Playboi Carti Nearly Hits No. 1 Following 67,000% Sales Surge

Forbes

10 hours ago

Playboi Carti's Music returns to Billboard's Top Album Sales chart at No. 2 following its CD ... More release, marking his highest-ever position on that tally. INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 16: Rapper Playboi Carti debuts his new album "I Am Music" onstage during the Rolling Loud Festival at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 16, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by)
When Playboi Carti released his new album Music earlier this spring, it was originally only available via streaming platforms and digital download storefronts like iTunes and Amazon. That's not uncommon for projects that shift release dates, as sometimes, even the biggest names in pop and hip-hop can change plans at the last minute and decide to drop a full-length with just a few days' notice. That typically means physical copies will arrive later.
Music became available on CD more than two months after it hit streaming sites, and a vinyl edition is slated to arrive later in June. The release of the hugely successful title on CD helps push it back onto a number of rankings, and it nearly earns the rapper his first champion on one Billboard tally.
Music reappears on this week's Top Album Sales chart, the ranking of the bestselling EPs and full-lengths in the United States. It breaks back onto the list and settles in the runner-up spot, which marks a new career high point for Carti on this roster.
The only project preventing him from securing his first career No. 1 is I'm the Problem by Morgan Wallen. That set easily conquered the tally last time around and refuses to budge. The country project may lead the charge on the Top Album Sales chart for several more frames. While it didn't get to dominate the sales-only roster, Music did bring Carti back to the summit on the Billboard 200.
Before its return, Music already stood as Carti's loftiest winner on the Top Album Sales chart. The set opened at No. 3 back in late March, coming in behind Hot by Le Sserafim and Mayhem by Lady Gaga, which dipped to the runner-up space in its second frame on the tally. When Music debuted, it beat the No. 5 high point that Whole Lotta Red reached in June 2021.
Music experienced a massive sales spike thanks to its CD release. The week before it became available on a physical format, the title sold just under 100 copies. The following frame, it shipped 17,500 CDs and digital downloads (per Luminate) — a growth of more than 67,000% in just a few days.