Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter VI is expected to land at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, according to HITS Daily Double. The album is projected to earn between 120,000 and 140,000 equivalent album units in its first week, with approximately 35,000 coming from traditional album sales.
If the estimates hold, this marks another strong debut for the rap veteran, though it falls just short of the top spot. Tha Carter VI continues Wayne’s iconic series and arrives as one of the most anticipated rap releases of the year. The final Billboard rankings will be confirmed early next week.
Tha Carter VI features an eclectic lineup of collaborators, including Andrea Bocelli, Bono, Jelly Roll, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Kodak Black, and Wayne’s sons Kameron Carter and Lil Novi. Production credits span from Lil Wayne himself to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Wyclef Jean.
After six years in the making, Tha Carter VI marks a major return for the five-time GRAMMY winner, who said, “Real art can’t be rushed… Tunechi back. C6 is here.”
The album’s first spotlight came during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, where the Bono-assisted track “The Days” premiered across broadcast and promo spots. To celebrate the drop, Wayne is headlining Madison Square Garden tonight, June 6, for an exclusive live debut.
He also announced a North American tour in support of the album, featuring Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington on all dates, and NoCap on select shows. Tickets are on sale now via LiveNation.com.