In this week’s installment of Chart Check, read the debut positions and opening numbers for Pharrell’s and Ashanti’s new albums. Find out which male R&B singer scored a top 40 single on the Hot 100, which Def Jam artist earned her first top ten on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart and latest success of Ledisi’s new single “I Blame You.”
Dates range from – March 6 – March 13 (Billboard)
Billboard 200
Pharrell’s second album “G I R L” exceeded sales expectations with 112,534 copies in its first week. The project debuted at No. 2.
Meanwhile, Ashanti’s taps into the top ten with her “Braveheart” album. The album debuted at No. 10, selling 27,628 in its first week. This marks Ashanti’s lowest-selling album to date. However, will note that it’s her first album released as an independent artist. She gets an A for effort.
Fans continue to buy Toni Braxton and Babyface’s duet album “Love, Marriage & Divorce.” The album stands at No. 29 (Last week: 19) with 11,730 copies sold this week. The album has sold 148,343 copies to date.
John Legend’s “Love in the Future” album falls four spots this week at No. 24 (Last week: 20).The heartfelt collection sold 14,037 copies this week, totaling 365,202 albums sold to date.
R. Kelly’s “Black Panties” are getting a little musty. His twelfth studio album dropped 17 spots to No. 51 (Last week: 34) this week, selling 6,905 copies this week. Kelly has sold 377,452 copies of “Black Panties” since its release on December 10, 2013.
Justin Timberlake’s latest album “The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2” is headed toward platinum status. The follow-up to “The 20/20 Experience” sold 7,105 copies this week with 908,461 albums sold to date.
K. Michelle’s debut album “Rebellious Soul” slips seven spots at No. 63 (Last week: 56) with 5,297 units sold this week. The “Damn” singer has sold 219,313 copies to date. Meanwhile, Tamar Braxton’s sophomore effort “Love & War” moonwalks 27 spots at No. 84. The “She Did That” songstress sold 4,102 copies this week. She has sold 364,741 copies of her critically acclaimed album to date.
Here is a list of other R&B albums positions on the Billboard 200 chart.
Beyoncé – “Beyoncé” – No. 12 (Last week: No. 10)
Jhené Aiko – “Sail Out” EP – No. 38 ( Last week: 33)
Bruno Mars – “Unorthodox Jukebox” – No. 21 (Last week: 16)
Bruno Mars – “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” – No. 60 (Last week: No. 46)
Candice Glover – “Music Speaks” – No. 74 (Last week: No. 35)
Billboard Hot 100
John Legend’s love ballad “All of Me” moves up one spot to No. 3 this week. The heartfelt tune remained at No. 4 for two weeks.
The Beyhive is still “Drunk in Love” with Beyoncé’s Jay Z assisted tune. The seductive track remains at No. 7 for a second week. Meanwhile, her new single “Partition” drops ten spots to No. 33 this week (Last week: No. 23).
Soul crooner Aloe Blacc’s latest single “The Man” continues to see success. The inspiring track tip-toes to No. 12 this week (Last week. No. 13). Blacc appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” to perform his new tune. His new album “Lift Your Spirit” is in stores now.
Chris Brown’s new song “Loyal” featuring Lil Wayne and French Montana moves up seven slots, entering the top 40 at No. 35 (Last week: No. 42). The song will be featured on his upcoming album “X,” which will release on May 5.
Trey Songz’s DJ Mustard produced cut “Na Na” eyes the top 40 at No. 46. Earlier this week, Songz released a sexy fitness themed visual to accompany his new single.
“Not A Bad Thing” by Justin Timberlake trips down two spots from No. 65 to No. 67.
Here is a list of other R&B songs positions on the Hot 100 chart.
Pharrell – “Happy” – No. 1 (Last week: No. 1)
Robin Thicke – “Blurred Lines” ft. T.I. & Pharrell – No. 43 (Last week: No. 39)
Jhené Aiko – “The Worst” – No. 64 (Last week: No. 66)
Rico Love – “They Don’t Know” – No. 97 (Last week: No. 73)
K. Michelle – “Can’t Raise A Man” – No. 95 (Last week: No. 98)
Best Independent Albums
Who said being an indie artist doesn’t have its perks? Ashanti’s fifth studio album “Braveheart” makes a hot debut at No. 1.
Billboard Hot R&B Songs
Pharrell’s feel-good tune “Happy” remains at No. 1 for a fifth week. The Oscar-nominated song is lifted off his sophomore album “G I R L,” which is in stores now.
“All of Me” by John Legend anticipates the No. 1 spot at No. 2. The song bumps Jason Derulo’s 2 Chainz assisted tune to No. 3.
Beyoncé’s latest radio single “Partition” slips down one spot this week from No. 6 to No. 7.
California-based singer Jhené Aiko’s new single enters the top ten this week at No. 10 (last week: No. 12). This becomes Aiko’s first top 10 single on this chart.
Chris Brown remains “Loyal” at No. 8 for a second week. Meanwhile, August Alsina’s “Ghetto” track featuring Rich Homie Quan and Yo Gotti dips three spots to No. 22 this week (last week: No. 19). The song will appear on his debut album “Testimony,” due in stores April 15.
Here is a list of other R&B song positions on the Hot R&B Songs chart.
Beyoncé – “Drunk in Love” – No. 4
Aloe Blacc – “The Man” – No. 5
Trey Songz – “Na Na” – No. 9
K. Michelle – “Can’t Raise A Man” – No. 14
Tamar Braxton – “All The Way Home” – No. 23
Mariah Carey – “You’re Mine (Eternal)” – No. 24
Billboard R&B Albums
In their respective order, here are the Top 5 R&B albums among R&B acts.
1. Pharrell Williams – “G I R L” (Hot Debut)
2. Ashanti – “Braveheart” – (Debut)
3. Beyoncé – “Beyoncé”
4. John Legend – “Love in the Future”
5. Toni Braxton & Babyface – “Love, Marriage & Divorce”
Here is a list of other R&B albums on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.
Justin Timberlake – “The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2” – No. 7 (Last week: No. 4)
K. Michelle – “Rebellious Soul” – No. 9 (Last week: No. 8)
Candice Glover – “Music Speaks” – No. 10 (Last week: No. 7)
Ruben Studdard – “Unconditional Love” – No. 23 (Last week: No. 15)
Janelle Monaé – “The Electric Lady” – No. 21 (Last week: No. 17)
Jaheim – “Appreciation Day” – No. 25 (Last week: No. 22)
Billboard Adult R&B Songs
Pharrell’s cheerful single “Happy” stands at No. 2 this week after blowing Robin Thicke’s ProJay-produced ballad “4 The Rest of My Life” down to No. 3. Meanwhile, Toni Braxton and Babyface’s chart-topping song “Hurt You” remains at No. 4 for another week.
Ledisi’s lead single, “I Blame You,” off her new album “The Truth,” springs four spots up to No. 7, scoring her another top ten R&B hit. Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson’s “I Can’t Describe (The Way I Feel)” reverses two positions to No. 10.
K. Michelle’s “V.S.O.P.” rises from No. 15 to No. 13, becoming its highest place on the chart.
In its third week, Joe’s mature record “Love & Sex (Part 2)” featuring Kelly Rowland rests at No. 14 after standing at No. 19 last week.
Mali Music’s “Beautiful” shifts three spots forward to No. 17 in its eighth week.
After debuting at No. 24 last week, Kelly Price’s positive record “It’s My Time,” breaks into the top 20 at No. 18.
Here is a list of other R&B Songs on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.
John Legend – “All of Me” – No. 1 (sixth week at No. 1)
Beyoncé – “Drunk In Love” ft. JAY Z – No. 9
Ron Isley & Kem – “My Favorite Thing” – No. 11
Leela James & Anthony Hamilton – “Say That” – No. 12
Daley – “Look Up” – No. 19
Mariah Carey – “You’re Mine (Eternal)” – No. 21 (Last week: No. 27 – Debut)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
John Legend’s tender ballad “All Of Me” runs Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” out the No. 2 to No. 3 this week.
Beyoncé’s “Partition” raced to No. 9 last week after spending a week at No. 29. The bass-heavy tune was unsuccessful in moving forward this week as it dipped one spot to No. 10.
Trey Songz’s “Na Na” spends its second week at No. 12. While Jhené Aiko’s “The Worst” climbs four spots to No. 14.
Rico Love’s irresistible jam “They Don’t Know” falls from No. 21 to No. 29.
Here is a list of other R&B song positions on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Pharrell – “Happy” – No. 1
Beyoncé – “Drunk In Love” ft. JAY Z – No. 4
Chris Brown “Loyal” featuring French Montana & Lil’ Wayne – No. 11
K. Michelle – “Can’t Raise A Man” – No. 28
August Alsina “Ghetto” featuring Rich Homie Quan/Yo Gotti – No. 48
(Source: Billboard, Chart News, Hits Daily Double)
