Refreshed reports indicate Nicki Minaj‘s previously forecasted reign atop next week’s Billboard 200 with her fourth official studio, ‘Queen,’ is on track to be blocked from the tally’s perch by this week’s champion Travis Scott.
Scott, who took the #1 position on the chart from Minaj’s Young Money brother Drake, shocked fans and industry analysts alike when his latest project – ‘Astroworld’ – bowed at #1 with 537,000 units shifted (the second largest debut this year to date). Coming as his second chart-topper overall, the set was originally predicted to shift at least a third of those sales in week #2. While updated information suggests his second week sales will fall a bit shy of that projection, they’re still believed to be just enough to keep ‘Queen’ at bay.
Details inside:
As we reported here, Minaj’s ‘Queen’ was initially predicted to sell 135-150k SPS its first week (click here to read more). Since then, those predicted figures have been increased by 10,000. See the updated HDD info below:
- Travis Scott (Cactus Jack/Grand Hustle/Epic) 155-165k Total, 40-50k Albums
- *Nicki Minaj (YMCMB/Republic) 145-155k, 56-61k
- Drake (YMCMB/Republic) 97-102k, 8-9k
- *Trippie Redd (TenThousand) 65-70k, 13-15k
- Post Malone (Republic) 53-58k, 4-5k
- Juice WRLD (Grade A/Interscope) 34-37k, <1k
- Cardi B (Atlantic) 32-35k, 1-2k
- XXXTentacion (Bad Vibes Forever) 30-33k, 1-2k
- *Jason Mraz (Atlantic) 27-30k, 23-26k
- YG (Def Jam) 23-26k, 2-3k
*****
Before the rapstress’s detractors begin to celebrate, they should be aware there’s a plot twist: ‘Fefe’ – Minaj’s megahit with rapper 6ix9ine – could see its sales counted toward ‘Queen’s first week as it is now included on its tracklist (on some outlets as Track #20). If so, those numbers could give her just the slight push she needs to edge Scott from the top spot.
The race is tight! We’ll find out on Saturday who’ll be deemed champion.
Your thoughts?