21 Savage is entering the new year with a massive career win.
As reported, the Atlanta rapper has officially earned his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with his latest offering, I Am > I Was.
The rapper’s sophomore project, which dropped on Dec. 21 via Slaughter Gang/Epic Records, garnered 131,000 equivalent album units. Of that total, 18,000 units were in traditional album sales. Naturally, streaming was responsible for a majority of the album’s commercial success.
21 Savage has previously charted on the Billboard 200 on several occasions, including with his debut album. The project, 2017’s Issa Album, went on to peak at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He also charted with his collaborative projects, 2017’s Without Warning with Offset and Metro Boomin (No. 4) and 2017’s Savage Mode with Metro Boomin (No. 23).
The rapper took to Twitter to comment on the news of his first-ever chart-topping album, writing, “#1 Album in the country thank you to the fans and my team love 4L.”
The project includes guest features from City Girls’ Yung Miami, Post Malone, Childish Gambino, Offset, ScHoolboy Q, J. Cole and others. Production was handled by Metro Boomin, Southside, FKi 1st, Wheezy and more.
21 Savage recently apologized for lyrics in the track “ASMR,” explaining how his inclusion of a Jewish stereotype was not a choice made with malicious intent. LeBron James also issued a statement of apology after receiving backlash for posting the lyrics to the song on Instagram, leading the rapper to comment on the line in question as well.
The year 2019 is shaping up to be a monumental one for 21, who also has received two Grammy Award nominations for his “rockstar” collaboration with Post Malone. The pair are up for best rap/sung performance and record of the year.
Congrats to 21 Savage for landing his first-ever No. 1 debut!