Blink-182 bumps Drake atop Billboard 200 album chart

After nine consecutive weeks of dominating the US hit charts, Canadian hip-hop artist Drake’s “Views” was dethroned atop the 200 Billboard charts by Blink 182’s new album, “California.”

The beloved 90s pop-punk band’s comeback album debuted at No. 1 with over 186,000 equivalent units earned in the week, according to Nielsen Music.

Of that sum, 172,000 were in traditional album sales—the third-largest sales week for a rock album in 2016.

The band’s staggering sales numbers is also their biggest launch week since 2003, when its self-titled album bowed at No. 3 with 313,000 sold.

“California” is the group’s first release without its co-founder, singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge, who departed the band last year citing personal issues.

Despite DeLonge’s exit, the band retained their core members, bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus and iconic drummer, Travis Barker. Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba also came in as a replacement for DeLonge.

The new album was headlined by the single “Bored to Death,” which hit No. 1 on the alternative songs chart since July 9, marking the act’s first No. 1 on the list since 2004.

The comeback album marked Blink 182’s second No. 1 album, following 2001’s “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,” which spent one week at No. 1 on the June 30, 2001-dated list.

The three-man group has racked up a total of seven Top 10 sets, dating back to 1999’s “Enema of the State,” which peaked at No. 9.

The Billboard 200 chart, meanwhile, ranks the most popular albums of the week in the US based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales,  track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA)

The new July 16-dated chart, where “California” is No. 1, will be posted in full to Billboard’s websites on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). Khristian Ibarrola

View comments

TAGS: Billboard 200, Blink 182, California, comeback album, Drake, views