Scoreboard: Lana Del Rey, New Hip-Hop

Scoreboard is back highlighting new albums from Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator, and Meek Mill

Billboard Artist Top 10

For the magazine dated August 12, 2017

See the full chart at http://www.billboard.com/charts/artist-100

Scoreboard is back after a week off just in time for major changes on the Billboard 200. Last week, Jay-Z held on at #1 on both the Billboard 200 and the Artist 100 with his 14th #1 album 4:44. This week, Hova’s reign is over, and Lana Del Rey just won a tight race to the top of the Bilboard 200 with new album Lust For Life. On the Hot 100 the #1 reign of “Despacito (Remix)” by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, and Justin Bieber continues into week 12, tying Ed Sheeran‘s “Shape Of You” for most weeks at #1 in 2017. On the Artist 100, Linkin Park takes the top spot following the sudden death of lead singer Chester Bennington, also charting eight albums on the Billboard 200. Read Scoreboard’s tribute to Bennington here.

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Last week’s biggest new album belonged to Moroccan-American rapper French Montana

Lana Del Rey’s Lustful Comeback

Elizabeth Grant, better known as Lana Del Rey, has remained a pop enigma despite spending six years in the spotlight. She has defined herself by West Coast vibes, a fondness for Americana of the 1950’s and 1960’s, and a spiritual partnership with The Weeknd. On Lust For Life, the lush melodies are back and so is Abel Tesfaye, checking on the title track. There are other guests too, most notable of whom is Lana’s spiritual predecessor Stevie Nicks, who croons along on “Beautiful People Beautiful Problems.” The 69-year-old Nicks practically wrote the mystical singer-songwriter playbook and @lanadelrey tries her hardest to update the Fleetwood Mac formula for the 21st century, including bringing in hip-hop touches via appearances by A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti.

Although Lust For Life ventures into hip-hop and R&B, it lacks the EDM touch of French-Miami DJ Cedric Gervais who took @lanadelrey’s “Summertime Sadness” and “Young & Beautiful” to their peaks and broke the LDR sound into pop mainstream. Perhaps that is on purpose. Lust For Life is a cohesive slow-paced West Coast dream. Time will tell which of the singles will get the chart-topping remix treatment, but the lustful album already took #1, demonstrating the staying power of the @lanadelrey mystery.

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Lana Del Rey stays classic for her Complex cover story

Tyler, The Creator and Meek Mill Bring Fresh Hip-Hop

Tyler Okonma, better known as Tyler, The Creator, is a 26-year-old rapper from Los Angeles who leads the Odd Future collective and owns the Golf Wang clothing brand. His fourth album Flower Boy takes #2 on the Billboard 200 this week and puts him at #3 on the Artist 100. Robert Rihmeek Williams, better known as Meek Mill is a 30-year-old rapper from Philadelphia signed to Rick Ross‘s Maybach Music Group. His third album Wins & Losses comes in at #3 on the Billboard and puts him at #6 on the Artist 100. While the two rappers are neither buddies nor rivals, the simultaneous album release date naturally invites comparisons.

Between the two rappers, @meekmill has suffered through a tougher recent stretch. His feud with Drake did not work out: @champagnepapi had the upper hand throughout the last two years, amassing back to back chart successes while @meekmill performed as an opening act on his girlfriend Nicki Minaj‘s world tour. And then @nickiminaj broke up with him. Wins and losses indeed. At least the title track of the new album has inspired NBA superstar LeBron James, who can relate to the theme of wins and losses after three career wins and five career losses in the NBA Finals.

Tyler, The Creator, has been neither dumped by Nicki Minaj nor humiliated by Drake, but had his own share of controversy. His albums have featured above average levels of profanity and his 2013 partnership with Mountain Dew did not go well. On Flower Boy, @feliciathegoat still curses, but also delivers a more mature sound, tapping into R&B and bringing in Odd Future star Frank Ocean to appear on two tracks. The album also serves as Tyler’s promotional vehicle for his television show and apparel/footwear ventures. Despite his insouciance, @feliciathegoat is also an entrepreneur and Flower Boy will help drive both Odd Future and Golf Wang brands.

Tyler continues to create