Pop Smoke Debuts Big | Scanning the Charts 📉

Scanning the Charts – Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 dated 7/18/20 – Pop Smoke debuts big with his posthumous debut album. 

SCANNING THE CHARTS is just what it says it is.  I, the quirky founder and do-it-all at The Musical Hype scans through the Billboard Charts and picks out things that catch my eye.  To reiterate what I said last week (Lil Baby Sits Pretty, HAIM Misses Top 10), this column won’t be extensive, but rather short and sweet, keeping that 💩 moving.  This week, I picked out five notable observations from the Billboard 200, as well as five four observations from the Billboard Hot 100, highlighting the big debut by late rapper, Pop Smoke. Check out my takeaways!

Billboard 200 

💭 As I certainly expected, Pop Smoke easily debuted at no. 1 with his posthumous debut album, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon. He ends a dominant, month-long run by Lil Baby, who regained the no. 1 spot with his hit album, My Turn, after more than a three-month absence (Lil Baby slips to no. 3). Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon launches with a robust 251,000 album units per Billboard.  Notably, 59,000 copies are in album sales, which is actually pretty sizable for a hip-hop album in the streaming age.  Pop Smoke ends up being the sole debut in the top 20.

💭 The Original Broadway Cast album Hamilton: An American Musical, ascends from no. 14 to no. 2 in its 250^th week on the Billboard 200.  It doesn’t hurt that Hamilton is a huge steaming success on Disney+, only reigniting the enthusiasm behind the award-winning musical.

💭 Gucci Mane earns the second highest debut on the Billboard 200 with Gucci Mane Presents: So Icy Summer.  It’s a modest start at no. 29 to say the least.  Beyond Gucci, there are no other top-40 debuts.  The only other top-50 debut comes courtesy of Willie Nelson, as First Rose of Spring bows at no. 49.

💭 Teyana Taylor sees The Album falling fast.  After debuting at no. 8, it slid to no. 37 in its second week.  This week, it slides from no. 37 to no. 72. Also falling are City Girls, despite having the City on Lock.  Their chart path includes stints at no. 29, no. 60, and this week, no. 99.

💭 Despite the fact that his name has been in the headlines, August Alsina hasn’t reaped any benefits.  After The Product III: stateofEMERGEncy launched at no. 48, it free falls to no. 190 in its second week.    

Billboard Hot 100 

💭 Yes, DaBaby spends another week at no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with his Blame it on Baby hit, “Rockstar,” featuring Roddy Ricch.  Perhaps the bigger news is all 19 of Pop Smoke’s songs from Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon debut on the Billboard Hot 100.  The highest debut comes courtesy of “For the Night” featuring Lil Baby and DaBaby.

💭 A previous top-10 riser actually descends this week. Jack Harlow sees “WHATS POPPIN”/ “WHATS POPPIN Remix” slip from no. 2 to no. 3.  That’s not terrible mind you, but it should be noted that the single sees no gains this week. Justin Bieber sees his popular “Intentions” featuring Quavo (Changes) slip from no. 7 to no. 10.  “Intentions” peaked at no. 5.

💭 Powfu is another artist who sees his hit single slipping on the Billboard Hot 100.  “Death Bed”, featuring beabadoobee (Poems of the past), slides from no. 24 to no. 32.  The single peaked at no. 23.

💭 Megan Thee Stallion continues to have success with “Savage”, featuring Beyoncé which sits pretty at no. 4.  As for “Girls in the Hood”, its second week on the chart wasn’t so hot, free falling from no. 28 to no. 51.  That said, this happens fairly frequently when a single debuts pretty high.  There’s still a strong chance this single could rebound.

💭 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “TROLLZ”. Since making history however, “TROLLZ” has been an epic fail. This week, only four weeks in, the record slips from no. 54 too no. 83. Ouch.

Pop Smoke Debuts Big: Scanning the Charts 📉 [Photo Credits: Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, Pexels, Republic, Victor Victor Worldwide]