'Care Package' Becomes Drake's Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart

Drake achieves his ninth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as his new archival compilation album, Care Package, premieres in the top slot. The set, which was released on Aug. 2 via OVO Sound/Republic Records, launches with 109,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 8, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 16,000 were in album sales.
Drake extends his own record for the most No. 1 albums this decade, as all nine of his leaders have arrived since 2010. Care Package is also the first No. 1 album for OVO Sound, the label co-founded by Drake. All of Drake’s previous albums were released via Young Money/Cash Money/Republic.

With Drake notching his ninth No. 1, he continues his remarkable run on the Billboard 200. He’s charted 11 entries on the list, and just two of them have missed the top slot. This March, his So Far Gone mixtape, which was originally released for free in early 2009 but never commercially issued or distributed to streaming services until earlier this year, peaked at No. 5 following its official release. Then, back in 2009, the So Far Gone EP — a distillation of the original So Far Gone mixtape — marked Drake’s first commercial album release and peaked at No. 6.
Among artists with the most No. 1s on the Billboard 200, Drake is in legendary company. He’s tied with Garth Brooks, Eminem, Madonna and The Rolling Stones with nine each. Ahead of them: The Beatles (19), Jay-Z (14), Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand (11), and Elvis Presley (10).

At No. 2 on the new Billboard 200, Ed Sheeran’s former leader, No.6 Collaborations Project, rises one spot with 49,000 equivalent album units (down 16%). Billie Eilish’s previous chart-topper, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, also climbs one rung (4-3) with 47,000 units (up less than 1%).
Lil Durk scores his first top 10 album, as Love Songs 4 the Streets 2 debuts at No. 4 with 44,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, 4,000 were in album sales.  

Chris Brown’s former No. 1 Indigo holds steady at No. 5 with 37,000 equivalent album units earned (down 9%), while NF’s The Search dips from No. 1 to No. 6 in its second week, with 36,000 units (down 72%)
The Descendants 3 soundtrack takes a bow at No. 7 with just under 36,000 equivalent album units earned (with 23,000 of that sum in album sales). The soundtrack to Descendants 3 was released on Aug. 2, the same day its parent film premiered on Disney Channel (which was also the first day of the chart’s tracking week).

Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You dips 7-8 on the new Billboard 200 (34,000 units; down 8%) while Chance the Rapper’s The Big Day falls 2-9 in its second week (33,000 units; down 70%).

Credit: Billboard.com