Prince rules Billboard 200 in the wake of his sudden death

April 25, 2016 - 17:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prince rules Billboard 200 in the wake of his sudden death. Days after he passed away, the iconic singer returns to the top of the chart with two of his albums, "The Very Best of Prince" and "Purple Rain", AceShowbiz reports.

The former title takes the No. 1 spot with 179,000 copies collected in the week ending April 21, including 100,000 in pure album sales. The record, which debuted and peaked at No. 66 following its release in 2001, marks the late star's fifth to top the list. He previously did so with "3121" in 2006, the "Batman" soundtrack in 1989, "Around the World in a Day" in 1985 and "Purple Rain" in 1984 and 1985.

The latter project also re-enters this week's Billboard 200, sitting at No. 2 with 69,000 units (63,000 in pure album sales). Another Prince album titled "The Hits/The B-Sides" reaches a new peak as it lands at No. 6 with 41,000 units (24,000 in pure album sales).

Prince died on April 21, the final day of the latest tracking week for the new chart. Billboard notes that a lot of fans rushed to purchase his music that day and as a result, his overall catalog of albums sold a total of 256,000 copies.

Next on the latest edition of Billboard 200, Sturgill Simpson arrives at No. 3 as his "A Sailor's Guide to Earth" sells 55,000 units (52,000 in pure album sales) in its first week. It posts the singer/songwriter's first top 40 album. He previously went as high as No. 59 with 2014's "Metamodern Sounds in Country Music".

At No. 4 is Rihanna's "Anti" which rises one rung with another 48,000. Behind the Bajan singer is rock band Santana who earns their 14th top 10 effort with "Santana IV" that launches at No. 5 with 42,000. Chris Stapleton's "Traveller" and Kanye West's "The Life of Pablo" both fall four rungs to No. 7 and No. 8 with 37,000 each.

Making up the top 10 are last week's first placer The Lumineers' "Cleopatra", which plunges to No. 9 with 36,000, and Justin Bieber's "Purpose" that descends from No. 6 to No. 10 also with 36,000.