Jay-Z’s ‘4:44′ Album Becomes His 14th No. 1 On Billboard 200 Chart

Better late than never. Two weeks after dropping his new LP, 4:44, JAY-Z’s album now sits atop the Billboard 200 chart, making it the rapper’s 14th album to do so.

Jay was pretty close to sales predictions. According to Nielsen Music, the project moved 262,000 equivalent album units – with 174,00 coming for traditional album sales – for the week ending July 13.

Jigga’s album, which was released on June 30 and has already been certified platinum, would have topped the charts last week. But Tidal did not report their streaming numbers to Nielsen Music for the first seven days. The album was initially a Tidal and Sprint exclusive and then offered for free to users on a special website. Those downloads helped the album reach platinum status, but they did not assist in helping the album climb the Billboard charts. This past week was a different story.

The tally marks the fourth biggest album release of 2017, only behind Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN., Drake’s More Life and Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide).

Hov has now topped the charts on every one of his albums since 1998’s Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. His other three No. 1 albums include collaborative efforts with R. Kelly (Unfinished Business), Linkin Park (MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents: Collision Course) and Kanye West (Watch the Throne). He is the crown holder for most solo albums to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the history of the chart.

Jay recently announced he would be embarking on the 4:44 Tour. Hov will have a couple of months to kick it with the twins before he takes off in late October for the tour that will run up until Dec. 21.

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