After a historic holiday weekend at the box office, Black Panther is not only the number one movie in the world, but it is also the number one album on the charts. The Kendrick Lamar led soundtrack debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 charts after selling 154,000 units in its first week. Of those 154,000 units, nearly a third were physical album sales. To put this accomplishment into context, the blockbuster movie had the best performing soundtrack since Suicide Squad’s star-studded soundtrack in 2016. Beyond the numbers, the King Kendrick led project received critical acclaim from critics such as Rolling Stone’s Judy Rosen who gave the album four out of five stars, while describing Lamar as “something grander than a superhero: heroically human.” In addition, the soundtrack to the world’s biggest movie at the moment received incredible reviews from the people as well.
I’m blasting the black panther soundtrack ALL DAY
— La Bronze James (@jackieaina) February 16, 2018
That Kendrick Lamar and Weekend “Pray For Me” from the #BlackPanther soundtrack feels like “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor. Don’t debate me on this if your eyes don’t water when Apollo Creed gets killed in Rocky 4.
— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) February 15, 2018
I was going to go to Disneyland today but instead I took a bath and listened to the Black Panther soundtrack, so basically the same thing
— Rachel Paige (@rachmeetsworld) February 19, 2018
Singles off the album are growing outside of the project’s overall success. The SZA assisted “All The Stars” has risen fourteen spots this week to the #14 spot on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts. Meanwhile, the soundtrack’s second single, “King’s Dead”, rose 16 spots this week, while the project’s third single, “Pray For Me”, debuted at #4 on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts. Most notably, the album’s under the radar banger, “Paramedic” by SOBxRBE has become an online sensation.
.@SOBxRBE with “Paramedic” off the #BlackPanther soundtrack. #AllStarWeekend pic.twitter.com/EHZlic84YJ
— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) February 19, 2018
me in the aisle of the theater when paramedic comes on in black panther pic.twitter.com/QXb8A5rgek
— evan :) (@beyonseh) February 11, 2018
mood every time paramedic comes on when I listen to the black panther album pic.twitter.com/mlrxxDjnpv
— it’s christiana nigga (@CHRlSTITTIES) February 11, 2018
With no sign of the Black Panther train slowing down, it is very possible that this soundtrack could remain in the top ten next week as well. Moreover, with “Pray For Me” sitting in the top ten this week and “All The Stars” just outside at #14, it is very possible the soundtrack could also have two top ten singles. In short, the movie and its soundtrack are making history and we are 100% here for it.
