Kendrick Lamar has accomplished a groundbreaking feat following his impressive Super Bowl performance, making history as the first rap artist to have three albums simultaneously ranked in the Top 10 of the Billboard album chart.
Album Debut Performance
According to a report published on Sunday, February 16, regarding the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending February 13rd, which will be dated February 22nd, Lamar’s latest album, GNX, is set to reclaim the number one position. Meanwhile, his critically acclaimed 2017 album DAMN will secure the ninth spot, and his iconic 2012 release, good kid, m.A.A.d city, will land at number ten.
Kendrick Lamar has made history by becoming the first living male artist to have three albums concurrently appear in the Top 10 of the Billboard chart since Herb Alpert achieved the feat back in 1966. The most recent artist to accomplish a similar milestone was none other than Taylor Swift, who astonishingly had five albums in the top 10 at the same time in 2023.
The Imapct! ✨
Additionally, following the passing of Prince in 2016, he saw three of his albums land in the Top 10, which astonishingly increased to five albums the very next week.In the latest charting week, Kendrick’s album GNX impressively garnered 236,000 equivalent album units sold, while his acclaimed DAMN album achieved 39,000 units, and good kid, m.A.A.d city followed closely with 37,000 units.
SUPERBOWL-SNL
Following his triumphant Super Bowl performance, the rapper celebrated more victories as his song “Not Like Us” was brought to life on Saturday Night Live by the comedic duo Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer. During the recent 50th anniversary special of the iconic sketch comedy show, Ferrell and Gasteyer delighted fans by reviving their renowned characters, music instructors Marty and Bobbi Culp. The pair showcased their comedic flair by performing renditions of several popular contemporary songs, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained. In character, Ferrell kicked off their unexpected performance of “Not Like Us” with a playful introduction, asking, “Are Kenny Lamar and Drake Graham here tonight?“.
He added with a wink,
“Perhaps you two could embrace each other in the spirit of love and camaraderie. What do you think? No? Not a chance? Got it.” With that, the comedic duo dove into a humorous rendition of the hit diss track aimed at Drake. In a memorable moment, Ferrell didn’t shy away from delivering the infamous and provocative line, “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile,”
In doing so, he further showcased his knack for blending humor with controversy.
Showcasing Kendrick’s Work Ethic: Bringing Attention To The Number Charts
Ferrell and Gasteyer took Kendrick’s clever jab, “A minor,” and transformed it into an extended, theatrical operatic sequence that added a comedic flair to the performance. Joining in on the fun was Doechii, a former labelmate of Kendrick from Top Dawg Entertainment. She made a special appearance in the Culps’ sketch, where they delivered a short but engaging rendition of her track “Denial is a River” from her acclaimed Grammy-winning mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal.
Although Kendrick Lamar was not present at the SNL special, his remarkable performance of “Not Like Us” and other hits during the memorable Super Bowl halftime show earlier this month left a significant impact on audiences. This high-energy showcase featured a star-studded lineup that included SZA, Mustard, Serena Williams, and Samuel L. Jackson, captivating an astonishing audience of 133.5 million viewers.
