Rod Wave could secure his fourth Billboard 200 No. 1, despite posting a projected opening below his recent albums.

Rod Wave’s Don’t Look Down is currently on track for a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, with roughly 102,000 equivalent album units forecasted in its first week, according to Nora Music inc. If those numbers hold, it would mark Rod’s fourth No. 1 album.

The 24-track project has a relatively small guest list, featuring Aimee Carty, Luv Von, and Summer Joy. So far, listeners seem to be gravitating toward songs like “2017 (Streamer U),” “Mainstay,” and “I Am.”

Surprisingly, if these numbers hold, this would be a lower first-week debut for Rod Wave. His last project, Last Lap, opened with 127,000 units and landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. His highest debut remains Nostalgia, which opened with 137,000 units and gave him another No. 1 album.

Still, 100K in this day and age is good no matter how you slice it. I don’t think there’s anything Rod Wave should be worried about. He has built one of the most loyal fanbases in hip-hop, and another No. 1 would only add to his impressive résumé.

However, the heavy sampling on Don’t Look Down has become a major talking point, and it seems like plenty of listeners haven’t loved that aspect of the project.

Either way, these are only projections. Let’s see where the final number lands and, more importantly, how Don’t Look Down resonates with listeners in the long term.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.