Vybz Kartel’s ‘True Religion’, Kabaka Pyramid’s ‘The Kalling’: First Week Album Sales

New albums by Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and Reggae singer Kabaka Pyramid failed to debut on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart after their first sales tracking week.

Kartel’s True Religion EP, released on September 30 via Adidjahiem Records, sold just 310 units in sales and streaming in the United States during its first week of release, according to data provided to DancehallMag from sales tracker Luminate.

This includes 130 copies in pure album sales and 297,700 in on-demand audio and video streaming in the US.

The 7-track EP is dedicated to Kartel’s new fiancé Sidem Öztürk with songs like Interracial, Like Royalty, and the title track True Religion.

Eight of the Worl’ Boss’ previous albums have entered the Reggae Albums chart.  They are Born Fi Dis (2021), which peaked at No. 9, Of Dons & Divas (2020) which peaked at No. 6, King Of The Dancehall (2016) which peaked at No. 2, Viking (Vybz Is King) (2015) which peaked at No. 3, Reggae Love Songs & Other Things (2014) which peaked at No. 7, Vybz Kartel Roots & Culture (2013) which peaked at No. 6, Kartel Forever: Trilogy (2013) which peaked at No. 11, and Kingston Story (2011) which peaked at No. 7. 

Kabaka Pyramid‘s The Kalling, which was released via Ghetto Youths Int’l and Bebble Rock Music on September 30, sold 620 units in sales and streaming in the US during its first week of release.

This includes 280 in pure album sales and 423, 700 in on-demand audio and video streaming in the US, according to Luminate.

The 15-track set was led by the singles Make Things Work, Red, Gold and Green with Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley, Grateful with Jemere Morgan, and the title track The Kalling with Stephen Marley, Protoje, and Jesse Royal.  The album also sampled iconic songs of Junior Byles in the song Faded Away with Buju Banton; Peter Tosh  in Mystic Man; and Eddie Fitzroy in EZ Ride.

Kabaka, which is Ugandan for King, previously entered the Billboard Reggae chart twice.

His debut album, Kontraband, which was also released via Ghetto Youths/Bebble Rock, had peaked at No. 3 and spent three weeks on the chart in 2018.

In 2013, his Lead The Way EP spent one week on the Reggae Albums chart at No. 9.

Reggae legend Bob Marley & The Wailers are No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart for the 143rd non-consecutive week, with Legend — a greatest hits collection first released in May 1984 by Island Records.

Shaggy’s Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection is at No. 2, followed by Stick Figure’s Wisdom at No. 3, and UB-40’s Greatest Hits at No. 4.

Stick Figure also holds the No. 5 and 7 spots with their World On Fire and Set In Stone albums.

Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock and The Trinity albums have both re-entered the chart at No. 6 and 8, respectively.

Koffee’s Gifted has also re-entered for its 26th week, at the No. 9 spot, followed by Burna Boy’s Outside at No. 10.