Headline-grabbing rapper Kanye West has tied the record for the longest streak of albums to hit number one on the US chart with his latest release, Ye.
The album debuted at the top of the benchmark Billboard 200 chart announced late on Sunday, marking his eighth straight release to reach number one — tying West with The Beatles in their heyday as well as fellow rapper Eminem.
Ye sold 208,000 albums or the equivalent in downloads and streaming in the week through Thursday, tracking service Nielsen Music said, easily topping the chart’s number two, rapper Post Malone’s beerbongs and bentleys.
West released Ye after going silent for a year due to mental health issues. He returned by making characteristic waves on social media, notably by becoming a rare African American celebrity to voice support for President Donald Trump.
With rhymes about his latest controversies, a throwback sound of soul samples and at only seven tracks, Ye was less ambitious than many works by West, who had become known for his sprawling opuses.
West has reached number one with all of his studio albums except his debut, 2004’s The College Dropout, and also topped the chart with a collaborative album with Jay Z, Watch the Throne, from 2011.
West returned later with yet another seven-track album, Kids See Ghosts, a collaboration with his protege Kid Cudi.
Meanwhile, the rapper celebrated his 41st birthday with a star-studded bash at his home on Friday. His party had a mentalist, cookies of his face and a Ye cake.
The bash was hosted by his wife and reality TV star Kim Kardashian West.
Documenting the party on social media, Kardashian West revealed that West was later treated to a giant cake in the shape of a mountain range, which paid tribute to his latest album cover and featured green icing across it. It read: “Happy Birthday Kanye.” The only music to be played at the party was tracks from Ye.
Other guests who attended the party included Kourtney Kardashian as well as celebrities such as Kid Cudi, Pusha T and Teyana Taylor.
