BB Grooves: ScHoolboy Q Settles for No. 2 on Billboard 200

2014 was a big year for West Coast rapper ScHoolboy Q. After two quiet studio albums, Q exploded on the scene with Oxymoron.  Oxymoron used “ice cold” January sales to its advantage, debuting at no. 1 and selling 139,000 copies.  The key word is sell.  Albums don’t sell anymore, at least most of them.  That’s the case with Q’s fourth album, Blank Face LP, which misses the no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.

It’s understandable why Blank Face LP settles for second fiddle. For one, it only moved 74,000 units.  Secondly, the power of Drake (Views) was too much, even in a week where Drake’s numbers are down. Besides the re-ascension of Drake and the bridesmaid status of ScHoolboy Q, there are plenty of other grooves on the Billboard 200 for the chart dated July 30, 2016.

1. Drake has no quit in him. After being dethroned by Blink-182, the “6 God” is back on top. Views spends a 10^th nonconsecutive week at no. 1.  10 out of 11 total weeks on the chart, Views was no. 1. Nine out of 10 weeks were consecutives.  Drake’s “The Man.” “…Go and tell everybody…”

2. ScHoolboy Q finds himself in a spot occupied by many who couldn’t stop Drake’s chart dominance – no. 2. Blank Face LP simply didn’t put up the same numbers as Oxymoron.

3. Folks clearly got “Bored to Death” with Blink-182 in week two. As awesome as California may be, in Blink’s hands, it slips from no. 1 to no. 3 in its sophomore week.

4. While all the talk of dominance is focused on Drake, Twenty One Pilots have been pretty doggone dominant themselves. Blurryface improves one spot from no. 5 to no. 4 in its 61^st charting week.

5. Hamilton has found a home within the top 10 of the Billboard 200. After sitting at no. 8 last week, Lin-Manuel Miranda and company ascend to no. 5.

6. Beyoncé has been sipping too much Lemonade. The album slips three spots from no. 4 to no. 7 in its 12^th charting week. “Sorry” Queen Bey!

7. Chevelle secures the no. 8 spot on the BB200 with latest LP, The North Corridor.

8. Switchfoot – the Christian rock band of “Dare You to Move” fame – earns the final debut in the top 10. Where The Light Shines Through lands at no. 10.

9. Epic AF, not so epic this week. Still Epic, but falls out of the top 10 (no. 11).

10. Maxwell is having a subpar run with his latest album as of yet. After debuting disappointingly at no. 3 last week, blackSUMMERS’night slips 16 spots to no. 19. blackSUMMERS’night doesn’t look like it’ll keep Maxwell’s platinum streak going. It’s those “Bad Habits” Maxwell – releasing an album every seven/eight years!

11. Blake Shelton might as well tell lies. If I’m Honest slips 10 spots from no. 10 to no. 20 this week. As of yet, If I’m Honest has charted for eight weeks, debuting at no. 3.

12. G-Eazy’s When It’s Dark Out improves seven spots this week (no. 29 to no. 22) in its 32^nd week.

13. Red Hot Chili Peppers have had better album runs. In its fourth week, The Getaway slides from no. 17 to no. 25. Much like ScHoolboy Q (Blank Face LP), The Getaway debuted in the runner-up spot behind Drake (Views).

14. Australian band The Avalanches return after an extended hiatus – extended might be an understatement. Wildflower starts at no. 27.

15. Flume continues to hang around the 30s on the BB200. This week, Skin improves three spots from no. 37 to no. 34. Skin has charted seven weeks, debuting at no. 8.

16. See, Charlie Puth told y’all he’s only “One Call Away.” Nine Track Mind improves 10 spots from no. 45 to no. 35 in its 24^th charting week. Yeah, who said, “We Don’t Talk Anymore?” Okay…got carried away…

17. The New English didn’t last long for “Panda” rapper Desiigner. The mixtape slips from no. 22 to no. 36 in week two.

18. Desiigner didn’t fall as far as Logic, who actually started more promising at no. 16. Bobby Tarantino slips 22 spots to no. 38. It will be interesting to see how the availability of Bobby Tarantino plays a role next week.

19. The beat goes on for DNCE. Swaay (EP) improves 10 spots from no. 49 to no. 39. Swaay has now charted for 31 weeks. Let’s all celebrate with “Cake by the Ocean!”

20. 69 weeks in, James Bay seems to be going stronger than ever. Chaos and The Calm jumps nine spots from no. 50 to no. 41. Chaos and the Calm was certified gold by the RIAA on May 11, 2016.

21. “Bacon” still isn’t working for Nick Jonas. Last Year Was Complicated continues to fall, this week slipping four spots from no. 39 to no. 43. Last Years Was Complicated debuted at no. 2, but has been losing momentum the past two weeks.

22. Coldplay is on a role as of late. A Head Full of Dreams improves 18 more spots this week (no. 63 to no. 45). Last week, the album also improved 18 spots (no. 81 to no. 63).  Chris Martin, 18 is your lucky number.

23. The Lumineers’ Cleopatra slips nine spots this week (no. 42 to no. 51).

24. Drake nabs another spot on the list this week. Take Care ascends 11 spots from no. 65 to no. 54. This week marked the 176^th charting week for the former Grammy winner for Best Rap Album.

25. Halsey certainly isn’t residing in any Badlands. Badlands the album improves nine spots from no. 64 to no. 55. Badlands has charted for 46 weeks. As of February 2016, Badlands was certified gold by the RIAA.  Girl, you are the “New Americana.”

26. After jumping considerably last week, Cole Swindell’s sophomore album You Should Be Here comes back down to earth. The album slips 25 spots from no. 32 to no. 57, 10 weeks in.

27. Prince remains on the Billboard 200 following his death. The Very Best of Prince does take a hit in sales, falling 23 spots from no. 36 to no. 59.

28. Kiiara reaches a new peak as Low Kii Savage (EP) ascends from no. 78 to no. 60 in its 14^th week.

29. Radiohead continues to slip down the charts. A Moon Shaped Pool slides 20 spots from no. 41 to no. 61. Should it be mentioned that Radiohead was another “fortunate” act stuck behind Drake (Views) when it debuted?

30. Metallica’s self-titled album ascends 28 spots from no. 66 to no. 94.

31. YG’s lackadaisical chart run continues to be just that. Still Brazy slips 10 spots from no. 57 to no. 67 just four weeks in.

32. The Beatles’ Abbey Road re-enters the Billboard 200 at no. 70.

33. Lauren Daigle’s How Can It Be improves 10 spots from no. 81 to no. 71. How Can It Be has charted for 62 weeks.
34. Nonpoint’s latest album, Poison Red debuts quietly at no. 73.

35. Maren Morris’ Hero free falls from no. 38 to no. 75. Figure up the difference – it’s a drop of 37 spots!

36. Shawn Mendes’ debut album Handwritten ascends 19 spots from no. 95 to no. 76. Handwritten debuted at no. 1 and has charted for 66 weeks.

37. Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly improves 23 spots from no. 107 to no. 84. TPAB has charted for 70 weeks. Likewise, good kid, m.A.A.d. city improves 10 spots from no. 96 to no. 86.  It has charted 194 weeks.

38. Lil Uzi Vert sees his album, Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World improve 14 spots from no. 104 to no. 90. 90 is a new high watermark for the project.

39. gnash reaches a new peak position with us at no. 99, improving 14 spots from the previous week.

40. The Avett Brothers have had an abysmal run with True Sadness. The album plummets 59 spots from no. 44 to no. 103.

41. Heart’s low key LP Beautiful Broken debuts modestly at no. 105.

42. After ascending back into the top 60 of the Billboard 200, Rachel Platten has been bounced back out once more. Wildfire slides 49 spots from no. 58 to no. 107.

43. The 1975 improves 30 spots this week. I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It jumps from no. 148 to no. 118.

44. AC/DC classic Back In Black improves 49 spots from no. 119 to no. 168.

45. Emarosa debuts at no. 132 with latest album, 131.

46. Invent, Animate debut at no. 133 with Stillworld.

47. Paul Simon continues his free fall following a solid debut at no. 3. Stranger to Stranger slips from no. 88 to no. 147 in its sixth week.

48. Jon Bellion hasn’t stopped the bleeding yet. The Human Condition continues its downward spiral, slipping from no. 146 to no. 158.

49. BADBADNOTGOOD sees its latest jazzy effort IV debut at no. 178.

50. After debuting at no. 40, Snoop Dogg’s Coolaid slides to no. 198.

Photo Credits: Interscope, Cash Money