Kendrick Lamar returns to no. 1 on the Billboard 200, while Brett Eldredge settles for no. 2.  Meanwhile, “Despacito” remains no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Billboard 200 Grooves

“Summer Bummer” for Brett Eldredge.  The Illinois country singer settles for a no. 2 bow on the Billboard 200.  Who lands at no. 1? Kendrick Lamar, after 17 weeks on the Billboard 200.  That speaks to the enthusiasm behind the crop of releases that arrived August 4, 2017.  Lamar’s numbers are mediocre at best, but good enough to add another week at no. 1.  Even in a slow week, there are a number of notable takeaways from the Billboard 200 dated August 26, 2017.  

1. In its 17^th week on the Billboard 200, Kendrick Lamar sees DAMN. ascend back to no. 1. That’s pretty damn amazing.

2. Likely, Brett Eldredge isn’t too impressed with the damn good performance that Kendrick Lamar is having with DAMN. Brett Eldredge settles for the runner-up slot.

3. Now 63 debuts at no. 5. NOW that’s something!

4. SZA (Ctrl) and Khalid (American Teen) both reenter the top 10. SZA climbs from no. 13 to no. 9, while Khalid moves up one spot from no. 11 to no. 10.

5. Jay-Z slips out of the top-10 this week as 4:44 drops from no. 5 to no. 11.

6. Lana Del Rey also sees her top-10 run end. Lust for Life falls from no. 10 to no. 23.

7. Al YoungBoy debuts at no. 24 with YoungBoy Never Broke Again.

8. Ugly God starts at no. 27 with The Booty Tape. What a wholesome, family friendly title.

9. Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band launches at no. 34 with Lay It On Down.

10. Arcade Fire experiences an epic fail as Everything Now falls apart, free-falling from no. 1 to no. 38. Ouch!

11. Coldplay sees Kaleidoscope EP ascend from no. 81 to no. 39 in its fourth charting week.

12. Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed just barely crack the top-50 as Magic & Bird starts at no. 49.

13. Thanks to issuing a deluxe edition of his self-titled debut, Dylan Scott reenters the Billboard 200 at no. 56.

14. Aminé sees his debut album Good for You slide from no. 31 to no. 64.

15. Randy Newman arrives at no. 106 with Dark Matter.

16. Tyler Childers debuts at no. 120 with Purgatory.

17. Vic Mensa free falls in his second week as The Autobiography drops from no. 27 to no. 135.

18. A$AP Twelvyy didn’t have much support behind him. 12 debuts modestly at no. 148.

Billboard Hot 100 Jewels

Yes, “Despacito” is still no. 1.  In fact, according to Billboard, it “ties for second-longest-leading Hot 100 no. of all time.”  Beyond the history-making Latin mega-hit, there are other takeaways on the Hot 100 dated August 26, 2017.

1. Guess who’s no. 1? Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber with “Despacito!”

2. Imagine Dragons creeps up another spot with “Believer” (rises from no. 5 to no. 4).

3. Charlie Puth hits the top five with “Attention” (ascends from no. 7 to no. 5).

4. Cardi B rises six spots from no. 14 to no. 8 with “Bodak Yellow.”

5. 21 Savage continues his ascent with “Bank Account,” which jumps from no. 18 to no. 12.

6. After dipping 34 spots in its second week, Louis Tomlinson rebounds 12 spots (no. 74 to no. 62) with “Back to You.”

7. Blackbear continues to rise with “Do re mi,” ascending form no. 75 to no. 67.

8. Camila Cabello sees both of her new singles debut on the Hot 100. “OMG” performs the best at no. 81, while “Havana” starts at no. 99.

9. P!nk starts at no. 82 with “What About Us.”

10. Rae Sremmurd bows at no. 84 with “Perplexing Pegasus.”

Photo Credit: Atlantic