Here Are All the Hip-Hop Albums That Topped the Billboard 200 in 2018
In the age of streaming, hip-hop artists have dominated the Billboard 200 chart with their respective LPs and mixtapes. In 2018, seven rap albums have already taken the No. 1 spot, with Post Malone's Beerbongs & Bentleys solidifying the top spot with 461,000 equivalent album units sold its first week.
On April 20, J. Cole dropped his prophetic KOD album, tailing right behind Post. Debuting at No. 1, KOD—which stands for Kids on Drugs, King Overdose and Kill Our Demons—sold 397,000 equivalent album units by April 26 and quickly became the largest streaming week of 2018. It's also good to note the album earned the third-largest streaming week in history.
Cardi B, who also debuted at No. 1 with her debut LP, Invasion of Privacy, wasn't too far behind the "ATM" lyricist. Hip-hop's current standout star moved 255,000 equivalent album units and her album was certified gold in the first week thanks to her breakout hit "Bodak Yellow." The mother-to-be recently performed a myriad of hits off the album at Coachella but later announced she will be taking time off as she prepares for the delivery of her first child with her fiancé, Offset.
Some of the more surprising No. 1's came in recent months. On Oct. 6, Texas rap group Brockhampton's fourth studio album, Iridescence, topped the chart after moving a staggering 101,000 equivalent units its first week. Then Metro Boomin, who suprised everyone with his star-studded album Not All Heroes Wear Capes on Nov. 2, debuted at No. 1 after being virtually nonexistent for the majority of 2018.
Other notable No. 1s include the late XXXTentacion's ?, Migos' Culture 2, Black Panther: The Album and Bobby Tarantino II by Logic. Take a look at every hip-hop album that sat atop the Billboard 200 in 2018.
See Hip-Hop Albums That Topped the Billboard 200 in 2018 (So Far)