Lil Wayne tops Billboard Hip Hop chart this week as Tha Carter VI officially becomes the number one rap album in the United States. After being held from the top of the Billboard 200 by country star Morgan Wallen, the album now leads the rap category with strong first-week sales.
Kendrick Lamar’s GNX had dominated the chart for seven straight weeks, but Wayne’s numbers finally pushed the Compton artist aside. This marks only the ninth week of the year where GNX has not held the number one position.
Tha Carter VI sold 108000 equivalent units in its debut week. That was just enough to surpass Kendrick Lamar’s momentum, even though it fell short of Wayne’s past performance. His 2020 solo project Funeral opened with 139000 units, and 2018’s Tha Carter V delivered a massive 480000 units during its debut week.
This latest release now holds the lowest first-week numbers of any entry in the Carter series and stands as the weakest opening of Lil Wayne’s solo career, which spans nearly three decades.
Despite the drop, Tha Carter VI brought some surprises. The 19-track album features a mix of popular and unexpected collaborations. U2’s Bono makes a guest appearance on “The Days,” a song first teased during a promotional run for the NBA Finals. The track reflects on time, legacy, and maturity. Wayne raps, “I ain’t getting younger, but I’m getting better / No time to waste that’s another man’s treasure / They say every dog has his day.” Bono follows with, “The time of our lives / The time of our youth / We bow down to beauty and truth / These are the days.”
The album also features appearances by 2 Chainz, Kodak Black, Machine Gun Kelly, Big Sean, and Wyclef Jean. More surprising guests include Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli and country singer Jelly Roll, bringing an eclectic range to the project’s sound.
While the collaborations sparked interest, the overall response has been mixed. Many fans and critics have voiced disappointment, noting that the album failed to deliver the level of impact associated with previous Carter releases.
Even so, the top position on the Billboard Hip Hop chart proves Wayne’s influence in the genre remains strong. Whether Tha Carter VI stands the test of time is yet to be seen, but for now, Lil Wayne sits at number one once again.
