Kendrick Lamar & TDE-Helmed, Black Panther Soundtrack, Expected To Top Billboard 200 Chart

Black Panther has been a world-renowned phenomenon this past Presidents Day Weekend.  Racking up an almost record setting opening, the No. 1 movie is now also expected to have a No. 1 opening on the Billboard 200 as well for the film’s Kendrick Lamar and TDE-curated soundtrack.

With an estimated 154,00 equivalent album units earned for the week ending Feb, 15th, according to Nielsen Music, Black Panther: The Album, is expected to launch to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.  With 52,000 of that sum in traditional album sales.

The soundtrack, which features music from and inspired by the Marvel Films blockbuster of the same name, has Lamar on most of the songs.  Which the Hip-Hop heavyweight helped curate and produce with Top Dawg Entertainment’s founder/CEO, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.  Boasting contributions from The Weeknd, Khalid, Vince Staples, his TDE labelmate, SZA and James Blake, among others, the album becomes the fifth No. 1 for the label.  Joining a trio of leaders from Lamar with DAMN., untitled unmastered and To Pimp a Butterfly, as well as ScHoolboy Q’s Oxymoron.

With its expected No. 1, it’s set to already be the second soundtrack to top the charts this year.  Joining, The Greatest Showman, which topped the charts for two weeks.  Dated Jan. 13th and 20th.

The new Feb. 24th dated chart in which it will be No. 1 wouldn’t be posted in full on Billboard’s websites until this Wednesday, Feb. 21st.  The one day later mark due to the President’s Day holiday here in the U.S. today, Monday, Feb. 19th.

I haven’t got a chance to check the movie or soundtrack yet, but plan to very soon.  When I do, you can possibly expect a review of one or both here for The Hip Hop Democrat too.