Drake's 'Views' Tops Billboard 200, Breaks Hot 100 and Streaming Records [WATCH VIDEO]
Rapper Drake sets new records on Billboard. His new album "Views" takes the no. 1 spot on Billboard 200 and Hot 100 as well as establishes a new streaming record.
Drake's fourth studio album, which released on April 29, is off to a great start having bagged the no. 1 position of the Billboard 200 chart dated May 21. In other words, "Views" was the most popular album in the United States on the week ending May 5, with Nielsen Music reporting the album earned 1.04 million equivalent album units. This includes traditional album sales of 852,000 copies. "Views" is followed by Beyonce's "Lemonade," Prince's "Purple Rain," and Rihanna's "Anti."
Prior to "Views," Drake's previous albums consistently topped the chart, making his recent one the sixth set to sit at no. 1. The new album follows after 2015's "What a Time To Be Alive" and "If You're Reading This It's Too Late," 2013's "Nothing Was the Same," 2012's "Take Care," and 2010's "Thank Me Later."
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Drake also scored his first no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist with his "Views" single "One Song" which features WizKid and Kayla. The new milestone became his goal when "Hotline Bling" charted close to the top last year.
"If I get my first number one [as a lead] … it will be the biggest moment of my career," Drake posted on Instagram.
The Canadian rapper also previously topped the list twice as a featured artist in Rihanna's "What's My Name?" and "Work." Drake only reached the no. 2 spot with his 2009 hit "Best I Ever Had" and "Hotline Bling" last year.
In addition, Drake also broke another record, going down in history the only artist so far to have the most number of titles ranking in the chart in one week, an honor that previously belonged to Justin Bieber who had 17 songs. As of the new May 21 tally, Drake has 20 songs in the chart, including 16 debuts and 18 from "Views."
No. 1, "One Dance," feat. WizKid & Kyla (up from No. 2)
No. 6, "Work," Rihanna feat. Drake (holds at No. 6)
No. 21, "Pop Style," feat. The Throne (up from No. 40)
No. 33, "Hype" (NEW)
No. 34, "Controlla" (NEW)
No. 38, "Grammys," feat. Future (NEW)
No. 40, "Still Here" (NEW)
No. 44, "U With Me?" (NEW)
No. 45, "9" (NEW)
No. 47, "With You," feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR (NEW)
No. 49, "Childs Play" (NEW)
No. 52, "Too Good," feat. Rihanna (NEW)
No. 53, "Feel No Ways" (NEW)
No. 54, "Weston Road Flows" (NEW)
No. 61, "Redemption" (NEW)
No. 68, "Keep the Family Close" (NEW)
No. 72, "Faithful," feat. Pimp C & dvsn (NEW)
No. 75, "Fire & Desire" (NEW)
No. 86, "Views" (NEW)
No. 89, "Summer Sixteen" (down from No. 73)
This new record was achieved "in large part" to streaming, according to Billboard. The new album set a new streaming record. During its debut week, "Views" was streamed 245.1 million times in the country through Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming services where some of the songs were available. "Views'" streaming numbers exceeded the 115.2 million plays of Beyonce's "Lemonade."
