Whoever said R&B is dead needs to recheck its pulse. For, this week marks the first time in nearly a decade the entire Billboard 200’s top 5 is made up solely of Urban acts (Hip Hop/R&B).
Indeed, Tamar Braxton, Drake, Future, The Weeknd, Fetty Wap, and, of course, pop queen Janet Jackson, are all in control of this week’s tally and waving the flag for Urban music high. This is particularly the case for the latter who, as reported here, will not only bow at #1 with her long-awaited 11th album ‘Unbreakable,’ but will also break a few records along the way.
As if selling out arenas and topping charts without any traditional promo isn’t enough cause to celebrate, the ‘Escapade’ diva now has a new distinct honor to raise her glass to. Find out what it is below and get your official chart check:
Billboard 200 Top 10
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Janet Jackson – ‘Unbreakable’ (116k)
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The Weeknd – ‘Beauty Behind the Madness’ (73k)
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Drake & Future – ‘What A Time To Be Alive’ (65k)
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Fetty Wap – ‘Fetty Wap’ (64k)
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Tamar Braxton – ‘Calling All Lovers’ (43k)
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Taylor Swift – ‘1989’ (38k)
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Thomas Rhett – ‘Tangled Up’ (32k)
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George Strait – ‘Cold Beer Conversation’ (32k)
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Luke Bryan – ‘Kill the Lights’ (30k)
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Don Henley – ‘Cass County’ (29k)
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With her 7th #1 release ‘Unbreakable’ at age 49, Janet Jackson has become the only artist of color and youngest artist overall to score a number 1 album over four separate decades.
Unbreakable is Jackson’s first studio album since 2008’s Discipline, which also debuted at No. 1. Jackson previously led the list with All For You (2001), The Velvet Rope (1997), janet. (1993), Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) and Control (1986).
Among women with the most No. 1 albums, Jackson has the third-most leaders. Only Barbra Streisand (with 10) and Madonna (eight) have more.
Streisand and Jackson are also in rare company: along with Bruce Springsteen, the three performers are the only acts with No. 1 albums in the last four decades: ’10s, ’00s, ‘90s and ’80s.
Note: Streisand was in her 50s and Springsteen was in his 60s when they respectively achieved the feat of having a #1 album over four decades.