Drake 'Nothing Was The Same,' Billboard No. 1 For First Week Sales on Hot 200 Chart [VIDEO]
Drake has done it again.
The rapper's third studio album, Nothing Was The Same, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 200 chart.
The Canadian native sold 658,000 copies in the first week of release, giving him the second biggest debut of the year. Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience sold an impressive 968,000 copies when it was released in March.
More Albums Coming This Fall
His No. 1 spot is the third time Drake debuted at the top of the charts. It also marks his biggest numbers to date. His debut album, Thank Me Later, sold 447,000 in 2010 and his sophomore effort, Take Care, sold 631,000 copies. His new album even managed to outsell Jay Z, who sold 528,208 copies of Magna Carta Holy Grail when it was released in July.
Drake's third album leaked a little more than a week before its scheduled release.
Drake's Hold On, We're Going Home Video
"I remember coming into this year thinking, 'How am I going to cut through all these people and shine?' I've never been part of a year when so many legends are dropping projects. How am I going to be seen? I'm going to be like the kid waving in the background in the photo with all of his tall relatives," he told XXL in its September 2013 issue. "I want people to be like, 'Oh, we were right.'"
When making the album, Drake also ignored those who criticized him for singing.
"This is my f--cking moment to say if I wanted to rap all the time, really rap, I would, but I also love to make music," he told GQ in July about Nothing Was The Same. "I'm trying to get back to that kid in the basement. To say what he has to say. And I'm trying to make it last."
Drake is scheduled to head out on his tour, Would You Like a Tour? along with Miguel. It starts Oct. 3 and ends on Dec. 4. The full dates can be seen on Drake's website.
