The Predictions Are In [Billboard 200]: ‘$exy $ongs 4 U’ Set to Open to One of Drake’s Lowest First-Week Sales to Date

‘Back to Back’ hitmaker Drake has spent most of his 20-year Rap career placing back-to-back albums atop the Billboard 200 with some of the biggest opening sums in Hip Hop history.

And while his newest effort, the PARTYNEXTDOOR-assisted ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U,’ will likely keep his streak of chart-topping alive, industry analysts are predicting it will do so via a steep decline in premiere sales compared to its predecessors.

Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR’s ‘$$$4U’

Predicted First-Week Sales (SPS): 250,000 units

Predicted First-Week Sales (Pure): 28,000 units

Predicted Billboard 200 Debut:  #1

Home to the warmly received cuts ‘Gimme a Hug’ and ‘Nokia,’ the 21-track cut is predicted to debut at #1 on next week’s Billboard 200 with opening sales north of 250,000.

If the prediction rings true, the premiere figure will mark one of the lowest of the Canadian rapper’s career to date among his studio albums.

When all his LPs are considered, only 2022’s ‘Honestly Nevermind‘ arrived with a lower first-week commercial performance (204,000).

Drake’s First-Week Sales (Studio Albums)

Drake – Views – 1,040,000

Drake – Scorpion: 732,000

Drake – Nothing Was the Same: 658,000

Drake – Take Care: 631,000

Drake – Certified Lover Boy: 613,000

Drake – Thank Me Later: 447,000

Drake – Her Loss: 404,000

Drake – For All the Dogs: 402,000

Drake – Honestly Nevermind: 204,000

On the flip side, ‘$$$4U’ is en route to not only marking the milestone 14th chart-topper of Drizzy’s career but will also tie him with Taylor Swift and JAY-Z for most #1 hits on the all-genre chart among all solo artists.

What’s more, the Billboard 200 victory will see him unseat arch nemesis Kendrick Lamar who returned to the top of the tally after his epic Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Keep it locked to That Grape Juice to see the final figure Drake and PND report when official news drops on Sunday (February 23).