NEWS: Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE." Knocks Ed Sheeran Off #1 Spot

Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE." Knocks Ed Sheeran Off #1 Spot

Kendrick Lamar is a "DAMN." juggernaut.

According to Billboard, Kendrick Lamar just scored his first number one single as a solo artist. Lamar's debut single "HUMBLE." has officially ended Ed Sheeran's godlike twelve-week run at the top, and secured Lamar another milestone in his already successful career. DAMN. is proving to be simultaneously critically acclaimed and commercially viable, set to rake in an approximated 603,000 equivalent album units in its first week alone. Those who love to discuss numbers should know that the first-week sales record was previously held by Drake's More Life. 

Kendrick's follow up single "DNA." also secured a spot in the top five, landing at number four. 

BILLBOARD: Big Sean's "I Decided" Debuts Atop Billboard 200, Surpasses Sales Projections

Big Sean's "I Decided" Debuts Atop Billboard 200, Surpasses Sales Projections

Big Sean has exceeded expectations with his fourth studio album.

Big Sean has earned his second #1 album on the Billboard 200 with I Decided, Billboard revealed Sunday. The Detroit rapper's fourth studio album moved 151,000 equivalent album units in its first week, surpassing Billboard's original projections of 120,000 and making it his second consecutive solo album to top the charts. 65,000 units of the total figure are attributed to traditional album sales.

The album falls slightly short of Sean's 2015 release, Dark Sky Paradise's first week, which topped out at 173,000 equivalent album units. 

The album replaces Migos' sophomore album CULTURE at the top of the Billboard 200. Last week, Migos earned their first #1 album with 131,000 in equivalent album sales. The album moved 44,000 units traditionally and 10,000 in track equivalent album units. Streaming made up for the remaining 59% of the total figure.

NEWS: Drake's Competition in 2017 Might Just Be His Father

Drake's Competition in 2017 Might Just Be His Father

The way most of us met Dennis Graham was indirect. Before we laid eyes on the man and his remarkable mustache, we were introduced to the Memphis native via the work of his son, Aubrey Graham, better known to planet Earth residents as Drake. From the beginning of his career -- literally, from the very first track of his first studio album -- Drake has put his father right in his lyrical crosshairs: "My dad called me up knowing that I still listen/ And he’s still got his foot out, guilt trippin’/ It’s been years, though, I just learn to deal with it," he raps on "Fireworks" off 2010's Thank Me Later. Even on one of the rapper’s latest releases, "Two Birds, One Stone," Drake continues to paint a portrait of Graham through unflinching vignettes that often show a rocky, but immensely formative relationship.

"It was good to hear some things," Graham admits about Drake’s lyrics. "We had a discussion about some of the things that were said, and it’s all good. Because I know why he was doing it. He explained to me why, so it made it alright."

READ MORE

Drake Performs New Song in Amsterdam, Vows to Release 'More Life' Soon

And it hasn’t dampened the sheer joy of watching his son rise from aspiring actor to one of the world’s most recognizable creative voices. "He did what I always thought I would do," Graham says. "I always thought that I would be that big star, and I never made it. But Drake did it and I felt like, by him doing it, I had made it."

But now Graham is finally making an honest run at his own solo career, with a new single and album to follow. In many ways, he was just as -- if not more -- positioned for fame than Drake.

He was raised in Memphis (Graham won’t reveal his exact age) with music in his blood. His uncle was Willie Mitchell, a producer who worked for the Memphis soul label Hi Records, perhaps best known for his work with Al Green. His cousin, Teenie Hodges, would grow up to be a prolific guitarist and songwriter for Green, too. There’s an incorrect factoid out there that Graham’s mother babysat Aretha Franklin. It was actually his grandmother and Tina Turner, he says. But it seems Graham was never very far from talent, including his own.

READ MORE

Drake's Dad to Drop R&B Album, Previews Title Track 'Kinda Crazy'

He taught himself to play the piano, guitar, and drums as a kid. Raised by a single mother to the sounds of B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Little Johnny Taylor, and Sam Cooke, Graham often had to be resourceful. His first drum kit was a converted tin bathtub. His cousin accompanied him on the cardboard box.

Graham has pretty much been in one band or another his whole life. Around age 18, he lucked into a gig drumming with Jerry Lee Lewis. He was hanging out at a Memphis club called the Hot Air Balloon when Lewis’ drummer walked across the street for a beer and cigarettes. Problem was, he didn’t have any cash. "So he robbed her. He pulled a pistol out," Graham recalls. "I’m glad I didn’t go to the store with him." Instead Graham walked upstairs to deliver the unfortunate news to Lewis that his drummer was currently a fugitive. He ended up covering that night, and would continue to work with Lewis whenever the two crossed paths.

Graham eventually moved to Toronto. He met Drake’s mother, Sandi, after a set one night at Club Bluenote. When Drake was about five -- right around the age his parents split -- Graham remembers bringing him onstage to play the tambourine. He was a regular at jam sessions between Graham and Teenie Hodges. "It’s in [Drake's] blood,” Graham says plainly.

When Drake was around nine years old, Graham remembers his son proposing a $5 bet. “I’m going to do more music than you ever did. I’m going to do more movies than you ever did,” the younger Graham said confidently. His father agreed to the deal. He finally paid his debt in 2009. Thankfully, Drake did not charge interest.

But it seems the bet might not officially be won just yet. Just over a month ago, Graham released his new single, "Kinda Crazy." The video should be out in February or March. Is there more on the way -- an album, perhaps? "One hundred percent," Graham says before correcting himself: "One thousand percent." Despite a brief moment of social media indigestion, where Graham threatened over Instagram to unfollow anyone who didn’t buy his single (he insists it was a marketing technique, a form of “reverse psychology,”), he says he’s pleased with the song’s reception.

“Kinda Crazy” is probably not what most expected, especially critics looking for an easy punch line. Graham’s deep and surprisingly warm voice drapes over a slow-burning ‘90s instrumental, ripe with slick electric guitar picking and cascading piano that, when combined, form an undeniable sonic aphrodisiac. It’s got a fur-coat sensuality about it, and shows the bones of what could be an interesting album -- one which might just feature a very special guest verse. “[Drake and I will] eventually get around to doing something together sooner or later,” Graham says.

The work he’s done so far apparently already has Drizzy's seal of approval. Graham loves that he can share his work with his son now, and the crossover star has apparently been returning the favor. Graham has heard most of his son’s secretive new project, More Life, which prominently features Graham himself on its album art. He affirms it is "worth waiting for -- trust me." Anything else he can share about it? No luck -- Pop’s been in the game too long to fall for that one: “You’re trying to get me killed.”

NEWS: Drake Ties The Beatles' Record Of 14 Simultaneous Billboard Hot 100 Hits

Drake Ties The Beatles' Record Of 14 Simultaneous Billboard Hot 100 Hits

In addition to having every song from "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Drake has now tied the record for most songs simultaneously on the Hot 100. 

In recent months, The Beatles have popped up in hip-hop discussions thanks to Migos and Kanye West, but Drake is perhaps the only rapper who's currently competing with their run of dominance in the mid-to-late 1960s. In the wake of releasing If You're Reading This It's Too Late, he's already gotten each of the tape's 21 tracks onto Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and now he's tied the Fab Four's record for most simultaneous appearances on the Hot 100, with fourteen songs currently charting. 

Drizzy previously came close to this tally in October 2013, when 12 Nothing Was The Same Tracks hit the chart, but he now ties a record that's stood since 1964. Last October, he topped another Beatles record when he notched his 72nd career entry in the Hot 100. Check out his current chart positions below:

No. 16, “Only,” Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown

No. 17, “Truffle Butter,” Minaj featuring Drake & Lil Wayne

No. 26, “Energy”

No. 49, “Tuesday,” iLoveMakonnen featuring Drake

No. 52, “Legend”

No. 58, “10 Bands”

No. 68, “Blessings,” Big Sean featuring Drake

No. 70, “Know Yourself” (debut)

No. 81, “No Tellin’ ” (debut)

No. 82, “Preach,” featuring PartyNextDoor

No. 83, “6 God” (debut)

No. 84, “Used To,” featuring Lil Wayne

No. 95, “Now & Forever” (debut)

No. 97, “6 Man” (debut)

Is this dude a legend yet?

[via]

NEWS: Billboard’s 2015 Power 100 List Revealed

 Billboard’s 2015 Power 100 List Revealed  

The cover features Kanye West, Lana Del Ray and Lucian Grainge.

Kanye West covers Billboard's Power 100 issue.

Yeezus season is approaching. For his latest headlining news, Kanye West covers Billboard‘s annual Power 100 issue.

Draped in all black, Kanye goes the usual “no smile” route, while sitting alongside fellow Universal Music Group artist Lana Del Rey and UMG chairman/CEO Lucian Grange, who ranks #1 on the power list.

The rest of the list includes people like Apple’s Jimmy Iovine, Roc Nation’s Jay Brown, Epic Records’ L.A. Reid and Sylvia Rhone, and Cash Money’s Birdman and Slim. If you like, you can peep the full list here.

Looking ahead, Kanye is going to be one busy man in the coming weeks. Not only is he slated to perform alongside Rihanna at this Sunday's Grammy Awards, but he's also set to debut a a new song as well. Aside from that though, we just found out yesterday that Yeezy will also be a part of this year's NBA All-Star weekend, which comes the week after the unveiling of his new Adidas x Yeezi 3 collab.

Peep the Billboard cover in the gallery above.

[Via]

NEWS: First Week Sales For Fabolous' "The Young OG Project" [Update: Final Numbers Arrive From Billboard]

First Week Sales For Fabolous' "The Young OG Project" [Update: Final Numbers Arrive From Billboard]

Fabolous moves just under 100k in the first week out.

Fabolous has sort of made a tradition out of dropping projects on Christmas day, and this year was no different with his new album The Young OG Projecthitting iTunes on December 25th.

The '90s inspired album seems to be doing well out the gate, and HitsDailyDouble arrives with some first week sales for the album today. Whereas Billboard has been counting a mix of sales and digital streams, this number from HDD appears to be just sales, and so it could be updated slightly once Billboard reveals their stats.

Nonetheless, HDD reports that Fab moved 72,000 units opening week, which will likely land him within the top 10 of the Billboard 200. 

Did you cop The Young OG Project? Initial thoughts? Share in the comment section below.

On a related note, it appears J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive moved another 105,000 copies in its third week out, which beats Nicki Minaj's second week out with The Pinkprint, which moved 104,000.

[Update: Final Numbers Arrive From Billboard]

As we expected, we get a slightly updated number for Fabolous' The Young OG Project with Billboard revealing their stats. Loso actually did 71,000 units, which didn't quite get him in the top 10, but he is rounding out the top 12 at #12.

As for J. Cole and Nicki Minaj, when we bring digital streams into the mix, The Pinkprint actually outdid 2014 Forest Hills Drive this week. Billboard reports from Neilsen SoundScan that Nicki did 156,000 units total, with sales of just 105,000. J. Cole did 120,000 units total, with sales of 104,000.

SHORT FILM: My City: Exploring Atlanta's Rap Scene With Raury, OG Maco & More

My City: Exploring Atlanta's Rap Scene With Raury, OG Maco & More

Watch as Billboard takes us to Atlanta and explores both the sound and city.

We've seen the Atlanta rap scene and their accompanying sound takeover much of 2014, so it was only a matter of time before the documentaries focused on the buzzing rappers from ATL start pouring in. Billboard debuts just that with their new video series "My City," where Erika Ramirez explores the city and meets up with several key components: Raury, OG Maco, Key!, Father and more. Awful Records is one of the crews on the rise right now, where as rappers like Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan are fully established within the Atlanta game. While both parties can be considered part of Atlanta's "new school," Awful Records is undeniably "newer."

Watch the quick 10-minute documentary above.

NEWS: Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint" Debuts At #2 On Billboard

Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint" Debuts At #2 On Billboard

Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint" debuts at #2 on Billboard with 244,000 units.

The numbers are in, and Nicki Minaj's The Pinkprint comes in at #2 on Billboard with a total of 244,000 units. Nicki's third studio album sold 194,000 physical and digital copies, making it #3 in actual albums sold behind both Taylor Swift's 1989 (#1) and Pentronix's That's Christmas To Me (#2), however, under Billboard's new scale that counts in digital streams, Minaj placed second behind Taylor Swift. 

The Pinkprint outperformed prognosticator projections which originally had the Young Money emcee at around 165,000 sales with an additional 15,000 coming from album streams. 

Still, Minaj's third album falls short of the first week sales of her sophomore release, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which debuted at #1 with a total of 253,000 albums sold in it's first week. 

Have you picked up a copy of The Pinkprint? Let us know what you think of the new album, and read our review of it here.

[via Billboard]

VIDEOS: My City: Exploring Atlanta's Rap Scene With Raury, OG Maco & More

 My City: Exploring Atlanta's Rap Scene With Raury, OG Maco & More

Watch as Billboard takes us to Atlanta and explores both the sound and city.

We've seen the Atlanta rap scene and their accompanying sound takeover much of 2014, so it was only a matter of time before the documentaries focused on the buzzing rappers from ATL start pouring in. Billboard debuts just that with their new video series "My City," where Erika Ramirez explores the city and meets up with several key components: Raury, OG Maco, Key!, Father and more. Awful Records is one of the crews on the rise right now, where as rappers like Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan are fully established within the Atlanta game. While both parties can be considered part of Atlanta's "new school," Awful Records is undeniably "newer."

Watch the quick 10-minute documentary above.

CHARTS DON'T LIE: Big Sean Earns Third No. 1 Single On Billboard’s

Big Sean Earns Third No. 1 Single On Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart

Big Sean’s latest single “I Don’t F–k With You” featuring E-40 has reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart earning the Detroit rapper the third No. 1 single in his career. According to Billboard, the single picked up some extra steam this week, climbing 4% with 67,000 digital downloads. The songs also saw a significant increase among all monitored streaming services. B-I-G’s previous chart topping songs were 2011′s “Marvin & Chardonnay” featuring Kanye West and Roscoe Dash and “Mercy” with West, Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz (2012).

Hip-hop artists have been making a lot of history on Billboard recently. The Young Money camp has flourished with Nicki Minaj recently passing Michael Jackson for number of Billboard Hot 100 entries and Drake surging past the Beatles in the same category.