Nicki Minaj’s ‘Queen’ Album Debuts At No. 2 on Billboard

Earlier this week, it was predicted via Chart Data that Nicki Minaj‘s fourth studio album Queen would be doing between 135K-150K album units (45K-55K pure sales) in the US in the first week. Nicki Minaj quickly responded to the preview saying that the numbers were false and that she would be debuting at number one on Billboard this Sunday.

At 4 PM, the numbers were revealed and Queen pushed 185,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, while Travis Scott‘s ASTROWORLD claimed the throne at number one once again, pushing 205,000 (78,000 pure sales – 348,000 total sales). Unhappy with the results, Nicki Minaj began to rant on Twitter telling fans that Scott had only secured the number one spot due to his ASTROWORLD tour and merch bundles.

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “Travis sold over 50K of these. With no requirement of redeeming the album! With no dates for a tour, etc. I spoke to him. He knows he doesn’t have the #1 album this week. I love my fans for the #1 album in AMERICA! I’ll explain on #QueenRadio 4 albums in, #1 in 86 countries ♥️ pic.twitter.com/CiYEuczgm3 / Twitter”

Travis sold over 50K of these. With no requirement of redeeming the album! With no dates for a tour, etc. I spoke to him. He knows he doesn’t have the #1 album this week. I love my fans for the #1 album in AMERICA!

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “I looked at the numbers the Carters, Kanye, Nas, etc recently did. Travis sold 200K in his first week of clothes alone. I spoke to him last night & he said he’s been selling clothes b4 the music. Billboard says they’ll change the rules cuz of this, so it should be changed now! / Twitter”

I looked at the numbers the Carters, Kanye, Nas, etc recently did. Travis sold 200K in his first week of clothes alone. I spoke to him last night & he said he’s been selling clothes b4 the music. Billboard says they’ll change the rules cuz of this, so it should be changed now!

However, Nicki Minaj has done the same thing – offering a poster, her album and 6 months of free Tidal for only $5 on her website; as well as a merch, tour ticket and album bundle.

Minaj believes that Kylie Jenner and baby Stormi are the only reasons why Travis Scott had an increase in album sales during his second week and revealed that Scott himself told her that the number of album units pushed was inaccurate.

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “I put my blood sweat & tears in writing a dope album only for Travis Scott to have Kylie Jenner post a tour pass telling ppl to come see her & Stormi. lol. Im actually laughing. #Queen broke the record of being number 1 in 86 countries. Thank Jesus & thank you to my fans. / Twitter”

I put my blood sweat & tears in writing a dope album only for Travis Scott to have Kylie Jenner post a tour pass telling ppl to come see her & Stormi. lol. Im actually laughing. #Queen broke the record of being number 1 in 86 countries.

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “My first album sold 400K. No one is doing that with debut albums now. So I’m so grateful. I lost out on 12 hours of sales and did 200K in one week after I was supposedly cancelled. I bit my tongue last #QueenRadio but I won’t On Tuesday. I love you guys so much / Twitter”

My first album sold 400K. No one is doing that with debut albums now. So I’m so grateful. I lost out on 12 hours of sales and did 200K in one week after I was supposedly cancelled. I bit my tongue last #QueenRadio but I won’t On Tuesday.

Nicki Minaj also took to social media that she was not being defended by her label and believes Spotify is trying to teach her a lesson after debuting Queen on Apple Music via #QueenRadio just ten minutes before it hit the competitor’s streaming platform. The “Barbie Dreams” rapper called them out after not receiving the heavy promotion Drake received after the release of his album, Scorpion.

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “Spotify put drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio. Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time. / Twitter”

Spotify put drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio. Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this. #Queen / Twitter”

Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this.

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “My music went up on Apple so I played it. I assumed it was on Spotify & Tidal at the same time. Spotify said that Apple tweeted fans advising #Queen was up & therefore they had to teach me a lesson. But PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!!!! / Twitter”

My music went up on Apple so I played it. I assumed it was on Spotify & Tidal at the same time. Spotify said that Apple tweeted fans advising #Queen was up & therefore they had to teach me a lesson. But PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!!!!

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “My label didn’t want to defend me for fear of Spotify trying to teach Ariana a “lesson” too! https://t.co/1dAdbcbWVd / Twitter”

My label didn’t want to defend me for fear of Spotify trying to teach Ariana a “lesson” too! https://t.co/1dAdbcbWVd

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “Do you know how many people subscribe to my Spotify page????? / Twitter”

Do you know how many people subscribe to my Spotify page?????

Nicki Minaj on Twitter: “Do you know how many women get systematically blackballed out of their positions in an office building & can’t fight back????? / Twitter”

Do you know how many women get systematically blackballed out of their positions in an office building & can’t fight back?????