in his first week, topping the charts with Heroes & Villains. The producer earned his third chart-topper with his latest project, which includes star-studded appearances. John Legend, The Weeknd, Future, Chris Brown, A$AP Rocky, Young Thug, Gunna, and more appear across the 15-song tracklist.

Following the release of Heroes & Villains, Metro followed it up just days later with the Heroes Version. The re-release included the original 15 songs and the instrumental version.

Prior to this, Metro hit the top of the Billboard 200 with 2020’s Savage Mode II alongside 21 Savage. His first #1 album was his debut album, NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES.

The road to the release of Heroes & Villains didn’t come without delay. Though Metro Boomin hinted at the project’s release for a minute, he announced in late October that he wouldn’t drop on November 4th, as initially planned. Due to the number of samples used, he explained that he faced trouble clearing certain songs.

In related news, A$AP Rocky recently said that he worked closely with Metro Boomin on his next studio album, Don’t Be Dumb. During a recent interview with GQ, the Harlem rapper explained that he and Metro locked in a few records together that will likely end up on his project.

“I’m gonna put it to you like this: This next album needs to be just called Flacko Boomin, you hear me?” he said. “Most artists wanna make [collabs just because they’re hot]. For us, it’s like, that’s really my n***a.”

DaBaby Believes He’s Been Blackballed Amid Low Sales

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DaBaby has gone through quite a few controversies over the last year. From his homophobic rant at Rolling Loud to his recent callout of Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby does not shy away from the headlines.

Unfortunately, DaBaby seems to be attracting even more attention for the wrong reasons. Following the release of his latest project Baby On Baby 2, the sales projections have been incredibly low. For instance, it is being reported that he will only sell 16,000 units in the first week. This is especially wild when you consider how just a couple of years ago, DaBaby was someone who could sell between 90k-100k in the first week, alone.

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

DaBaby has responded to these reports, and as you can see in his Instagram story below, he is simply chalking this up to being blackballed by the industry.

“Not bad for da BlackBalled Baby,” he wrote. This response is in line with DJ Akademiks’ recent analysis of the situation. Ak believes DaBaby is being blackballed by Ebro and Apple Music, which is leading to the poor sales.

Image via DaBaby

Ebro indirectly replied to Akademiks, noting that if it was, indeed, his own fault, then DaBaby should be performing well on platforms like Spotify, which is not the case.

“Apple Music is not the only platform. Based on this dummy’s logic, Da Baby should be doing well on the platform HE works for. Is it?” Ebro wrote.

Regardless of the reason for DaBaby’s poor sales, it is clear that he will need to rethink his strategy moving forward.

Stay tuned to HNHH for more updates from around the music world.