Billboard 200 Grooves: The Hamilton Mixtape Rules at No. 1

The Hamilton Mixtape steals the show debuting at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  The Rolling Stones earn the next highest debut, at no. 4. 

Hamilton is everywhere – it’s truly ubiquitous.  The craze for the critically-acclaimed musical has yet to wane.  This week, Hamilton gets another boost with The Hamilton Mixtape debuting robustly at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. The compilation, featuring a number of big-named artists, beat out new entries from The Rolling Stones (Blue & Lonesome) and Childish Gambino (“Awaken, My Love!”) among others.  Beyond The Hamilton Mixtape, The Stones, and Gambino, there are a number of noteworthy chart happenings on the Billboard 200 dated December 24, 2016.

1. The Hamilton Mixtape debuts robustly at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Essentially, it was no contest.

2. The Weeknd takes a step back this week as Starboy dips from no. 1 to no. 2.

3. After reaching a new peak last week (no. 2), A Pentatonix Christmas, the second full-length Pentatonix Christmas album, drops to no. 3. That’s Christmas to Me also dips one spot (no. 7 to no. 8). EP PTXmas ascends from no. 105 to no. 68.

4. The Rolling Stones start at no. 4 with Blue & Lonesome, their first album in 11 years.

5. Childish Gambino reaches a new career peak as “Awaken, My Love!” kicks off at no. 5 on the Billboard 200. Because the Internet reenters the chart at no. 147.

6. Grace VanderWaal, the 12-year old America’s Got Talent winner, starts at no. 9 with EP Perfectly Imperfect.

7. Kane Brown closes out the top 10 with his self-titled debut launching at no. 10.

8. Metallica exits the top 10 this week as Hardwired…To Self-Destruct slips from no. 3 to no. 12.

9. John Legend misfires commercially with his new album Darkness and Light. Darkness and Light definitely debuts “darkly” compared to his previous top-10 albums. It starts at no. 14.

10. Like Metallica, Miranda Lambert exits the top 10 with The Weight of These Wings (no. 9 to no. 20).

11. Once again, Red Hot Chili Peppers see a spike in sales with The Getaway (no. 108 to no. 27).

12. Shawn Mendes (Illuminate) sees a gain in performance in week 11 (no. 37 to no. 32).

13. Ahead of 4 Your Eyez Only, J. Cole sees 2014 Forest Hills Drive ascend 44 spots (no. 79 to no. 35). Born Sinner reenters the chart at no. 126, while Cole World: the Sideline Story reenters at no. 195.

14. A Tribe Called Quest takes a big tumble. We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service dips from no. 15 to no. 40.

15. Florida Georgia Line sees Dig Your Roots fall from no. 23 to no. 44.

16. Justin Bieber experiences a spike in sales with Purpose (no. 83 to no. 66).

17. deadmau5 doesn’t exactly ignite the charts with W:/2016ALBUM/, which starts at no. 74.

18. It should be noted that Michael Bublé’s Christmas (no. 13) is outselling his new studio album, Nobody but Me (no. 82).

19. Panic! At the Disco sees Death of a Bachelor plummet (no. 58 to no. 86).

20. Meek Mill seems to have lost the commercial edge with DC4 (no. 69 to no. 89).

21. Solange (A Seat at the Table) slips from no. 78 to no. 101.

22. PARTYNEXTDOOR gets a boost as PARTYNEXTDOOR (P3) ascends from no. 155 to no. 114.

23. Kate Bush returns to the Billboard 200 with Before the Dawn at no. 121.

24. Alicia Keys sees HERE free fall from no. 59 to no. 128.

25. R. Kelly sees 12 Nights of Christmas finally debut on the Billboard 200 (no. 177).

Photo Credit: Atlantic