The Chart Scoop | DJ Khaled Edges Imagine Dragons for No. 1

DJ Khaled (‘Grateful’) edges Imagine Dragons (‘Evolve’) for the no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.  “Despacito” continues to do work on the Billboard Hot 100.

Billboard 200 Grooves

It was a close race people! In the end, DJ Khaled, avid proclaimer of the “We the best” motto, edge out those Imagine Dragons.  That’s right, DJ Khaled was definitely Grateful he came out on top of this battle, sealing the second consecutive no. 1 album of his career.  It is a tale of two sets of numbers friends, enemies, and whoever’s reading.  Grateful moved 149,000 units, but less than 34% of that total were actual album sales! As for the bridesmaid, Imagine Dragons’ Evolve put up 147,000 units, selling a healthier ~74% of that total.  The Dragons can take solace in the fact that they killed it in the sales department.

While Khaled and Imagine D’s were the big tale of the Billboard 200, there’s some additional action.  Prince came back strong with the reissue of Purple Rain in two deluxe editions.  52,000 units for a 23-year old album is none too shabby, not to mention that 92%+ of that total were sales.  311 did some work at no. 6 with MOSAIC, moving 39,000 units (~95% album sales).  As for the rest of the top 10, save for the odd return of Moana, it’s familiar.  Most surprising is the staying power of 2 Chainz’s Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, which only slips from no. 2 to no. 5. Lorde (Melodrama), who earned a no. 1 album last week, exits the top 10 (no. 13)!

Here are some takeaways from the Billboard 200 dated July 15, 2017.

1. DJ Khaled edges Imagine Dragons for the no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Grateful marks the second consecutive no. 1 album for DJ Khaled.

2. Imagine Dragons are forced to settle for the no. 2 spot this go-round, as Evolve can’t topple the ‘We the Best’ empire.

3. Prince can still pack a punch posthumously as Purple Rain reenters the top-five in reissued form. Purple Rain lands at no. 4.

4. Apparently, Pretty Girls really do Like Trap Music. 2 Chainz fell modestly from no. 2 to no. 5.

5. 311 starts at no. 6 with MOSAIC.

6. Lorde takes a tumble as Melodrama slides from no. 1 to no. 13 in its second week. I’m sure the label didn’t give the “green light” for such a tumble as this one!

7. Vince Staples shows some gains with his sophomore album, Big Fish Theory, bowing at no. 16. It debuts stronger than Summertime ’06 did in 2015 (no. 39).

8. Young Thug slips from no. 8 to no. 23 with Beautiful Thugger Girls.

9. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit nosedive from no. 4 to no. 31 with The Nashville Sound.

10. Katy Perry has a potential flop on her hands. Witness slips from no. 13 to no. 34 in only its third charting week.

11. Radiohead debuts at no. 36 with OK Computer: OKNOTOK 1997 2017. It is the reissued edition of OK Computer (1997).

12. Nickelback falls flat on their butts as Feed the Machine dips 35 spots from no. 5 to no. 40. Yep, few are “feeding the machine” Nickelback – very few.

13. Jeff Tweedy barely cracks the top 50, eking a victory out as Together at Last starts at no. 49.

14. Big Boi is off to a bad start with Boomiverse. It slides from no. 28 to no. 79 in its second charting week.

15. Fleet Foxes got off to a good start. Unfortunately, their numbers crack into pieces as Crack-Up slides from no. 9 to no. 87.

16. Portugal. The Man suffers from the agony of the sophomore week on the Billboard 200. Woodstock free falls from no. 32 to no. 103.

17. “The Gunner” – aka Machine Gun Kelly – is on the struggle bus. After just seven weeks in, bloom falls from no. 97 to no. 108. No Bueno.

18. Speaking of poor chart runs, Paramore, who arrived the same week as Machine Gun Kelly, are doing worse. After Laughter slips from no. 127 to no. 134 in only its seventh week.

19. Ladies and gentlemen, there’s really a surefire flop. No it’s not Russ – There’s Really a Wolf is sitting pretty at no. 39. The same can’t be said of Linkin Park, whose One More Light falls 37 spots from no. 133 to no. 170 in only its sixth week! “Holding on” is right Chester Bennington because at this rate, One More Light won’t be on the Billboard 200 much longer.

20. Okay, there’s a reason why the new Dying Fetus album didn’t muster up a better debut than its uninspired spot at no. 180. Simply put, they said they were the Wrong One to F*ck With, so we didn’t.

21. Bone Thugs new, shortened name did nothing for their sales. New Waves doesn’t make many airwaves, sale waves, or any kind of waves debuting tepidly at no. 181.  Some serious promo might not even do any good.

Billboard Hot 100 Jewels

Moving on to the Billboard Hot 100, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber are unstoppable with “Despacito.”  “Despacito” spends an eighth week at no. 1. DJ Khaled gets more glory, with two top-three hits on his hands: former no. 1 “I’m the One” (no. 2) and “Wild Thoughts” (no. 3).  Imagine Dragons weren’t left out of the mix.  “Believer” ascends into the top 10, marking a gradual rise for the hit.

Here are some takeaways from the Billboard Hot 100 dated July 15, 2017.

1. To reiterate, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber are unstoppable with “Despacito,” which spends an eighth week at no. 1 on the Hot 100.

2. DJ Khaled comprises of 66% of the top-3. “I’m the One” stays firmly planted at no. 2, while “Wild Thoughts” ascends from no. 4 to no. 3.

3. Imagine Dragons ascends from no. 11 to no. 6 with “Believer,” a slow-rising single that’s spent 21 weeks on the charts. “Thunder” gets a bigger lift, rising from no. 85 to no. 54.

4. French Montana has a hit on his hands with “Unforgettable” (ft. Swae Lee), which rises from no. 16 to no. 13 in its 12^th charting week.

5. Niall Horan continues to come-up with “Slow Hands,” which ascends from no. 24 to no. 21.

6. Undoubtedly, Charlie Puth likes the “Attention” he’s getting. The single ascends from no. 25 to no. 23 in its 10^th charting week.

7. Drake debuts at no. 36 with “Signs.”

8. Louisiana in the house! Dylan Scott is looking up the Hot 100 as “My Girl” ascends from no. 56 to no. 45 in its 10^th charting week.

9. Kendrick Lamar is on the rise with “Loyalty” featuring Rihanna. The single, which originally peaked at no. 14, ascends from no. 69 to no. 60 in its 11^th charting week.

10. Metro Boomin, joined by Offset and Drake, lands at no. 71 with “No Complaints.”

Photo Credits: Epic, Interscope