With his recent successful performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar once again showcased his unassailable status in the music industry and his profound cultural influence. This week, he made history by becoming the first rapper to have three albums simultaneously enter the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart, a feat that reinforces his significance in the history of popular music.
In the latest Billboard 200 chart, Kendrick Lamar’s new album “GNX” has made a strong performance, rising from last week’s No. 4 to reclaim the No. 1 spot. Within just one week of this quarter, the album has achieved total equivalent album sales of 236,000, which includes 117,000 from streaming equivalent album units (equating to about 161 million on-demand streams), 116,000 physical albums, and 3,000 single equivalent album units. This marks the best performance since the album debuted at No. 1 in its first week of 2024, and it’s his second time topping the charts, showcasing Kendrick’s enduring appeal in the market.
Alongside the stellar performance of “GNX,” his two classic albums, “DAMN.” and “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” have made their way back into the top ten, ranking at 9th and 10th respectively. These albums saw a significant rise from last week’s positions of 29th and 27th. This week, “DAMN.” amassed a total of 39,000 equivalent album units, while “good kid, m.A.A.d city” reached 37,000 equivalent album units. Notably, it has been quite some time since these albums last entered the top ten—”DAMN.” last appeared in the top ten back in March 2018, and this marks the first time “good kid, m.A.A.d city” has returned to the top ten since November 2012, showcasing the enduring appeal of Kendrick’s classic works.
This week’s Billboard 200 features some eye-catching highlights. SZA, who performed alongside Kendrick during 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 for having three albums simultaneously in the top ten of the Billboard 200. This not only serves as a tremendous affirmation of his musical talent but also further solidifies his status as one of the most influential figures in the world of rap music.
