Rapper XXXTentacion Takes No. 1 Album On Billboard Amidst Felony Abuse Accusations

XXXTentacion’s second studio effort landed at the top spot on the charts, amidst legal controversy.

Controversial rapper XXXTentacion took the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 chart with his latest album, ?.

According to Billboard, ? finished with 131,000 album equivalent units in its debut week, including 20,000 albums sold and 159.4 million streams. ? has had the second-largest streaming week for an album in 2018— behind Migos’ Culture II.  The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption— that includes traditional album sales, streaming equivalent album, and track equivalent albums. According to Billboard, even without album sales or track equivalent albums units, ? would have still debuted at No. 1 on the chart.

READ: Eric Andre Criticizes Rap Community’s Support Of ‘Sexism’ By Kodak Black, XXXTentacion

The Florida artist, née Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, emerged from Soundcloud garnering internet fame, and now mainstream success alongside a slew of serious felony abuse accusations and legal issues.

XXX was arrested in 2016 on multiple charges, including aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and witness-tampering all detailed in a grim, extensive Pitchfork report, and is facing 15 further felony counts relating to the case. He was reportedly under house arrest from late December through March 21 and is awaiting trial. On Wednesday, a Florida judge approved the rapper’s request to be taken off house arrest to tour for the new album.

The rapper’s status straddles between pariah and popular, as opposers sound off online over his alleged transgressions, while his cult-like fanbase consistently consumes his work. Despite the public record of XXX’s charges, the rapper has received support for his work from artists like Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd.

READ: How Bhad Bhabie, XXXTentacion & Other Contemporary Florida Rappers Embody The State’s Endemic Absurdity

?— which was released by XXXTentacion’s independent label Bad Vibes Forever and distributed by Caroline, a division of Capitol Music Group— marks XXX’s first no. 1 album, and his second studio effort. He made his Billboard chart debut a year ago with the single “Look at Me,” preceding his first album 17. 

Billboard’s top 5 albums is rounded out with Metallica’s Hardwired … to Self-Destruct at No.2, the Black Panther Soundtrack at No. 3, Logic’s Bobby Tarantino II at No. 4, and Culture II by Migos at the fifth spot.

Source: Billboard