Black Panther: The Album first jumped to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart on Sunday, and it looks like it’s headed for a second week at No. 1, according to Billboard. Industry forecasters say the soundtrack could earn almost 130,000 equivalent album units. The album amassed 154,000 units in its first week; 52,000 were in traditional album sales.
Produced by Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment CEO, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the soundtrack features guest appearances from TDE label mates SZA, Jay Rock, and Ab Soul, as well as the Weeknd, Khalid, Swae Lee, and James Blake. Two videos from the collection have also been released, “All the Stars” and “King’s Dead.”
Eight songs from the soundtrack are also currently on the Billboard Hot 100: "All the Stars" (No. 9), "Pray for Me" (No. 11), "King's Dead" (No. 38), "X" (No. 49), "The Ways" (No. 63), "Paramedic!" (No. 67), "Big Shot" (No. 71), and "Black Panther" (No. 91).
Black Panther: The Album is the second film soundtrack to top the Billboard 200 this year after The Greatest Showman. It’s also the best-selling soundtrack from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to cap off a big selling week since Suicide Squad: The Album, which moved 182,000 units in its first week in 2016.
Black Panther scored the second biggest four-day box office opening in history in both the US and Canada, with $242 million. Star Wars: The Force Awakens earned the No. 1 spot with its four-day opening in 2015, with $288 million.
As per last week’s Billboard 200 chart, Black Panther: The Album, The Greatest Showman, and Fifty Shades Freed sat at Nos. 1, 3, and 5, respectively. This is only the second time in the last 10 years where three soundtracks have been in the top 10.
