Billboard 200: The Hamilton Mixtape Debuts at No. 1

The Hamilton Mixtape debuts at no 1 on the Billboard 200. The Rolling Stones, Childish Gambino, Grace VanderWaal, and Kane Brown also debut in the top 10.  

Lin-Manual Miranda is laughing all the way to the bank.  The Hamilton Mixtape does something that Hamilton was unable to do – debut at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  The highly anticipated compilation features various big-named artists moved a robust 187,00 units.  The sales were impressive too, amounting to more than 90% of that total.  In an age where six-figure album sales is rare, The Hamilton Mixtape accomplishes the feat.

The Hamilton Mixtape is the crème de la crème of the Billboard 200, but is by no means the only debut of note.  The Rolling Stones were unable to corral 187,000 units, but Blue & Lonesome moves an impressive 123,000 units, of which ~98% of that total is pure sales.  Childish Gambino drops his alternative R&B album “Awaken, My Love!”, starting at no. 5 with 101,000 units.  His sales are less impressive than Hamilton or The Stones – 71% of the aforementioned total.

Two more albums start in the top 10, with one glaring omission.  12-year old America’s Got Talent victor Grace VanderWaal makes her Billboard 200 debut at no. 9 with Perfectly Imperfect EP.  The numbers are solid for a newbie, particularly one that’s a pre-teen (52,000 units, 90% pure sales).  Kane Brown earns the final debut (no. 10) with his self-titled debut, moving 51,000 units (88% pure sales).  John Legend is the glaring top-10 omission, missing the top 10 completely with Darkness and Light.

The rest of the top 10 is familiar.  The Weeknd (Starboy) gives up no. 1 to The Hamilton Mixtape, but doesn’t slide far (no. 2).  Six-figures still grace the Canadian R&B artist.  Pentatonix continues to rack up sales with A Pentatonix Christmas, the chosen holiday effort this season (no. 3). Likewise, That’s Christmas to Me remains firmly planted in the top 10 as well (no. 8).  Bruno Mars (24K Magic) and Moana also retain spots in the top 10, at nos. 6 and 7 respectively.

Who’s got next on the Billboard 200? J. Cole (4 Your Eyez Only) is the biggest attraction, period. Tech N9ne (The Storm) should get some love, as should Post Malone (Stoney), but it’s all about J. Cole.

Photo Credit: Atlantic