Drake's 'Views' Lands Atop Billboard 200
Views from the top. Drake’s latest album has arrived, as projected, at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
The Canadian rapper lands in the top spot, selling a whopping 1.04 million equivalent album units through the week ending May 5 in the U.S. alone. The project, which remained exclusive to Apple through May 6, also moves 852,000 traditional album units.
This is not only Drake’s personal best sales week; it’s also the best for any album in 2016 and the largest for a male artist since Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience in March 2013.
Drizzy was humbled by the support. “One million sold in one week. I am beyond grateful for this milestone. Thank you for listening,” he wrote on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFFDS5ijQPF
Streaming had a big hand in Drake’s totals this week, as Views tracks were streamed 245.1 million times in the U.S. The total goes beyond the Apple exclusive, allowing the select tracks available on Spotify and other services, to be counted as well. That includes “One Dance,” “Pop Style,” and “Hotline Bling.”
The 6 God is on a roll, with Views being his sixth straight No. 1, following 2015’s What a Time To Be Alive with Future, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015), Nothing Was the Same (2013), Take Care (2012), and Thank Me Later (2010). So far, his only release to miss that top spot has been 2009’s So Far Gone.
Elsewhere on the Billboard 200 this week, Beyoncé falls to No. 2 with LEMONADE (321,000), Prince takes the No. 3 and No. 4 slots with Purple Rain (75,000) and The Very Best of Prince (70,000), while Rihanna rounds out the top 5 with ANTI (51,000).
Billboard 200 Top 10
1. Drake – Views – 1,004,000
2. Beyoncé – LEMONADE – 321,000
3. Prince – Purple Rain – 75,000
4. Prince – The Very Best of Prince – 70,000
5. Rihanna – ANTI – 51,000
6. Rob Zombie – Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser – 41,000
7. Now 58 – 37,000
8. Chris Stapleton – Traveller – 31,000
9. Justin Bieber – Purpose – 29,000
10. Adele – 25 – 28,000