Travis Scott has successfully defended his crown with Astroworld remaining at the top of the Billboard 200.
After debuting #1 last week with 537,000 units, Scott moved an additional 205,000 (78k traditional) this week, maintaining it’s #1 position on the charts.
Nicki Minaj, who did everything imaginable to help boost sales—doing interviews with everyone (except Joe Budden, of course), name-dropping the entire industry on “Barbie Dreams,” adding the already platinum “FEFE” with 6ix9ine to the tracklist after the album dropped, spilling tea on her ex and Tyga, attaching album downloads to tickets sold for her and Future’s upcoming tour, the list goes on—comes in at #2 with QUEEN obtaining 185,000 (78k traditional) units in its first week.
Never one to bow out gracefully (and to be clear, having the #2 album in the world shouldn’t be considered defeat), Nicki wasted no time jumping on Twitter to offer more excuses and boast about past achievements. From her debut selling 400k and Spotify “teaching her a lesson” to Travis using Kylie Jenner and their baby to boost sales.
Travis sold over 50K of these. With no requirement of redeeming the album! With no dates for a tour, etc. I spoke to him. He knows he doesn’t have the #1 album this week. I love my fans for the #1 album in AMERICA! I’ll explain on #QueenRadio 4 albums in, #1 in 86 countries ♥️ pic.twitter.com/CiYEuczgm3
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
My first album sold 400K. No one is doing that with debut albums now. So I’m so grateful. I lost out on 12 hours of sales and did 200K in one week after I was supposedly cancelled. I bit my tongue last #QueenRadio but I won’t On Tuesday. I love you guys so much
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
I looked at the numbers the Carters, Kanye, Nas, etc recently did. Travis sold 200K in his first week of clothes alone. I spoke to him last night & he said he’s been selling clothes b4 the music. Billboard says they’ll change the rules cuz of this, so it should be changed now!
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
I put my blood sweat & tears in writing a dope album only for Travis Scott to have Kylie Jenner post a tour pass telling ppl to come see her & Stormi. lol. Im actually laughing. #Queen broke the record of being number 1 in 86 countries. Thank Jesus & thank you to my fans.
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
Spotify put drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio. Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this. #Queen
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
My label didn’t want to defend me for fear of Spotify trying to teach Ariana a “lesson” too! https://t.co/1dAdbcbWVd
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018
Fun fact: Cardi B‘s Invasion of Privacy album debuted at #1 by moving 255,000 units. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
