The stage was set. After a three-week stay atop the Billboard 200, The Weeknd was facing the very real possibility that his latest album’s reign could be coming to an end.
After The Weeknd took advantage of some light competition last week to remain atop Billboard, the release of Tory Lanez’s The New Toronto 3 posed a serious threat to overtake The Weeknd's throne. But After Hours lives to fight another week thanks its month-long stay atop the charts.
After Hours earned 75,000 album equivalent units with 52,000 coming by way of SEA units, which accounted for 73.7 million on-demand streams. Even though his latest album was released last month, The Weeknd continued to grab the attention of the masses with a steady stream of new song releases. This week, it was the Major Lazer-remixed version of "Blinding Lights."
On the Hot 100, The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" jumps from No. 2 to No. 1 to log a third total week in the top spot. "Blinding Lights" dethrones Drake's "Toosie Slide," which moves down to No. 2 after debuting at No. 1 a week ago.
After Hours becomes the first album since Drake’s Scorpion to remain at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for four straight weeks. Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial by Roddy Ricch was the last project to spend four non-consecutive weeks atop the chart.
The success of The New Toronto 3 has been influenced by Tory Lanez’s captivating ongoing IG Live series Quarantine Radio, which has already featured an eclectic list of guest appearances in its short run. New Toronto 3 amassed 64,000 units, of which 58,000 came from streaming, and 5,000 consisting of album sales.
Lanez will now move to the independent circuit since The New Toronto 3 marks his last album with Interscope Records. While speaking with Ebro Darden on Beats 1's Rap Life show, the Toronto native teased that, despite an already impressive catalog, he hasn't even released his best music yet. "I didn't want to give the team those records that I felt like were Earth changing records," he confessed. "That's why I haven't really released none of my real golden songs."
