It’s official: Drake’s new album, VIEWS, has debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. In its first week, VIEWS sold over a million copies (including streaming album equivalents) on its way to the top spot.
Drake’s success doesn’t stop there, either. VIEWS has already been streamed 245.1 million times in the US alone, which shattered the record previously held by Justin Bieber’s Purpose. Bieber had racked up an impressive 100 million streams during Purpose’s debut week, but the Canada has a new king of pop music.
VIEWS’ historic sales run means that Drake has secured the best selling album of 2016. Even Drake and Future’s surprise mixtape collaboration What a Time to be Alive was no match for the latest LP, which marks a personal best for the Toronto-based rapper.
The record-breaking numbers will only increase as VIEWS’ Apple Music exclusivity ends on May 13. With Spotify and Tidal waiting to get in on the action, as well as summer around the corner, Drake should have even more to celebrate. Six consecutive No. 1 albums certainly deserves some commemoration.
Is the album actually any good, though? For the most part, yeah. VIEWS scored 69 out of 100 on aggregate site Metacritic, which indicates generally favorable reviews. Let us know your thoughts on VIEWS in the comment section below!
