Juice WRLD's Posthumus ‘Legends Never Die’ Had Biggest Week Of Any Album In 2020 So Far
Chicago rapper Juice WRLD, who died in December, did not get to see how far he could have gone in the hip-hop genre, but new numbers from Billboard indicate he would have seen major success.
On Sunday (July 19), Billboard revealed that his posthumous album, Legends Never Die, had the biggest week for any album released in 2020. The 21-track release dropped on July 10 and has already moved more than 497,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending July 16.
The album also had the biggest posthumus debut in the past 20 years. On the streaming front, Legends Never Die had the largest streaming week of 2020 as well, pulling in a record 422.63 million on-demand streams. It’s the fourth-largest streaming ever surpassed by only three other albums: Drake’s Scorpion, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V, and Post Malone’s Beer Pongs & Bentleys.
With this, Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, which topped the charts last week, was bumped down to the No. 2 position. Legends Never Die is Juice WRLD’s second album to go No. 1 following 2019’s Death Race for Love, which came embedded with “Hear Me Calling” and “Robbery.”
Following the album’s release, Juice WRLD's mother, Carmela Wallace, and Grade A Entertainment, also shared a message, obtained by Complex, for his fans thanking them for their support.
“The overwhelming love that millions of music fans clearly have for Jarad reminds us how much his poetic words, creativity, and bright light continues to shine throughout the world. This first collection of songs is a poignant reminder of his great artistic talent and emotional honesty,” the statement reads. “Music was his passion and recording gave him the outlet to share everything he was going through. In addition to his music, Jarad's legacy will continue to provide help to young people through his Live Free 999 Foundation. We are incredibly grateful to the fans who continue to uplift him every single day and our hope is that his words touch your life in a way that helps you through any challenges you may be facing.”
The Chicago-born rap artist tragically passed away at the age of 21 on December 8 after suffering a seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport. His death was ruled an accidental drug overdose. His family, friends and fans have continued to remember him through the music he left behind.
