In a twist of cosmic irony, it appears that Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is on the verge of losing his long-standing streak of No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. According to Chart Data, Taylor Swift is projected to dethrone Ye, who currently holds an impressive record of 11 consecutive albums at the top.
Taylor Swift’s dominance
This week, Swift’s latest album, TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, has sold a staggering 141,000 units, while Ye’s collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign, Vultures 2, is expected to debut with 83,000 units. This shift in the charts not only highlights Swift’s commercial success but also marks a significant moment in the ongoing narrative between these two powerhouse artists.
A history of controversy
The irony of Swift potentially ending Ye’s reign is not lost on fans, especially considering their tumultuous history. In 2009, Ye infamously interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Awards, declaring that Beyoncé had the best video of all time. This incident sparked a complicated relationship filled with reconciliations and controversies, including Swift presenting Ye with the Video Vanguard Award at the 2015 VMAs and the fallout from Ye’s song, “Famous.”
What’s next for Ye?
If you haven’t yet listened to Vultures 2, now might be the time to do so, as there are concerns about its availability. Ye recently took to Instagram to express worries regarding his relationship with Atlantic Records. In a screenshot of a conversation with his manager, John Monopoly, Ye revealed that the chairman of Atlanta Music Group was fired, and the new leadership is not willing to provide a grace period for compensation related to both Vultures 1 and Vultures 2.
Independent artists at risk
Ye’s post indicated that if the issues are not resolved promptly, Atlantic may issue takedowns for both albums. He captioned the screenshot with a poignant message: “This is what ‘they’ do to independent artists.” Shortly after sharing this, Ye deleted his Instagram account, leaving fans and followers concerned about his future in the music industry.
As the music world watches closely, the potential end of Ye’s Billboard streak at the hands of Taylor Swift serves as a reminder of the ever-changing dynamics in the industry. With both artists having a significant impact on music and culture, this chapter in their story is far from over.
