In this week’s edition of Chart Check, find out how Beyoncé stung all her competition with the surprise release of her self-titled visual album, how much R. Kelly’s 12th album sold in its first week, which producer scored a top 10 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, why no R&B song is budging Toni Braxton and Babyface’s “Hurt You” from No.1 and more.
Dates range from December 12 – December 19 (Billboard) and December 15 – December 21 (radio).
Billboard 200
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz….do you hear what I hear?! It’s the sound of Beyoncé returning back to her throne as Queen Bey. On midnight Friday (Dec. 13), without any promotion, Mrs.Carter dropped her fifth studio album on iTunes and sold 617,000 copies in its first week sales. It marks the highest first weeks sales for the R&B/pop superstar and her fifth studio album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200. According to Billboard, the latter fact makes her the first woman to hit No.1 with her first five studio albums.
Beyoncé isn’t the only R&B act reaching milestones on the Billboard 200 this week. The King of R&B R. Kelly scores his 15th top 10 album with “Black Panties” which debuted at No.4, selling 133,000 copies in its first week. It opened with higher numbers than his 2012 release, “Write Me Back,” which sold 68,000 copies and debuted at No.5.
Mary J.Blige’s holiday album “A Mary Christmas” falls from No.10 to No.11 this week. The festive set has sold 234,000. (released Oct. 15).
Justin Timberlake’s “The 20//20 Experience – 2 of 2” dips down three spots from No.24 to No.27.
Kem’s first holiday album “What Christmas Means” skyrockets from No.172 to No.74.
Other album positions
Various R&B artists – “The Best Man Holiday” soundtrack – No.56
Ariana Grande – “Yours Truly” – No.62
Robin Thicke – “Blurred Lines” – No.77
Tamar Braxton – “Love and War” – No.84
Justin Timberlake – “The 20/20 Experience” – No.94
John Legend – “Love in the Future” – No.94
Jhene Aiko – “Sail Out” – No.114
The Hot 100
R. Kelly makes his first single debut of the “Black Panties” era with “My Story” at No.89.
Jason Derulo’s “Marry Me” the second single from “Tattoos” rises from No. 33 to No.26.
Both Chris Brown’s and Sevyn Streeter’s current singles drop out the top 30 this week. “Love More” by Brown slides down from No.27 to No.31. Streeter’s “It Won’t Stop” featuring Chris Brown slips from No.30 to No.32.
The romantic ballad by John Legend “All of Me” climbs four slots from No.56 to No.52.
Other song positions
Justin Timberlake – “TKO” – No.61
August Alsina ft. Trinidad Jame$ – “I Luv This Sh*t” – No.63
Ariana Grande ft. Big Sean – “Right There” – No. 100
Billboard Digital Albums
The week’s top-downloaded albums across all genres, ranked by sales data as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan.
Beyoncé’s self-titled visual album made iTunes history, becoming the fastest-selling album worldwide on the online store with 828,773 albums sold in just three days. The album had no choice but to bow at No.1 on Billboard’s Digital Albums chart.
R. Kelly’s “Black Panties” falls in line two spots behind “Beyoncé” at No.3.
“A Mary Christmas” by Mary J.Blige slides down from No.12 to No.13. Meanwhile, “Sail Out” from Jhené Aiko rises from No. 24 to No. 17. (Peak: No.3)
Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
The week’s most popular R&B/hip-hop songs ranked by radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen BDS.
“It Won’t Stop” by Sevyn Streeter remains No.2. Meanwhile, August Alsina’s “I Luv This Sh*t” featuring Trinidad Jame$ stays at No.4. (Peak: No.2).
Rico Love’s “They Don’t Know” travels far from No.18 to No.10, making it his first top 10 as a solo artist on this chart.
Mack Wilds’ “Own It” from his Grammy nominated album “New York: Love Story” climbs from No.14 to No.13.
K.Michelle’s debut single “V.S.O.P.” breaks down three spots — from No.21 to No.25, after peaking No. 7.
Other song positions
Chris Brown featuring Nicki Minaj – “Love More” – No. 7
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell – “Blurred Lines” – No.12
Fantasia featuring Missy Elliott & Kelly Rowland – “Without Me” – No. 20
Billboard R&B Albums
In their respective order, here are the Top 5 R&B albums among R&B acts.
1. Beyoncé – “Beyoncé” (Hot Debut)
2. R. Kelly – “Black Panties” (Debut)
3. Mary J.Blige – “A Mary Christmas”
4. Justin Timberlake – “The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2”
5. Various R&B artists – “The Best Man Holiday” soundtrack
Other album positions
Jhené Aiko – “Sail Out” EP – No. 10
Sevyn Streeter – “Call Me Crazy, But…” – No.11 (Last week: No. 3)
Tamar Braxton – “Winter Loversland” – No.12 (Last week: No. 9)
Billboard Adult R&B Songs
For the third week, Toni Braxton and Babyface’s “Hurt You” holds the No.1 position on Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs chart.
Robin Thicke’s romantic jam “For The Rest of My Life” moves one slot from No.4 to No.3. The song appears on Thicke’s Grammy nominated album “Blurred Lines.”
John Legend’s “All of Me” stands at No.5 this week. (Last week: No. 6).
“Nobody But You” by Atlanta native Algebra Blessett jumps from No. 15 to No.13. (Peak position: No.11 after 22 weeks on the chart).
Mary J.Blige’s cover of “This Christmas” makes its journey from No.30 to No. 24 this week.
Other song positions
TGT – “I Need” – No. 10
Ledisi – “I Blame You” – No.17
Daley – “Look Up” – No. 21
Marsha Ambrosius featuring Ne-Yo – “Without You” – No.27 (Last week: No.24).
Urban radio
After four weeks at No.1 on Urban radio, Sevyn Streeter’s “It Won’t Stop” is dethroned by Drake’s “All of Me.” Streeter’s blazing single closes the week at No.2.
Lorde’s “Royals” climbs three spots from No.7 to No.4, reaching over 245 new radio spins since last week.
Rico Love’s “They Don’t Know” breaks into the top 10 for the first time, closing the week at No.9. (Last week: No.12).
Within a week, Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love” with her husband, Jay Z, moves from No.79 to No.23, reaching over 1,150 radio spins.
Janelle Monae’s “Primetime” with Miguel stands at No.29. (Last week: No.33) Meanwhile, John Legend’s latest single “All of Me” climbs 10 spots to No.32.
“Ghetto” by August Alsina featuring Rich Homie Quan moves from No.47 to No.38 and has already reached 614 radio spins.
Other song positions
Mack Wilds – “Own It” – No.13
R. Kelly featuring 2 Chainz – “My Story” – No.15
Tamar Braxton – “All The Way Home” – No.37
Urban AC radio
Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love” off her self-titled visual album stands at No.50. (Last week: No.317)
Justin Timberlake’s “Take Back The Night” stays frozen at No.29.
“Side Effects of You” by Fantasia tip-toes one slot from No.27 to No.26 this week.
R. Kelly’s and Kem’s festive tunes seem to be sitting well in the hearts of fans. Kells, “Christmas I’ll Be Steppin” leaps from No.52 to No. 28. Kem’s duet with Patti Labelle, “Jesus” rises 10 slots from No.35 to No.25.
While Kem is makes noise on the solo tip, his duet with legend Ron Isley “My Favorite Things” enters the top 10, closing at No.9. (Last week: No.12).
Robin Thicke’s “For The Rest of My Life” knocks Fantasia’s “Without Me” from No. 2 to No.3.
(Source: All Access, Billboard, Chart News, Hits Daily Double)