U.S. Album Chart: Future’s ‘DS2′ Debuts at No. 1
Rapper Future has scored his first No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with “DS2.” The third studio album from the rapper moved 151,000 units in the week ending July 23, according to data from Nielsen music.
“DS2” is another example of the growing trend for rappers to drop albums with very little notice. Future joins the ranks of Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Meek Mill, who all debuted albums in the top spot this year without traditional album-cycle hype.
Tame Impala also released a new album in the time frame, doing about one third of Future’s numbers for a fourth-place debut. “Currents,” the alt-rock band’s third studio effort, moved just shy of 50,000 units. Success was driven by frequent alternative radio station attention to lead single “Elephant.” This marks the band’s first appearance in the top 10.
Behind Tame Impala is a pair of high-charting new releases from country stars. “Angels and Alcohol,” a new collection from country stalwart Alan Jackson, bowed at No. 5 with 48,000 units moved. Close behind was Jason Isbell, whose “Something More Than Free” entered the chart at No. 6 with 47,000 units moved.
Taylor Swift once again led the holdovers, still steady in second place. Swift’s “1989” moved 50,000 units, down just 9% in its 38th week on the chart. The pop princess made even more headlines than usual after a Twitter scuffle with Nicki Minaj about how race, body type and gender politics might have affected MTV’s VMA nominations. (Swift’s “Bad Blood” earned a nod for Video of the Year while Minaj’s “Anaconda” did not.)
Tyrese’s “Black Rose” finished after Taylor in third place. The R&B set from the actor-musician moved 50,000 units, down 35% from its No. 1 debut.
Rapper Meek Mill scored a seventh-place finish for “Dreams Worth More Than Money,” which had debuted at No. 1 two weeks prior. Mill’s latest moved 39,000 units, down 26% from the week before. Like Swift, Mill participated in a much-discussed Twitter argument in the last week, accusing Drake of using a ghostwriter (which many perceive to be a cardinal sin in a genre that touts authenticity).
Ed Sheeran’s indefatigable “X” dropped to eighth place, down 4% with 33,000 units moved. The British guitarist was the focus of two recent television announcements: Sheeran will star in a televised concert special for NBC in August, and he has also joined the cast of FX’s “Bastard Executioner.”
In ninth place is Sam Hunt, whose country-leaning “Montevallo” moved 30,000 units. Bringing up the caboose are the Kidz Bop Kids, whose “Kidz Bop 29” was down 35% with 25,000 units moved.
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