Lil Uzi Vert's "Pink Tape" might be the first Hip-Hop Album to debut this year at the Billboard 200 charts, but Travis Scott's "Utopia" is the biggest opening week for the said genre and the third for any album overall.
A day after the weekly Billboard 200 chart has been delayed for the second consecutive time, "Utopia" was announced as this week's chart leader; staying true to how it was projected to land by sources last week.
Travis Scott 'Utopia' on Billboard 200 Debut
According to Luminate, Billboard's Official Data Cruncher, "Utopia" amassed 477,000 album-equivalent units on Aug. 3, 2023, making it the third biggest opening week for any album, following Morgan Wallen's "One Thing at a Time," and Taylor Swift's "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)."
Out of the said total units, 243,000 are attributed to streaming which equalled to 330,68 on-demand streams in the country, making it the second-biggest streaming week of 2023, next to Taylor Swift's "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)."
As for physical album sales, more than half of the actual units make up for it with 252,000 units, making it the second largest sales week of 2023, again, next to Taylor Swift's "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)."
Although track units only comprised 1,000, the album became the biggest opening week for any Hip-Hop project, now ranking before Lil Uzi Vert's "Pink Tape," and Young Thug's "Business is Business."
As for Vinyl Sales, Luminate recorded that Travis Scott's 55,000 copies of "Utopia" marked the biggest sales week for an R&B/hip-hop or rap album on vinyl since the publication tracked in 1991. He sold the said number as an individual purchase and not part of the boxed set. Regardless if it's sold within a box or not, it is still undisputable.
Compared to "Astroworld," "Utopia" performed commercially poorer as the former debuted above the half million frame with 537,000 units. Album sales and streaming numbers, "Utopia" did not outperform its predecessor.
READ ALSO: Travis Scott NEW Concert Venue: Rapper to Perform in Rome After Pyramid Show Cancellation
Post Malone 'Austin' on Billboard 200 Debut
Meanwhile, Posty's latest album, "Austin," arrived at #2 again like its predecessor, "Twelve Carat Toothache." It racked up 113,000 album units - 78,000 in streaming, 34,000 in album sales, and 1,000 in tracks. Of the 78,000, 11,500 copies are from vinyl, marking Posty's biggest vinyl debut ever.
Wallen's "One Thing At A Time" retains at #3, while "Barbie" dips to #4, "Speak NOw (Taylor's Version)" is at #5, NewJeans "GetUp" at #6, and Peso Pluma's "Genesis" at #7. Former #1s complete the remaining spot with "Midnights," "Dangerous" and "Lover," respectively occupying #8, #9, and #10. (via Billboard)
