Before this week only one album by a Black woman could boast a 300-week stay on the Billboard 200: Rihanna‘s 2016-released ‘Anti.’

However, thanks to the ongoing success of SZA‘s 2017 debut album, ‘CTRL,’ that exclusive club just gained a new member.

While eyes have mostly been on the historic run of SZA’s sophomore effort, 2022’s blockbuster ‘SOS,’ its predecessor is quietly making history in its own right.

Found at #23 on the latest Billboard 200, the critically acclaimed project – which features the hit singles ‘Love Galore,’ ‘The Weekend, and ‘Broken Clocks’ – clocked its 300th print this week.

In doing so, it not only becomes the second album by a Black woman to have as long of a stay in the tally’s 78-year history but it also marks only the third time any woman has watched a debut album collect as many weeks.

Before SZA, only Lady Gaga (2008’s ‘The Fame‘) and Lana Del Rey (2012’s ‘Born to Die’) could boast seeing their inaugural studio projects remain on the Billboard 200 for 300+ weeks.  At writing, the latter ladies’ efforts have amassed 305 and 474 weeks of charting respectively.

Billboard 200 This Week

When all female albums are considered, ‘CTRL’ currently ranks #8 on the hitlist’s all-time longest-charting list.

Billboard 200’s Longest-Charting Female Albums

*as of time reported*

1 – Adele’s ’21’ (554 weeks)

2 – Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born to Die’ (474 weeks)

3- Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ (430 weeks)

4 – Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ (358 weeks)

5 – Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’ (318 weeks)

6 – Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ (314 weeks)

7 – Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame’ (305 weeks)

8 – SZA’s ‘CTRL’ (300 weeks)

9 – Taylor Swift’s ‘Taylor Swift’ (275 weeks)

[photo source: Billboard]

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