The latest in what has been a succession of major urban releases – mostly rap – dropped last Saturday (June 16), without notice. It was of course, Everything Is Love, by The Carters, aka Beyonce and Jay-Z.
Not available physically, the album nevertheless gets off to a good start, making high debuts in most of the countries in which a new chart was released on Friday, June 22), entering at No.4 in The Netherlands, No.5 in The UK, No.8 in Flanders, No.10 in Ireland, No.11 in Norway, No.12 in New Zealand, No.14 in Sweden, No.21 in Italy, No.23 in Germany and No.28 in Wallonia.
However, with Xxxtentacion’s premature demise on Monday (June 18) at the age of 20, the slain rapper’s two studio albums, 17 and ? (Question Mark), make powerful resurgences, eclipsing The Carters’ album everywhere. ? (Question Mark) zaps to No.1 in The Netherlands, No.2 in Norway, No.3 in New Zealand and Sweden, No.5 in Ireland, No.6 in Flanders, No.8 in Wallonia, No.9 in Italy and The UK and No.13 in Germany. Meanwhile, 17, is up to No.3 in Norway, No.4 in Sweden, No.7 in The Netherlands, No.11 in Ireland, No.13 in The UK, No.17 in Italy, No.19 in Flanders and No.21 in Wallonia.
Even Xxxtentacion is trailing Post Malone in some territories with the latter’s Beerbongs & Bentleys set still in the Top 10 in 20 countries, which remains at No.1 in Denmark for the seventh time and Norway for the sixth time, while climbing 2-1 in both Canada and New Zealand.
With the title track turning into a global smash, Youngblood – the third album by Australian pop/punk band 5 Seconds Of Summer – is also up and running and actually makes a better start than The Carters’ album, with debuts at No.1 in Argentina, No.2 in The Netherlands and New Zealand, No.3 in Flanders, Ireland and The UK, No.4 in Mexico, No.5 in Italy, No.6 in Germany and Norway, No.14 in Wallonia and No.15 in Sweden.
After opening at No.3 in The UK, No.12 in Flanders and The Netherlands, No.14 in Ireland, No.16 in New Zealand, No.22 in Wallonia, No.57 in Sweden and No.61 in Germany last week, Walsall R&B warbler Jorja Smith’s first album, Lost & Found, now opens at No.9 in Switzerland, No.13 in Australia, No.17 in France, No.31 in Denmark, No.41 in The USA, No.42 in Canada, No.66 in The Czech Republic, No.69 in Slovakia and No.78 in South Korea.
Lily Allen’s fourth album, No Shame - No.8 in The UK, No.20 in Ireland, No.40 in New Zealand, No.41 in Flanders, No.65 in Germany and No.68 in The Netherlands and Wallonia last week – has a more minor top-up, with debuts at No.8 in Australia, No.26 in Switzerland, No.138 in France and No.168 in The USA, while edging up to a new peak (No.66) in Wallonia.
