Music

In addition, the surprise effort marks the largest streaming of the year and the biggest week for a hip-hop album in nearly a year.

• Apr 30, 2018

AceShowbiz - J. Cole nabs his fifth consecutive No. 1 album with his latest effort "KOD", which debuts atop the Billboard 200 chart. The set racked up 397,000 equivalent album units, including 174,000 in traditional album sales, in the week ending April 26, according to Nielsen Music. It marks the best sales of the year among all acts.

"KOD" also notches the largest streaming week of the year with 322.7 million on-demand audio streams, surpassing the debut of Migos' "Culture II" which racked up 224.6 million on-demand audio streams. In addition, it marks the biggest week for a hip-hop album since Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN." opened with 603,000 units on May 6, 2017.

At No. 2 on this week's Billboard 200 chart is Cardi B. Her debut album "Invasion of Privacy" stays steady with 91,000 units. A Perfect Circle's latest studio album "Eat the Elephant" arrives at No. 3 with 68,000 units. Meanwhile, "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack is a non-mover at No. 4 with 68,000 units.

Last week's chart-topper Jason Aldean's "Rearview Town" falls to No. 5 after selling 38,000 additional units in its second week. Trailing behind is XXXTentacion's "?" which ascends to No. 6 with 35,000 units. Migos' "Culture II" moves up one spot to No. 7 with 33,000 units, while The Weeknd's "My Dear Melancholy" descends to No. 8 with nearly 33,000 units.

Closing out the top 10 for this week are "Black Panther" soundtrack and rock group Lord Huron. While the soundtrack to the hit Marvel movie stays steady at No. 9 with 32,000 units, the group's third studio album "Vide Noir" launches at No. 10 with 31,000 units. It marks their first top 10 on the chart.

It's speculated that there will be some upheavals to next week's chart with the arrival of Post Malone's "Beerbongs & Bentleys", Janelle Monae's "Dirty Computer" and Keith Urban's "Graffiti U".

1. "KOD" - J. Cole (397,000 units)
2. "Invasion of Privacy" - Cardi B (91,000 units)
3. "Eat the Elephant" - A Perfect Circle (68,000 units)
4. "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack album - Various Artists (68,000 units)
5. "Rearview Town" - Jason Aldean (38,000 units)
6. "?" - XXXTentacion (35,000 units)
7. "Culture II" - Migos (33,000 units)
8. "My Dear Melancholy" - The Weeknd (nearly 33,000 units)
9. "Black Panther" soundtrack album - Various Artists (32,000 units)
10. "Vide Noir" - Lord Huron (34,000 units)