Final Numbers Are In: Drake Misses #1 Spot For First Time Since 2009 with ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’

Published: Monday 11th May 2020 by Rashad

The element of surprise was one ever-present in the latest project cycle for serial hitmaker Drake.

Just two weeks after making history for seeing the third single of his career, ‘Toosie Slide,’ debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (click here to read more), the GRAMMY winner announced its parent project – the ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’ mixtape – would be released.

Usually a shoo-in for the top spot on the Billboard 200, his unexpected release placed him in one of the most heated races to the tally’s summit in recent memory as Country titan Kenny Chesney also unveiled his latest effort in the same time window.

Now, after a week of back-and-forth predictions that were “too close to call,” final figures unveiled the other element of surprise; Chesney narrowly crowned the chart champion over Drake.

Look inside to see just how many units it took for the upset:

Kenny Chesney’s ‘Here & Now’

First Week Sales (SPS):  233,000

First Week Sales (Pure):  222,000

First Week Billboard 200 Placement:  #1

Report:

“Here and Now’s debut was largely powered by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer with Chesney’s upcoming tour.”

 

Drake’s ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’

First Week Sales (SPS):  223,000

First Week Sales (Pure):  22,000

First Week Billboard 200 Placement:  #2

Report:

“Dark Lane Demo Tapes’ debut week was largely fueled by streaming activity. Of its 223,000-unit launch, 201,000 are in SEA units. That SEA sum equates to 269.1 million on-demand streams of the set’s songs — making it the biggest streaming album of the week, by far; the third-largest streaming week of 2020; and the second-biggest debut streaming frame of the year…”

*****

Because ‘Dark’s sales were not aided by a tour bundle or a physical edition, it finished second in the race to top the Billboard 200.  As such, it becomes the first Drake-toplined project to miss the top spot since his 2009 EP ‘So Far Gone’ hit #5 on the tally. ending a decade-long streak of #1s.

There’s a bright side for the his fans, however.  In the absence of the padding enjoyed by Chesney, the rapper’s high-powered streams will most likely sustain it on next week’s tally as traditionally projects that hit #1 based on bundling experience major drops in their second weeks.

Thus, next week may see Drizzy’s latest ascend to the Billboard 200 throne.

[main photo courtesy:  Getty Images]

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  1. Ugghh May 11, 2020

    He’ll live. Congrats to both

  2. PinotNoir May 11, 2020

    Halleloo. Come thru, pure sales!

  3. NawNaw May 11, 2020

    I didn’t think I’d ever see the day when drake didn’t have a number 1 album. Then again, this new music does suck

    • Meme May 11, 2020

      Well it’s not really an album. It wasn’t promoted or released like an album. This was a project.

      • my+name May 11, 2020

        @meme
        all albums and ep’s are projects.
        period

      • Meme May 11, 2020

        @my+name actually no they are not. Rappers release mix tapes and projects that are different from full albums. I know you know this so don’t act dumb. Meg has like 3 projects out and still ain’t never release a debut album for example.

      • my+name May 11, 2020

        sweetheart, you young kids want to try so hard to break things down. as an artist i’m here to tell you that they are all considered “projects”

      • my+name May 11, 2020

        and watch your mouth calling people dumb. i don’t play all that trash talking, stay in your lane.

      • Meme May 11, 2020

        @my+name what you gonna do? Type me to death? You are right, we are not in the same lane and I am pretty sure I am older than you. So you need to have some respect and hear sense. You’ve completely missed my point.

        In the rap world, all projects are not albums. And this release by Drake was not album. I don’t care how you try to flip it. He also released Care package last year, which was also a project and not an album. You have to dumb dumb to not understand this.

  4. 2bad2bme May 11, 2020

    Savage #1 Say So #2 LMAOOOOO. Know ya place haters.

    • NawNaw May 11, 2020

      Is this confirmed?! Receipts?!!!

      • 2bad2bme May 11, 2020

        Yes it is.

      • NawNaw May 11, 2020

        Where are the receipts?!! 🤣😂 Please let this be true!

    • Lana Del Fan May 11, 2020

      On what chart? Billboard says Savage is number 4, and Say So is number 6.

  5. Section8DaGreat May 11, 2020

    The Garbs were celebrating too soon 🤣🤣🤣🤣
    Chart data made a mistake and posted Say So is number 1 but then re-posted it at #2. The Garbs continue to make Nicki Van D*** look stupid.

    • NawNaw May 11, 2020

      Where are the receipts?! I don’t see this on chart data

      • Section8DaGreat May 11, 2020

        Sorry, I read it on a troll page. Fingers crossed though 🤣🤣🤣🤣

      • NawNaw May 11, 2020

        Y’all over here raising my blood pressure lol

  6. JC May 11, 2020

    Guess it is true what they say about Country music fans. They actually go out and buy albums; look at those pure sales! Some of your faves have streaming to thank BIG TIME for saving them.

  7. Haterz+Gon‘+Hate May 11, 2020

    Like this is what happens when you get to a point in your career where you’ve been so successful and then you put out a freaking mixtape full of Šhît and the expectation is that regardless of the quality that Šhît it will automatically debut at no.1 and people will crow it’s the best thing since sliced bread. 🤷🏾‍♂️

    Drake done been played out and oversaturated the market serving us mediocre a’la Monde since More Love. No Drakeisha. Just NO. Go get inspired and come back with the 🔥🔥🔥 beats and bars.

  8. Onika+The+R*****+Whisperer May 11, 2020

    Poor Drakeesha LMAOOOOO

  9. JOHNVIDAL May 13, 2020

    Drake´s number ones are somehow very inflated by streaming. I don´t think he is having that much impact on the masses. I don´t feel like he is an Adele or something like that. It is very superficial.

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