Kendrick Lamar’s GNX has soared to the peak of the Billboard 200, achieving the largest first-week sales for any new rap album this year.
As reported by Billboard, the unexpected release launched at number one on the chart, achieving 319,000 equivalent album units, marking Kendrick’s sixth consecutive album to reach this position.
Of that total, streaming represented 285,000 units (equating to 379.72 million on-demand plays), whereas 32,000 came from digital album sales. The leftover 2,000 units originated from TEA (track equivalent albums).
GNX holds the highest sales count of any new Hip Hop album in 2024, surpassing Tyler, The Creator‘s Chromakopia (299,500), Eminem‘s The Death of Slim Shady (281,000), and Future and Metro Boomin‘s We Don’t Trust You (251,000).
The sole rapper to sell more copies in a single week this year is Travis Scott, whose re-released mixtape Days Before Rodeo debuted with 361,000. The 2014 project became available on streaming services for the first time in August.
Regarding Kendrick’s discography, GNX is his third highest album for first-week sales, surpassed only by DAMN. (603,000) and To Pimp a Butterfly (324,000).
The Compton native’s prior release, 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, launched with 295,000 units, whereas his 2012 debut good kid, m.A.A.d city moved 242,000 copies in its first week.
GNX was originally anticipated to reach 291,000 units in its first week, but that estimate was later revised to a range of 310,000 to 325,000.
The album’s number one debut concludes a remarkable year for Kendrick, whose reputation has soared and legacy secured by overcoming Drake in their well-publicized feud that escalated over the summer.
The standout piece (and decisive hit) of his barrage of diss tracks was “Not Like Us,” which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and set multiple streaming records, ultimately becoming the best-selling song in the U.S. this year.
The anthem produced by Mustard has ignited a legal dispute between Drake and Universal Music Group, whom the 6 God claims have employed streaming bots and payola to enhance the popularity of “Not Like Us.”
Kendrick is expected to achieve further success on this week’s Hot 100, with GNX songs “Squabble Up” and “TV Off” competing for the number one spot on the singles chart.
