Kendrick Lamar has done it again.
After five years, the Compton rapper returns to the top of the charts with Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. His long-awaited fifth studio album debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,500 equivalent album units, the largest week of the year and biggest opening since Adele’s 30 debuted with 839,000 units last year.
The 18-track album, which is divided into two parts, received 343.02 million on-demand streams and claims the largest streaming week for a R&B/hip-hop album, and the second-biggest streaming week of 2022 for any album. Album sales were comprised of 35,500.
Additionally, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers becomes Kendrick’s fourth album to reach No. 1. His last project, 2017’s DAMN., opened with 603,000 equivalent album units and spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200.
Elsewhere in the top 10, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti falls to No. 2 in its second week with 182,000 units. Future’s former No. 1 I Never Liked You is down one spot to No. 3 with 89,500 units. Jack Harlow’s Come Home the Kids Miss You slides 3-6 in its second week (55,000), while Lil Durk’s 7220 drops 7-10 (29,000).
Billboard 200 Top 10
1. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – 295,500
2. Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti – 182,000
3. Future – I Never Liked You – 89,500
4. TOMORROW X TOGETHER – Minisode 2: Thursday’s Child – 68,500
5. Morgan Wallen – Dangerous: The Double Album – 55,500
6. Jack Harlow – Come Home the Kids Miss You – 55,000
7. Florence + The Machine – Dance Fever – 54,000
8. The Black Keys – Dropout Boogie – 33,000
9. Olivia Rodrigo – Sour – 32,000
10. Lil Durk – 7220 – 29,000