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Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. © InterscopeKendrick Lamar (‘DAMN.’) spends a third week at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 while DJ Khaled (“I’m the One”) debuts at no. 1 on the Hot 100.

For a third consecutive week, Kendrick Lamar holds onto the no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.  DAMN. still moved a respectable 173,000 units, though a much smaller percentage (33%) were pure sales.  Gorillaz gave Lamar a push with Humanz, but settled for no. 2 with 140,000 units (82% pure sales).  Others make a splash on the Billboard 200 as well.  Mary J. Blige lands at no. 3 with Strength of a Woman (78,000 units, 92% pure sales), while Willie Nelson debuts at no. 10 (36,000 units, 94% pure sales).

On the Billboard Hot 100, Bruno Mars (“That’s What I Like”) gets the boot thanks to DJ Khaled.  “I’m the One” earns the rare debut at no. 1, thanks to a star-studded cast including Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne.  According to Billboard, the feats accomplished by “I’m the One” are pretty impressive.  All said and done, there are plenty of takeaways from the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 dated May 20, 2017.

Billboard 200 Grooves 

  1. Kendrick Lamar spends a third consecutive week at no. 1 with DAMN.

 

 

  1. Gorillaz settles for no. 2 with its fifth studio album, Humanz. To date, Gorillaz has yet to earn a no. 1 album on the Billboard 200. Notably, Demon Days (2005) improves from no. 193 to no. 84 in its 71st charting week.

 

  1. Mary J. Blige reclaims some of her mojo with Strength of a Woman, which debuts at no. 3. Strength of a Woman marks Blige’s first top-three album since Stronger with Each Tear debuted at no. 2 back in 2009.

 

  1. Willie Nelson starts at no. 10 with God’s Problem Child. Not bad for an 84-year old.

 

  1. John Mellencamp just misses the top 10. Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, featuring Carlene Carter, starts at no. 11.

 

  1. Wale flops… Shine starts unimpressively at no. 16. The MC’s previous two albums both debuted at no. 1…

 

  1. Lea Michele misses the mark on Places, which debuts at no. 28.

 

  1. Sylvan Esso enters the picture at no. 32 with What Now.

 

  1. New Found Glory narrowly earns a top-40 debut as Makes Me Sick starts at no. 40.

 

  1. After an unimpressive start, Brad Paisley’s run with Love and War continues to be unimpressive. The album slides from no. 13 to no. 42.

 

 

  1. All That Remains starts at no. 50 with Madness.

 

  1. Feist didn’t exactly light up the charts this week. Pleasure debuts modestly at no. 91.

 

  1. Cashmere Cat sneaks onto the Billboard 200 with 9, which starts at no. 119.

 

  1. Incubus = epic fail. Not the band itself, but album 8, which free falls from no. 4 to no. 127.

 

  1. Young M.A lands at no. 166 with Herstory (EP).

 

Hot 100 Jewels

 

  1. DJ Khaled debuts at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I’m the One,” featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne.

 

 

  1. Bruno Mars sees “That’s What I Like” slip from no. 1 to no. 2.

 

  1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ascend from no. 4 to no. 3 with “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber.

 

 

  1. Imagine Dragons sees “Believer” rise 17 spots from no. 37 to no. 20. “Thunder” debuts at no. 70.

 

  1. Halsey is on the rise with “Now or Never,” which ascends from no. 52 to no. 38.

 

  1. Logic sees “1-800-273-8255,” featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, debut at no. 61.

 

  1. Darius Rucker is on the rise with “If A Told You,” which ascends from no. 94 to no. 62.

 

  1. Kygo & Ellie Goulding debut at no. 67 with “First Time.”

 

  1. Katy Perry takes “Bon Appétit” (featuring Migos) to a no. 76 debut.

 

 

  1. Chris Brown debuts at no. 87 with “Privacy.”

 

  1. Niall Horan debuts at no. 90 with “Slow Hands.”

 

  1. Harry Styles debuts at no. 93 with the second single from his self-titled album, “Sweet Creature.”

 

Photo Credit: Interscope

 

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the musical hype

the musical hype aka Brent Faulkner has earned Bachelor and Masters degrees in music (music Education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and a freelance music journalist. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.

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