Jhené Aiko Tops Billboard 200 for First Time With 'Westside Whimsy'
Jhené Aiko's latest album 'Westside Whimsy' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Sept. 26, earning 74,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It is the first R&B album by a woman to top the chart in 2026, and the first since SZA's 'SOS' led in May 2025. The album features collaborations with Ab-Soul, Larry June, Kendrick Lamar, Ohma, and Tyga.
The album's first-week total was driven almost entirely by streaming, with on-demand plays accounting for roughly 95 percent of its 74,000 units. Physical editions are not due until January, leaving digital purchases as the only sales avenue; the set still managed a No. 25 debut on Top Album Sales. It also opened atop the Top Streaming Albums chart with 71.33 million official streams.
Aiko's climb to the summit spanned nearly 13 years, from her 2013 debut EP *Sail Out* to this week's leader. That wait places her among the longest for a first No. 1 in recent memory, trailing only Andrea Bocelli and Solange among soloists. The project's guest list includes Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Larry June, Ohma, and Tyga.
This milestone could signal renewed commercial viability for R&B by women on the Billboard 200, a category that has seen few chart-toppers in recent years. Aiko's streaming-heavy debut may also reflect shifting consumption habits, where digital plays outweigh physical purchases. For her fan base, the achievement validates a decade-plus career arc, and it may encourage labels to invest more in female R&B artists, potentially diversifying the upper reaches of the album chart.