Rick Ross, Pharrell, & Ashanti: First-Week Sales Predictions
Rick Ross, Pharrell Williams, and Ashanti all released new albums this week, but who will be No. 1? First-week sales predictions are in.
Mastermind, the sixth album from the Maybach Music boss, is expected to dethrone Schoolboy Q and debut atop next week’s Billboard 200 with 145-160,000 copies, according to HITS Daily Double.
The album, which features Kanye West, Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and The Weeknd, was released digitally a day ahead of its original March 4 date.
This will give the Miami rapper his fifth No. 1 album (2010’s Teflon Don debuted at No. 2). His previous effort, 2012’s God Forgives, I Don’t, topped the charts with 218,000.
Fresh off his performance at Sunday’s Academy Awards, Pharrell’s second solo album G I R L is set to open with 85-95,000 in its first week. He will battle with Disney’s Frozen soundtrack for the runner-up spot.
Meanwhile, his Oscar-nominated single “Happy” remains No. 1 for a second week on the Hot 100.
Ashanti is also set to return to the charts with her fifth album Braveheart. Her first project since 2008’s The Declaration, released independently via her label Written Entertainment/eOne, is on track to move 18-21,000 units.
Final chart numbers will be released Wednesday, March 12.