Lil Wayne has taken the top spot on Billboard’s Hip Hop Albums chart, ending Kendrick Lamar’s long reign at number one. Wayne’s new album, Tha Carter VI, pushed Kendrick’s GNX down after it held the spot for seven straight weeks.
While Tha Carter VI didn’t reach number one on the Billboard 200 — losing that position to country star Morgan Wallen — it is now officially the number one rap album in the U.S.
In its first week, Tha Carter VI sold 108,000 equivalent units. That’s lower than Wayne’s previous album, Funeral, which debuted at number one in 2020 with 139,000 units. It’s also far behind Tha Carter V from 2018, which opened with 480,000 units.
Despite lower sales, Tha Carter VI grabbed headlines for its mix of guest stars. The album features Bono from U2 on the song “The Days,” which debuted during NBA Finals promos. Bono sings about youth and time, while Wayne raps about his growth in hip hop.
Other guest artists include 2 Chainz, Kodak Black, Machine Gun Kelly, Big Sean, Andrea Bocelli, Jelly Roll, and Wyclef Jean. However, the album has received mostly negative reviews from both fans and critics, with many saying it didn’t meet expectations.
Even with mixed reactions, Tha Carter VI has earned Lil Wayne another rap chart victory and ended Kendrick Lamar’s strong run at the top.
