Rod Wave’s "Last Lap" Dominates the Charts
Rod Wave has once again proven his prowess in the music industry with the release of his latest album, Last Lap. The album made a significant impact by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for the week dated October 26. Released through Alamo Records, Last Lap garnered an impressive 127,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during the tracking week of October 11 – 17, according to Luminate. This remarkable achievement not only marks a successful entry into the charts but also positions Last Lap as the most-streamed album across all genres for that week.
Streaming Success
A closer look at the numbers reveals that streaming played a pivotal role in the album’s success. Out of the 127,000 equivalent album units, a staggering 125,000 units were attributed to streaming, translating to an astonishing 173.4 million official on-demand streams of the album’s tracks. This overwhelming streaming activity propelled Last Lap to the top of the Top Streaming Albums chart as well. Traditional album sales contributed a modest 2,000 units, with minimal activity from track-equivalent album units. For context, one unit can be derived from various consumption levels, including one album sale or a combination of track sales and streams.
Rod Wave’s Chart Legacy
With Last Lap, Rod Wave has achieved his fourth No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His previous chart-toppers include SoulFly (2021) and Beautiful Mind (2022), both of which held the top position for two weeks. Last year’s Nostalgia enjoyed an even longer reign, spending three weeks at No. 1. In addition to these four chart-toppers, Rod Wave has seen three other projects make their mark on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart: Ghetto Gospel (peaking at No. 7 in 2020), Pray 4 Love (No. 2 in 2020), and the EP Jupiter’s Diary: 7 Day Theory (No. 5 in 2022).
Multi-Chart Success
The success of Last Lap extends beyond the R&B and Hip-Hop categories. The album also debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart and secured the No. 2 spot on the all-genre Billboard 200. This multi-chart success underscores Rod Wave’s versatility and broad appeal across different musical genres.
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart Impact
The streaming surge from Last Lap has also made waves on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with 21 of the album’s tracks making their way onto the list. Leading the charge is the track “25,” which debuted at No. 4 and emerged as the most-streamed song from the album, accumulating 17.5 million official U.S. streams in the tracking week. The album’s other notable entries include:
- No. 8: “Last Lap”
- No. 10: “Federal Nightmares”
- No. 11: “Angel With an Attitude”
- No. 13: “Fall Fast in Love”
- No. 14: “F**k Fame,” featuring Lil Yachty & Lil Baby
- No. 15: “Passport Junkie”
- No. 17: “Never Mind”
- No. 18: “Turtle Race”
- No. 20: “Apply Pressure”
- No. 25: “The Best”
- No. 28: “Even Love”
- No. 30: “Lost in Love,” featuring Be Charlotte
- No. 35: “Waited 2 Late”
- No. 36: “Mike”
- No. 37: “D.A.R.E.”
- No. 38: “Scared Love”
- No. 41: “Karma”
- No. 43: “The Mess They Made”
- No. 44: “IRan”
- No. 47: “Spaceship”
A Historic Achievement
Rod Wave’s achievement of having 21 simultaneous entries on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart places him among an elite group of artists. He becomes only the sixth artist to achieve this milestone since the chart’s inception in 1958. This feat highlights a recent trend in the music industry, where the rise of streaming has allowed more songs from a single album to chart simultaneously. Rod Wave joins the ranks of notable artists like Drake, who has accomplished this feat multiple times, as well as Lil Baby, Future, Lil Wayne, and Metro Boomin.
Rod Wave’s Last Lap is not just another album; it is a testament to his artistry and the evolving landscape of music consumption. With its impressive chart performance and streaming success, the album solidifies Rod Wave’s position as a leading figure in contemporary music.
