Jay-Z debuts at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, while “Despacito” spends a 10^th week at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Billboard 200 Grooves

Unsurprisingly, Jay-Z debuts at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 4:44.  The numbers look good as well, with 4:44 moving 262,000 units according to Billboard.  Crunch the numbers deeper, and they’re a smidge less impressive considering just slightly more than 66% were actual album sales. Still, do the math, and Jay-Z put in some work – better yet some numbers – when in came to the sales.

https://youtu.be/MOcdhQ9KfJA

It wasn’t all about Hov this week though.  New albums arrived from 21 Savage and Haim.  Neither posted the numbers that Jay-Z did, but hey, not everybody can be Jay-Z right? 21 Savage takes the runner-up slot with Issa Album (what a title) moving 77,000 units.  That number is deceptive in regards to album sales, which make up less than 29% of that total.  As for Haim, Something to Tell You debuts at no. 7 with 32,000 units.  The album outsells 21 Savage’s project, comprising of a healthy 81% in album sales.

Nothing else is particularly earth shattering on the Billboard 200 top 10.  DJ Khaled sees Grateful slip to no. 4 after two weeks at no. 1 – not too shabby.  Calvin Harris dips from no. 2 to no. 8 with Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 – could be worse.  Here’s some more takeaways from the Billboard 200 dated July 29, 2017.

1. Jay-Z easily debuts at no. 1 with 4:44. It wasn’t even close peeps.

2. 21 Savage sees Issa Album debut at no. 2. Not too shabby.

3. DJ Khaled is Grateful to have spent two weeks at no. 1. However, Grateful tumbles from no. 1 to no. 4 in its third week on the charts.

4. HAIM debuts at no. 7 with their sophomore album, Something to Tell You. So, they outsold 21 Savage, who beat them because of streaming? Interesting!

5. Calvin Harris sees Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 slip from no. 2 to no. 8.

6. After three weeks in the top 10, 2 Chainz sees Pretty Girls Like Trap Music fall from no. 6 to no. 12.

7. Katy Perry gets a boost as Witness ascends from no. 30 to no. 20 in its fifth charting week.

8. Russ gets a lift as There’s Really a Wolf ascends from no. 43 to no. 31 in its 10^th charting week.

9. Metallica earn the honors for “biggest percentage gainer this week” with Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, which rises from no. 108 to no. 59 in its 34^th week.

10. Sevyn Streeter debuts at no. 92 with Girl Disrupted.

Billboard Hot 100 Jewels

Yeah, if you’re looking for something different atop the Hot 100, prepare to be disappointed.  Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber won’t stop.  “Despacito” makes it 10 weeks at no. 1.  Despite the boring dominance of the Latin hit, there are other takeaways from the Hot 100 dated July 29, 2017.

1. Guess who’s no. 1? “Despacito.” Next.

2. DJ Khaled continues to round out the top-3. This week, Wild Thoughts” rebounds from no. 4 to no. 2, while “I’m the One” dips from no. 2 to no. 3.

3. Shawn Mendes continues to rise up the charts with “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (up from no. 14 to no. 8).

4. French Montana continues to ascend up the charts with “Unforgettable” featuring Swae Lee (no. 10 to no. 9).

5. Niall Horan sees “Slows Hands” rise three spots from no. 22 to no. 19.

6. Jay-Z debuts at no. 23 with “The Story of O.J.” The next highest song that debuts from 4:44 is “4:44” at no. 35.

7. Kesha debuts at no. 25 with “Praying”

8. Demi Lovato debuts at no. 52 with her feisty “Sorry Not Sorry.”

9. Hailee Steinfeld sees huge gains with “Most Girls,” which ascends from no. 92 to no. 66.

10. Selena Gomez debuts at no. 92 with “Fetish” featuring Gucci Mane. 

Photo Credit: Roc Nation