Billboard 200: Drake Spends Third Week at No. 1 With ‘More Life’

There’s definitely More Life for Drake as he spends his third consecutive week at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. 

Aubrey Graham, better known as Drake, doesn’t appear to be fading in the least.  For a third consecutive week, Drake reigns on the Billboard 200.  More Life remains no. 1, moving 136,000 units.  Of those 136,000 units, less than 12% were pure sales! Streaming continues to be Drake’s calling card.  Guess who trails Drizzy at no. 2? Ed Sheeran, whose ÷ hasn’t budged from the runner-up slot since More Life became no. 1.

While Drake and Ed Sheeran have the top of the Billboard 200 locked down, there was some fresh blood in the top 10.  Kodak Black debuts at no. 3 with his debut Painting Pictures.  The numbers are better than expected, given somewhat of a low-key promo campaign.  Painting Pictures moved 71,000 units, yet only 21% of that total are pure sales.  Once more, streaming is fueling numerous releases, particularly hip-hop releases.

Mastodon also gets into the top-10 action with Emperor of Sand.  Emperor moved 43,000 units, with most of that total (%) being pure sales.  Had the old Billboard 200 formula still been in play (sales only), Mastodon would’ve debuted at no. 1.  MercyMe managed to eke out a top-10 bow as Lifer starts at no. 10 with 33,000 units.  Like Emperor of Sand, Lifer sold well (nearly 91% of the 33,000 units).

Beyond Drake, Ed Sheeran, and the three new releases, the top 10 is familiar.  Bruno Mars (24K Magic) continues to perform well.  So do soundtracks Beauty and the Beast and Moana.  Future (Future) and Migos (Culture) also continue to put up respectable numbers, at least contextually.

Who’s got next on the Billboard 200? The Chainsmokers should put up some numbers with their debut album, Memories…Do Not Open.  In addition to The Chainsmokers, new efforts arrived courtesy of Joey Bada$$ (Amerikkkan Bada$$) and Pentatonix (PTX, Vol IV – Classics).  The question is, how well will these new releases perform and how well will More Life and ÷ perform? Only time and sales/streams will tell.

Photo Credit: Cash Money