Panic! At the Disco ‘Wicked’ at No. 1 | Chart Happenings

Panic! At the Disco and Cardi B both had awesome weeks on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 respectively.  Bebe Rexha, not so much.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I rambled on about some of the happenings on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100.  Of course, long ago I decided to say “screw it” when it came to writing about it weekly, so I opted for whenever I felt compelled to do so.  This week is your lucky day… week…something like that… maybe not.  Charts are both dated for the week of July 7, 2018 btw.

1. Hmm, not so sure Brendon Urie is so quick to “(Fuck A) Silver Lining” this week, as Panic! At the Disco earns its second consecutive no. 1 album on the Billboard 200.  Apparently, when you Pray for the Wicked, divine intervention occurs, or at least, a no. 1 album.  Shocking? Of course not.

2. Something a bit surprising for me was the fact that The Carters (Beyoncé and Jay-Z) debuted at no. 2 last week. It wasn’t far-fetched for 5 Seconds of Summer to come out on top, but still, over urban contemporary/hip-hop royalty? This week, EVERYTHING IS LOVE actually beats Youngblood, but does so without the distinction of giving two artists used to topping the charts a no. 1 album. That’s totally “Apeshit” if you ask me.   EVERYTHING IS LOVE slips from no. 2 to no 4, while Youngblood slides from no. 1 to no. 10.

3. Country music gets top-10 representation courtesy of Dan + Shay.  The good but relatively unmemorable self-titled album debuts respectably at no. 6, but just feels like an album that’ll end up experiencing an uninspiring run.  There are several new albums that are envious of the start Dan + Shay had, such as Nine Inch Nails whose Bad Witch (EP) starts at no. 12 as well as Teyana Taylor who didn’t get the same G.O.O.D. treatment on K.T.S.E. like Pusha T (Daytona), Kanye West (Ye), or KIDS SEE GHOSTS (KIDS SEE GHOSTS).  No, K.T.S.E. settled for a so-so no. 17 debut.

4. Speaking of disappointing debuts, isn’t it a shame that Bebe Rexha couldn’t muster up a top 10 debut with Expectations? It’s been a long-time coming for the pop artist just to get where she is, yet “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line still wasn’t enough to start stronger than 13^th.  Guess it wasn’t “meant to be, meant to be.”

5. Most folks were quite mixed on Nas’ comeback album, NASIR.  It’s fair.  Regardless, after debuting at no. 5, this week NASIR slides to no. 36.  Ouch.  Truly “Not for Radio” or at this rate, RIAA Certification.

6. Giving a shout out to Kamasi Washington.  The innovative jazz musician’s double album Heaven and Earth debuts at no. 115.  Honestly, that’s not bad for a jazz album, which don’t stream or sell nearly as prolifically as more mainstream genres.

7. Ah, just one happening from the Billboard Hot 100 worth mentioning. Cardi B has accomplished something previously unaccomplished by a female rap artist.  She has landed her second no. 1 single with “I Like It”, featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny.  Think about how many female rappers were unable to do this – Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, and most recently, Nicki Minaj.  Crazy!  Also, worth noting, Maroon 5 are doing well with “Girls Like You”, another single which Cardi B appears on.