Following his successful performance during the Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar has once again showcased his unshakeable position in the music industry and his profound cultural impact. This week, he achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first rapper to have three albums simultaneously in the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart, further solidifying his significance in the history of popular music.
Kendrick Lamar’s new album “GNX” is making waves on the latest Billboard 200 chart, soaring from last week’s No. 4 to reclaim the top spot at No. 1. In just one week this quarter, the album has racked up a total of 236,000 equivalent album sales, which includes 117,000 from streaming equivalent album units (equating to about 161 million on-demand streams), 116,000 physical copies, and 3,000 single equivalent album units. This marks his best performance since debuting at No. 1 in 2024, and it’s his second time at the top, showcasing Kendrick’s lasting appeal in the market.
In addition to the outstanding performance of “GNX,” his two classic albums, “DAMN.” and “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” have also made their way back into the top ten, landing at number 9 and number 10 respectively. These albums surged significantly from last week’s positions of number 29 and number 27. Notably, “DAMN.” accumulated 39,000 equivalent album units this week, while “good kid, m.A.A.d city” reached 37,000 equivalent album units. It’s worth mentioning that it’s been quite a while since these albums last graced the top ten—”DAMN.” last entered the top ten back in March 2018, and “good kid, m.A.A.d city” has made its first return to the top ten since November 2012, highlighting the enduring appeal of Kendrick’s classic works.
This week’s Billboard 200 has some other noteworthy highlights. SZA, who performed alongside Kendrick at the Super Bowl halftime show, saw her album soar to No. 2, followed by The Weeknd at No. 3, Bad Bunny at No. 4, and Chappell Roan at No. 5. The latter half of the chart is dominated by Billie Eilish at No. 6, Sabrina Carpenter at No. 7, and Morgan Wallen at No. 8, showcasing the diversity of the music market.
Kendrick Lamar holds the record of having three albums simultaneously in the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart, which not only serves as a tremendous affirmation of his musical talent but also further solidifies his position as one of the most influential figures in the rap music scene.
