Artist Spotlight: PARTYNEXTDOOR

Canadian singer PARTYNEXTDOOR (real name: Jahron Brathwaite) debuts at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart (dated Sept. 3) with his third charting set, PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3). It bows with 28,000 copies sold in the week ending Aug. 18, according to Nielsen Music. The OVO Sound act arrived on the chart in 2013 with his self-titled mixtape, peaking at No. 34. His first official studio album,PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO, followed in 2014, earning a No. 1 entrance. The new set bows at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with 42,000 equivalent units earned. The entrance bests his previous peak of No. 15 on the all-genre chart, which he achieved with his second charting effort. PARTYNEXTDOOR also happens to be the third Canadian to lead Top R&B/HIp-Hop Albums in the past year, following his OVO Sound label co-founder Drake (with What a Time to Be Alive and Views) and The Weeknd (Beauty Behind the Madness). All three of those albums, like PARTYNEXTDOOR 3, debuted at No. 1.

Brathwaite’s arrival follows in the trend of an influx of rising Canadian hip-hop acts on the Billboard charts in the last year. This week, he reaches a new peak on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (as a lead act), as “Come And See Me,” featuring Drake, climbs 29-21. In the same chart week, fellow R&B singer and countryman Tory Lanez scores his new high on the list with his song “Luv” (up 14-9).

Lanez released his debut album, I Told You, on his label Mad Love Records (through Interscope Records) on August 19, which will impact next week’s chart (dated Sept. 10). The Ontario native has placed his first three singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in less than 10 months.

Ontario-based Roc Nation rapper Belly also had his breakout moment on the charts this year. Nearly a decade after his debut in Canada, his first Stateside charting hit “Might Not,” featuring The Weeknd, spent three weeks atop the Rhythmic Songs chart earlier this year, and reached No. 21 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (chart dated April 30).

PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3) spurs three debuts on the Hot R&B Songs chart, led by “Don’t Know How” at No. 15. Meanwhile, “Only You” arrives at No. 18 and “Don’t Run” comes in at No. 22. “Not Nice” concurrently jumps 30-13 in its fourth charting frame, while “Come And See Me,” featuring Drake, steps 9-8 (matching his previous peak).

Speaking of Drake, he notches his 17th No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, hopping 3-1 with “Too Good,” featuring Rihanna. He extends his record for most chart-toppers, trailed by Puff Daddy, with 10. Rihanna picks up her fifth No. 1.

~ Amaya Mendizabal, Rovi (of billboard.com)