In a spectacular debut on the charts, Drake and 21 Savage's collaborative album, "Her Loss," seizes the No. 1 spot, marking the most significant first-week numbers for a hip-hop album in 2022.
The album garnered an impressive 404,000 album-equivalent units in the U.S., surpassing Kendrick Lamar's "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" by 100,000 units. "Her Loss" nearly doubled the initial figures of Drake's dance-focused record, "Honestly, Nevermind," and exceeded the performance of his previous release, "Certified Lover Boy."
Streaming played a pivotal role, constituting the majority of "Her Loss" units, amassing a staggering 514 million on-demand streams across its 16 tracks. This achievement secured the duo the fourth-largest streaming week for an album, with Drake now holding substantial real estate in streaming records.
The collaboration between 21 Savage and Drake propels the former to his third No. 1 album and establishes Drake as the third artist with the most No. 1s on the Billboard 200 chart. Only behind the Beatles and Jay-Z, Drake now boasts 12 chart-toppers.
The drama-infused lyrics of "Her Loss" have not only dominated the charts but also sparked headlines. The album addresses various celebrities and musicians, including references to Megan Thee Stallion. The duo faced a $4 million lawsuit from media company Condé Nast over a fake magazine cover used to promote the album.
In the realm of 2022 album openings, "Her Loss" claims the third-biggest week, trailing only Taylor Swift's "Midnights" and Harry Styles' "Harry's House."
Swift's "Midnights" drops to No. 2 on the charts, maintaining a strong presence after historic numbers in its debut weeks. Meanwhile, Lil Baby's "It's Only Me" and Bad Bunny's "Un Verano Sin Ti" secure the third and fourth positions, respectively.
Joji's "Smithereens" enters the top 10 at No. 5, while Morgan Wallen's "Dangerous: The Double Album" slips to No. 6. The Weeknd's "The Highlights" holds the No. 7 spot, with the remaining positions filled by Styles, Zach Bryan, and Steve Lacy.
As Swift gears up for a record-breaking U.S. stadium tour in 2023, the charts showcase the dynamic landscape of the music industry, marked by impressive debuts and continued chart presence.
