Music

Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" debuts at #1 on Billboard

by Aaron Zorgel

Nicki Minaj soared to the second #1 showing of her career on the Billboard 200, and her first debut at #1. On the strength of current single “Starships,” (#5 on the Hot 100) Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded sold 253,000 copies last week, eclipsing initial forecasts for a 215,000 to 235,000 figure.

Nicki’s debut knocks Madonna’s MDNA far out of the top slot, as we saw it plummet out of the Top 5 this week.

Last week, we mused that Nicki Minaj has been balancing a dual personality that features both hip-hop and pop aspirations, and this #1 debut speaks to the commercial viability of this creative duality.

Here are the top 5 selling albums of the week, according to Billboard:

1. Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (253,000 copies)
2. Adele – 21 (153,000 copies)
3. Rascal Flatts – Changed (130,000)
4. Lionel Ritchie – Tuskegee (95,000)
5. One Direction – Up All Night (92,000)

Miraculously, Adele’s 21, which came out nearly sixteen months ago sits at #2. It must be that Adele’s brand of emotional retro soul-pop is so powerfully nostalgic that it sends people back to a time and place where people actually bought records.

[via Billbaord]