ASAP Rocky is on the cusp of some impressive first-week numbers with Don’t Be Dumb, his long-awaited fourth studio album co-presented by filmmaker Tim Burton.
To be clear, what we’re about to discuss is based on mere projections, i.e., not final numbers. Still, some predictions are pointing to a possible No. 1 debut for Rocky’s latest, and not just that. He’s also looking at potentially matching, or even besting, the first-week numbers of all three of his prior studio albums—Long. Live. ASAP, At. Long. Last. ASAP, and Testing.
Per initial estimates shared by Chart Predictions, Rocky’s DBD could open with as much as 200,000 units. Of those, an estimated 100,000 units are projected to come from album sales, at least according to that specific estimate.
Testing, released in 2018, opened at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with around 75,000 units. Three years prior, At. Long. Last. ASAP debuted at No. 1 with around 146,000 units. The commercial success of that album, featuring the single “LSD,” was on par with its predecessor, 2013’s Long. Live. ASAP. It also debuted at No. 1.
If DBD does land the top spot, it would mark Rocky’s third No. 1 album. Hits Daily Double initially also predicted similar success for Rocky on the next charts update, saying in a recent report that his 17-track new album is “primed for a top debut.”
A more thorough follow-up report from HDD, however, painted a different picture. When sharing its midweek 20 estimates, the outlet gave a slight edge to Bad Bunny, though the gap between him and Rocky—121,000 in activity versus 119,000—was relatively small, thus leaving the top spot in contention.
Released on Friday (Jan. 16) after numerous delays, DBD has drawn strong reviews thus far, all while Rocky has continued to expand the rollout with new videos and high-profile performances. At this weekend’s Saturday Night Live, hosted by Stranger Things alum Finn Wolfhard, Rocky performed several tracks from the album, including lead single “Punk Rocky.”
For the performance, he recreated elements from the track’s official video, including enlisting composer and frequent Tim Burton collaborator Danny Elfman to man the drums.
Rocky followed that up on Monday with a new video starring Burton himself.