The Contenders is a midweek feature that examines artists striving for the summit of the Billboard charts, along with the tactics behind their pursuits. This week, in light of the forthcoming Billboard 200 for April 26, we evaluate the prospects of rap rising star Ken Carson in potentially toppling his mentor on the Billboard 200.
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Catch the latest videos, charts, and updates
Ken Carson, More Chaos (Opium/Interscope): This week features no major chart-topping superstar launching a new album or a reissue, allowing a fresh artist to seize their chance at a debut No. 1 on the Billboard 200. That artist may very well be rapper Ken Carson, whose intense rage-infused rap has positioned him as one of the notable new talents of his generation since his rise in the early 2020s.
Carson’s previous album, 2023’s A Great Chaos, brought him close to the top 10, landing at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. The follow-up, More Chaos, released last Friday (Apr. 11), is expected to vault him into the top tier for the first time – aided by a streaming-optimized 21-track playlist, which captivated real-time Apple Music charts and Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA list upon release, even though a breakout hit has not yet emerged. It might even compete for the top position – potentially creating some (very minor) excitement behind the scenes at Opium Records, as label head and emerging hip-hop icon Playboi Carti currently holds the top spot with his Music album in its third week at No. 1.
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If Carson is unable to make it to the top this week, it may not be his final opportunity with More Chaos. The album is currently available for pre-order on his website in various physical formats – including standard-CD and vinyl, along with multiple box sets that also include an Ed Hardy collab T-shirt. These physical products are all scheduled to ship next Monday (Apr. 21) – which means their sales will count towards the album’s second-week numbers, likely providing a substantial lift and possibly restoring its chance at the top position if the release schedule remains sparse.
Bon Iver, SABLE, fABLE (Jagjaguwar): The only other album poised to achieve significant Billboard 200 success next week comes from the established indie favorite Bon Iver. The 2012 Grammy winner for best new artist returns this week with his fifth studio album, SABLE, fABLE – a 13-track collection, unevenly divided into a folk-influenced SABLE first half and the more R&B-pop tilting fABLE latter half. While Bon Iver has previously worked with numerous pop and hip-hop luminaries, the only featured artists on his latest work are more indie-focused – Dijon and Flock of Dimes, who both lend their talents to “Day One,” and Danielle Haim (of the sister group HAIM) who appears on “If Only I Could Wait.”
The album’s streaming presence is expected to be rather modest, but strong sales are anticipated – and it can be found on his website in vinyl, CD, and cassette formats. His website also features a selection of quirky complementary products accompanying the new release, including a fABLE “Mood Mist” spray and candle, along with SABLE, fABLE “Field Notes” notebooks and even a “Smoked Salmon Duo,” which consists of “smoky, tender Atlantic salmon sourced from Kvarøy Arctic and hand-packed in Washington by a fifth-generation cannery” – though this last product is already marked as sold out.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
