Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' Debuts at No. 1

Frank Ocean is having a “Pretty Sweet” week as Blonde becomes his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Released Aug. 20, the Grammy-winning crooner’s long-awaited album tops the chart with 276,000 equivalent album units (232,000 traditional) in its first week, according to Billboard. It’s also the third-largest debut of the year, following Drake’s Views and Beyoncé’s LEMONADE.

Blonde is also a bombshell in the streaming world. It garnered 65.4 million streams its first week as an Apple Music exclusive with only the full album being sold through iTunes (no single tracks are available for purchase).

With this opening week, Ocean shatters industry forecasts, which had Blonde at No. 1 with 225,000 equivalent album units.

His previous album, 2012’s channel ORANGE, debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 131,000 copies in its first week.

Meanwhile, Ocean’s visual album Endless came just days ahead of Blonde, but it does not appear on the chart.

Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, Drake’s Views holds at No. 2 with 77,000 units, the Suicide Squad soundtrack falls 1-3 with 76,000 units, and Tory Lanez’ I Told You debuts at No. 4 with 52,000 units (32,000 in pure album sales).

Adele’s 25 rises 8-7 (28,000 units), Rihanna’s ANTI climbs 9-8 (27,000 units), and DJ Khaled’s Major Key falls 6-9 (27,000 units). Broadway’s Hamilton closes out the top 10 with 23,000 units.

Billboard 200 Top 10

1. Frank Ocean – Blonde – 276,000
2. Drake – Views – 77,000
3. Suicide Squad: The Album – 76,000
4. Tory Lanez – I Told You – 52,000
5. Lindsey Stirling – Brave Enough – 49,000
6. Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface – 33,000
7. Adele – 25 – 28,000
8. Rihanna – ANTI – 27,000
9. DJ Khaled – Major Key – 27,000
10. Hamilton – 23,000