UPDATE: Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ is now projected to sell between 310K-325K first week .
It will become the BIGGEST debut for a new Rap album in 2024.
Kendrick Lamar‘s surprise album, GNX, is projected to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with impressive first-week sales. According to HitsDailyDouble, the album is expected to move approximately 290,000 units in its first week.
While this would mark Kendrick’s lowest opening for a proper album since his 2012 breakout, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, it’s still enough to secure him a fourth consecutive number-one debut on the Billboard 200.
Released unexpectedly on Friday (November 22), GNX has taken the music world by storm. The album’s structure marks a departure from Kendrick’s previous works, as it’s the first time he’s avoided a central theme or overarching concept. This shift has led some fans to liken it more to a mixtape than a traditional studio album.
Despite this unconventional approach, GNX is performing remarkably well. The album is projected to generate 325 million streams in its first week, with additional sales coming from digital downloads. Physical formats, including CD and vinyl, have also been made available for fans to purchase.
Within days of its release, GNX has already made a massive impact on streaming platforms, with all 12 tracks charting on Apple Music and Spotify.
The standout track “Squabble Up” has been accompanied by a visually compelling music video, which dropped shortly after the album’s release. Another highlight is “Wacced Out Murals,” the album’s opening track, where Kendrick reflects on personal and professional disappointments.
I’m In a particularly poignant verse, Kendrick addresses the drama surrounding the Super Bowl Halftime Show and his relationship with Lil Wayne:
“I used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud/Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down,” Kendrick rapped. “Got the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me
All these n* agitated, I’m just glad it’s on they faces.”