Playboi Carti has reached a significant milestone as his latest release, Music, debuts at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. This achievement marks his second album to secure the number one spot, further solidifying his position in the music industry ahead of an anticipated stadium tour.

According to data from Luminate, Music amassed 298,000 album equivalent units in its first week, driven predominantly by streaming, which accounted for a remarkable 283,000 of those units. In total, the album’s songs achieved a staggering 384 million on-demand streams, representing the most significant streaming week for any album in nearly a year. This surpassed the previous notable record held by Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poet’s Department, which accumulated 428.54 million streams during its second week in May 2024.

Previous Works and Album Performance

This latest release marks Carti’s third album to enter the Billboard 200’s Top 10, and it outperformed his previous number one album, Whole Lotta Red, which debuted with just over 100,000 units in January 2021. That album was certified gold in January 2022. Additionally, Carti’s debut project, Die Lit, also achieved gold status, debuting at number three with 61,000 first-week units.

After a year of anticipation and promise for new music, Carti’s single “2024” hinted at the album’s release, with lyrics teasing, “2024…music.” This excitement was built upon by a series of singles he released in 2023, which contributed significantly to the hype surrounding the album.

Launch Details and Pre-Order Information

In September 2024, Carti initiated the pre-order process for Music, offering physical copies and merchandise through his official web store. An announcement on the site indicated the digital version would be available “no later than six months from September 12th, 2024.” Ultimately, the album’s release occurred just two days after the anticipated deadline of March 12.

Current Chart Overview

The release of Music unseated Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, which had enjoyed a brief reign at number one before slipping to the second position, featuring 74,000 units sold. Kendrick Lamar’s GNX now occupies the third spot with 71,000 units, while PartyNextDoor and Drake’s collaborative effort, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, falls to fourth place with 66,000 units. Rounding out the top five is SZA’s SOS, which recorded 62,000 units in the same period.