21 of The Most Anticipated Sophomore Albums of the 21st Century – Billboard

The Hype

The year was 2000, the new century had just arrived, and Britney Spears was arguably the single biggest solo musical act on Planet Earth. The year prior, Spears made her formal debut with …Baby One More Time, a blockbuster pop record that sold 10 million copies within its first year of release, earned her a Grammy nomination for best new artist, and spawned the hit singles “…Baby One More Time,” “Sometimes,” and “(You Drive Me) Crazy.” For Spears, it was “kind of hard following ten million,” but she maintained that she was “really confident” in her follow-up to Baby One More Time “after listening to the new material and recording it.”

Did It Live Up?

Absolutely. Oops!… I Did It Again debuted atop the Billboard 200 with over 1.3 million copies sold, setting a record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the SoundScan era — a record that would stand for 15 years. Like its predecessor, Oops sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. and eventually landed as the sixth-biggest album of the 2000s as per Billboard. The set also launched a series of hit singles including its title track, “Lucky,” and “Stronger.” Moreover, Oops!.. I Did It Again was warmly received by critics, and earned Spears her first Grammy nomination for best pop vocal album.

The Hype

Unlike Britney, *NSYNC had a curiously lengthy gap between their debut and sophomore albums. Their eponymous 1997 debut had a soft debut on the Billboard 200 at No. 82 with around 14,000 units sold. Nonetheless, the album grew into a sales behemoth, eventually selling 10 million copies and lasting on the Billboard 200 for a whopping 109 weeks, eventually peaking at No. 2. Hit singles such as “I Want You Back,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” and “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You)” helped the album grow into a commercial juggernaut.

The boy band followed up their debut with a Christmas album and a Germany-exclusive compilation as legal issues delayed the release of their sophomore record. Two months before the release of their sophomore album, the boy band unleashed “Bye Bye Bye,” a blistering kiss-off that rocketed into the top 10 of nearly every country in which it charted and earned the group a Grammy nomination for record of the year. Between the success of “Bye Bye Bye” and the three years since their debut, anticipation for No Strings Attached was at a fever pitch.

Did It Live Up?

Indubitably. No Strings Attached debuted atop the Billboard 200 with a then-record 2.4 million copies sold — a mark that would remain untouched for 15 years. The album inevitably finished the decade as the best-selling record of the year. With the help of producers like She’kspere, Teddy Riley and Kandi, the boy band leaned a bit more into R&B for No Strings Attached — a move that simultaneously separated them from similar acts like Backstreet Boys and yielded a number of smash hits including “This I Promise You” and “It’s Gonna Be Me,” their lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. Widely considered the peak of the SoundScan era, No Strings Attached is arguably the 21st century pop album that has most impressively avoided the “sophomore slump.”

The Hype

Two years before the release of Under My Skin, Avril Lavigne captivated the world with her angsty debut album Let Go. That record, which housed the seminal 2000s pop-rock hits “Sk8r Boi” and “Complicated,” sold over six million copies in the United States and climbed to a peak of No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Lavigne had become the preeminent “anti-pop star” of the day, a punkier response to the bubblegum pop of Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. In support of Let Go, Lavigne embarked on a worldwide 70-date concert tour, further stoking the flames of anticipation for her sophomore record.

Did It Live Up?

Short answer: Yes. Although Under My Skin did not yield any singles as culturally massive as “Sk8r Boi” or “Complicated,” though the album did house the Hot 100 top 10 hit “My Happy Ending” (No. 9). Regardless, the album did become Lavigne’s first to top the Billboard 200, with the largest first-week sales total of her career (381,000 copies), to boot. Under My Skin also spawned the Bonez Tour, a 145-date marathon that visited North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The album also won pop album of the year at the 2005 Juno Awards, following in the footsteps of Let Go.

The Hype

From both a critical and commercial standpoint, Kanye West’s The College Dropout was the kind of record most artists dream of. Despite some delays due to West’s perfectionist tendencies, the album roared to a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 with 441,000 copies sold, eventually crossing 2.3 million in sales in its first nine months of release. The set earned West the Grammy for best rap album, and spawned a plethora of Hot 100 top 20 hits including “Through The Wire,” “All Falls Down,” “Jesus Walks” and the No. 1-peaking “Slow Jamz.”

The College Dropout proved to be a hit with fans and critics alike, and the world was more than ready for new Kanye music. Leading up to its release, Late Registration was named one of the most pre-ordered albums in iTunes history, and Time Magazine confirmed that, due to expectations of the album being the biggest-selling musical release of the year, 1.6 million copies of Late Registration were shipped to stores for its first week of release. Prior to the release of the album, West released the Jamie Foxx-assisted “Gold Digger,” which had not yet hit its peak, and “Diamonds from Sierra Leone,” the set’s lead single.

Did It Live Up?

Unquestionably. Late Registration debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 860,000 copies sold, a figure West would surpass with his next studio album. His sophomore record sold over three million copies within its first year of release, eventually earning a quintuple-platinum certification from the RIAA in 2022. Late Registration spawned hit singles such as “Heard ‘Em Say” and “Touch the Sky,” and after the album’s full release, “Gold Digger” vaulted to No. 1 on the Hot 100 where it stayed for 10 weeks. The album also earned West three Grammys, including his second consecutive win for best rap album. West’s sophomore album proved to be even more successful than his debut, and the record has since found success on streaming platforms like Spotify, where it boasts over one billion streams.

The Hype

She may currently be on a worldwide stadium tour in support of her Grammy-winning Renaissance album, but, once upon a time, even Beyoncé had to tackle the infamous sophomore album. In 2003, Queen Bey released her debut solo studio album Dangerously In Love. The set debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 317,000 copies sold, scored four consecutive top five hits on the Hot 100 including the No. 1 singles “Crazy In Love” and “Baby Boy,” and earned Beyoncé a whopping five Grammy Awards. Instead of immediately pumping out a follow-up to her blockbuster debut, Beyoncé returned to Destiny’s Child for one final album — 2004’s chart-topping Destiny Fulfilled. She then further delayed production on her second album to film The Pink Panther, which spawned yet another Hot 100 No. 1 for the Houston native in “Check On It.” When Beyoncé landed the lead role in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls, she told Billboard, “I’m not going to write for the album until I finish doing the movie.” Needless to say, the Beyhive was going through it as they waited three years for Beyoncé’s next solo album.

Did It Live Up?

Duh, it’s Beyoncé. B’Day launched atop the Billboard 200 with 541,000 copies sold in its first week. While the set’s initial performance was a bit rocky — it fell out of the top 10 after just three weeks — the resounding success of its singles helped the album steady its footing and eventually reach over five million copies sold in the U.S. alone. B’Day took home the Grammy Award for best contemporary R&B album, and spawned two Hot 100 top 10 singles — the Jay-Z-assisted “Deja Vu” (No. 4) and the 10-week chart-topper “Irreplaceable” — along with a third, the Shakira duet “Beautiful Liar” (No. 3), with its Deluxe Edition reissue. In addition, the album and its reissue housed cult classics like “Kitty Kat” and “Get Me Bodied,” as well as her Dreamgirls soundtrack hit “Listen” and a duet with Alejandro Fernández titled “Amor Gitano,” the best-selling single of all time in Spain, per Guinness World Records.

The Hype

Much like Queen Bey, there was once a time when the Easter Egg Queen had to jump the sophomore album hurdle. Released in 2006, Taylor Swift’s eponymous debut album introduced the world to a blue-eyed curly-haired young woman who would soon become one of the biggest crossover sensations in the history of recorded music. The album was a sleeper hit, initially debuting on the Billboard 200 at No. 19 with 40,000 copies sold, and eventually growing into the longest-charting 2000s album on the chart. Taylor Swift sold over a million copies in its first year of release, thanks to the success of the album’s five consecutive top 40 Hot 100 hits: “Tim McGraw” (No. 40), “Teardrops On My Guitar” (No. 13), “Our Song” (No. 16), “Picture To Burn” (No. 28), “Should’ve Said No” (No. 33). Taylor Swift also secured the young singer various awards and honors from the Grammys, MTV VMAs, and ACM Awards.

Did It Live Up?

Absolutely. Fearless opened atop the Billboard 200 with 592,000 first-week copies sold. The album spent 11 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 — more than any other album in the 2000s decade — and launched five top five hits on the Hot 100, including signature hits such as “Love Story” (No. 4) and “You Belong With Me” (No. 2). Fearless became Taylor’s first record to win album of the year at the Grammys and still holds the record for longest stay atop the Billboard 200 for a female country album. Swift’s sophomore record also made her just the second country artist, following The Chicks, to win the three highest awards for a country music album from the Academy of Country Music, the Grammys, and the Country Music Association. Critics lauded the album, and, in 2017, it was eventually awarded a Diamond certification by the RIAA in recognition of over 10 million copies sold. Fearless laid the groundwork for a series of historic first-week sales numbers for Taylor, as well as the foundation for her eventual conquering of both country and pop.

The Hype

In 2008, a frothy pop-rock album introduced the world to a new pop star by the name of Katy Perry. Although it was technically her second studio album — her contemporary Christian music debut under the name Katy Hudson is often disregarded — One of the Boys is the record that launched Perry into mainstream prominence. The album debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 with 47,000 copies sold off the strength of its Hot 100 No. 1 lead single “I Kissed A Girl.” Three more top 40 Hot 100 hits followed — “Hot n Cold” (No. 3), “Waking Up In Vegas” (No. 9), “Thinking of You” (No. 29) — eventually helping the album cross over 1.7 million copies sold by August 2020. Both “I Kissed A Girl” and “Hot n Cold” earned Perry Grammy nominations, and all of the album’s single helped lay the foundation for pop radio dominance in the years to come. One of the Boys was a success by every possible metric, so anticipation for Perry’s next record was understandably high.

Did It Live Up?

Without question. One of the most successful albums in Billboard history, Teenage Dream bowed atop the Billboard 200 with 192,000 copies sold, launched five consecutive Hot 100 No. 1 singles, and earned Perry her first and only Grammy Award nomination for album of the year. With Teenage Dream, Perry became the first female artist — and second artist following Michael Jackson — to earn five No. 1 singles from one album over its first release. In 2012, Perry reissued the album as Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, securing yet another Hot 100 chart-topper (“Part of Me”), as well as the No. 2-peaking “Wide Awake.” In 2022, the RIAA awarded Teenage Dream a 9x platinum certification in recognition of over nine million units sold in the U.S. It was as an absolute behemoth of an album, and easily one of the most successful sophomore records of all time. If any artist is nervous about potentially suffering a sophomore slump, they would do well to review the Katy Perry playbook.

The Hype

Just one year after Katy Perry released her record-breaking sophomore album, Adele arrived with a monster sophomore record of her own. The road to 21, however, was a bit quieter than the road to Teenage Dream. In 2008, Adele made her formal debut with 19 — a tender, ballad-laden set that debuted at No. 61 on the Billboard 200, the beginning of a slow burn that would help her grow into one of the best-selling artists in music history. As singles like “Chasing Pavements” and “Make You Feel My Love” continued to gain steam and Adele kept promoting the album Stateside, the album stuck around on the charts with its sales growing incrementally week by week. In 2009, after winning best new artist and best female pop vocal performance at the Grammys, 19 rose to No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Adele earned myriad “best new artist” citations from publications and institutions on both sides of the pond, and the set’s slow and steady commercial performance primed her for an absolute takeover with her sophomore record.

Did It Live Up?

21 currently ranks as the best-performing Billboard 200 album of all time, so yes. Adele’s sophomore album earned a Diamond certification from the RIAA, spawned three Hot 100 No. 1 singles (“Rolling in the Deep,” “Someone Like You” and “Set Fire to the Rain”), and became the best-selling album digital album of all time. In fact, the album is credited for helping Adele’s label’s bank balance balloon from £3 million to £32 million in just 12 months. The album’s lead single, “Rolling in the Deep,” became the biggest crossover radio hit in 25 years. “Someone Like You,” the set’s second single, became the very first solely piano-and-vocal No. 1 hit in Hot 100 history. The album even yielded two beloved additional singles — “Rumour Has It” and “Turning Tables” — following its initial hat trick. Earning seven Grammy Awards, five Guinness World Records, and top honors at the BRIT Awards and Billboard Music Awards, 21 absolutely smashed the “sophomore slump” curse.

The Hype

Before he was crowned Billboard’s Artist of the Decade (2010s), Drake kicked off the decade with the release of his 2010 debut studio album Thank Me Later. Featuring collaborations with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Alicia Keys, Thank Me Later debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 447,000 copies sold. The set launched for consecutive top 40 hits on the Hot 100, including the top 5 hit “Find Your Love” (No. 5). Having already earned much goodwill from his So Far Gone mixtape, the success of Thank Me Later only stoked the flames of anticipation for Drake’s follow-up. A year before the release of Take Care, Drake told BBC radio, “I didn’t get to take the time that I wanted to on [Thank Me Later]… That’s why my new album is called Take Care, because I get to take my time this go-round.” A pair of singles preceded “Take Care”: the emotional rap ballad “Marvin’s Room” (No. 21) and the hard-hitting “Headlines” (No. 13). The success of these two songs coupled with a minor delay due to sample clearance issues resulted in a fanbase clamoring for Drake’s full sophomore record.

Did It Live Up?

Take Care bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 631,000 copies sold, a 41% sales increase from Thank Me Later’s first week. In addition to its first two singles, the album also launched three further top 15 hits on the Hot 100: “Make Me Proud” (No. 9), “The Motto” (No. 14) and “Take Care” (No. 7). Drake’s sophomore record also earned the Canadian his very first Grammy Award thank to his triumph in the best rap album category. Lauded by critics, the set was named the best of the year by several publications and soon earned citations as one of the greatest albums of all time from Rolling Stone. Take Care also spawned “Crew Love,” the set’s final single which peaked at No. 80 on the Hot 100, becoming The Weeknd’s first appearance on the ranking. Billboard recently named Take Care is one of the 15 best-performing 21st-century albums without any of its singles hitting No. 1 on the Hot 100. In short, the record was a verifiable success, further cementing Drake as a force of nature in the music industry.

The Hype

It’s near-impossible to describe how Lady Gaga enraptured the world when she stepped onto the scene with The Fame and its subsequent reissue, The Fame Monster. Gaga’s 2008 debut was preceded by lead single “Just Dance,” a seismic dance-pop record that climbed to a peak of No. 1 on the Hot 100. The album had a less-than-splashy debut on the Billboard 200, entering at No. 17, but the continued success of “Just Dance” and follow-up Hot 100 top 10 hits “Poker Face” (No. 1), “LoveGame” (No. 5) and “Paparazzi” (No. 6) helped The Fame reach a new Billboard 200 peak of No. 2 a little over a year after its debut on the chart.

The new peak was also bolstered by the release of The Fame Monster, a project that doubled as a deluxe reissue of The Fame and a standalone EP. The Fame Monster spawned a further three Hot 100 top 10 hits: “Bad Romance” (No. 2), “Alejandro” (No. 5), and the Beyoncé-assisted “Telephone” (No. 3). Obviously, the success of The Fame and The Fame Monster set expectations for Gaga’s proper sophomore record sky high, but the pop auteur also played into her own hype. While on her Monster Ball tour in support of her debut album, Gaga proclaimed. “Not for nothing, the album’s finished and it’s f–king really good. I promise to give you the greatest album of this decade.”

Did It Live Up?

Yes. Born This Way launched atop the Billboard 200 with a whopping 1,108,000 copies sold in its first week of availability, a figure that remains a career-best for Gaga. The set spawned four consecutive top 10 hits on the Hot 100 including the No. 1 hit single “Born This Way.” Gaga’s sophomore record earned three Grammy nominations, including her third consecutive nod for album of the year. As per the IFPI, Born This Way finished 2011 as the world’s third best-selling album. The album’s title track has endured as one the preeminent LGBTQIA+ anthems of the 21st century, and its album tracks have retained their allure, as evidenced by “Bloody Mary” becoming a streaming and radio hit a decade after the album’s original release. While the album is not necessarily a consensus pick for “greatest album of the 2010s,” it is undeniably one of the most culturally relevant and commercially successful releases of that decade.

The Hype

Long before he dominated a pair of Super Bowl Halftime Show performances and ruled the world with hits like “Uptown Funk” and “Leave The Door Open,” Bruno Mars was a fedora-sporting pop singer with just one studio album under his belt. The album in question? 2010’s Doo-Wops & Hooligans — a chart-busting record that spawned the Diamond-certified Hot 100 No. 1 singles “Just The Way You Are,” which earned him his first Grammy Award, and “Grenade,” as well as the No. 4 hit “The Lazy Song.” Bruno’s debut entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 with 55,000 units sold, eventually growing into the longest-charting debut album in Billboard 200 history (629 weeks). Even the singles that did not reach the top 10 of the Hot 100 — “Count On Me,” “Runaway Baby,” “Marry You” and “Talking To The Moon” — all secured multiplatinum certifications and made sizable cultural and commercial impacts.

With 70% of the album’s tracklist turning into bonafide smash hits, all eyes were on Bruno as he readied the follow-up to his seismic career-launching debut. In an interview with Billboard ahead of the release of Unorthodox Jukebox, Mars revealed, “They made me change a couple of things on [Doo-Wops] and I felt disgusted about that. I didn’t do that on this album. If I can’t be me doing it, I’m not going to have any fun.” With more freedom in his grasp, Mars seemed ready to make an even bigger splash with his sophomore album.

Did It Live Up?

Yes. Unorthodox Jukebox started at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 192,000 copies sold. Twelve weeks later, thanks to the continued success of the album’s singles and an Amazon discount promotion, Unorthodox Jukebox became Mars’ first title to top the Billboard 200. The set launched myriad hit singles, including two more Diamond-certified Hot 100 chart-toppers (“When I Was Your Man” and “Locked Out of Heaven”), as well as the No. 5 hit “Treasure.” Unorthodox Jukebox received four Grammy nominations, ultimately triumphing in best pop vocal album. He supported the record with The Moonshine Jungle Tour, a 144-date trek that grossed over $130 million. Acclaimed by fans and critics alike, Unorthodox Jukebox cemented Mars as one of the most successful stars of his class. The album currently ranks as the No. 55 best-performing title in Billboard 200 history.

The Hype

We all remember where we were when a young kid from Canada with a bowl cut and an affinity for the color purple exploded onto the scene. Back in 2010, Justin Bieber released My World 2.0, his debut studio album. Supported by the seminal pop smash “Baby,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 283,000 copies sold, eventually crossing the one million mark in less than a year of release. Bieber’s debut also housed the Hot 100 top 20 hits “Eenie Meenie” (with Sean Kingston) and “Somebody To Love” (with Usher). Following My World 2.0, Bieber released Never Say Never: The Remixes, his second No. 1 album, and Under the Mistletoe, a holiday album whose title track has become a contemporary Christmastime favorite. As Bieber prepped his sophomore record, he looked to transition away from the teen-pop of his debut while still satisfying the legions of fans that brought him so much success.

Did It Live Up?

Yes. Believe debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 374,000 copies sold in its first week. The album launched a litany of hit singles, including lead single “Boyfriend” (No. 2), the Big Sean-featuring “As Long As You Love Me” (No. 6), the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Beauty And A Beat” (No. 5), and Ludacris collab “All Around The World” (No. 22). Even bonus tracks and deep cuts like “Maria,” “Die In Your Arms,” and “Love Me Like You Do” made impact among Bieber’s fans. A savvy mixture of dance-pop and R&B, the album drew a favorable reception from critics. The record earned Bieber nominations and honors at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Juno Awards. Believe finished as the 11th biggest album of 2012, as per Billboard, and received a worldwide concert tour that grossed over $200 million.

The Hype

Remember when everyone’s favorite “Super Freaky Girl” has just one studio album under her belt? 2010’s Pink Friday — a landmark album that peaked atop the Billboard 200 and scored a plethora of hit singles, including the timeless Hot 100 No. 3 hit “Super Bass” — helped Nicki Minaj transition from much-lauded rising rapper to bonafide music superstar. The album was an undeniable success, earning the second-highest sales week of all time for a female rapper and launching six top 40 hits on the Hot 100. Pink Friday also earned Minaj her first Grammy nominations for her own work.

Moreover, the Queens rapper’s Pink Friday era also found her scoring several Hot 100 hits as a featured artist, thanks to her contributions to songs like Big Sean’s “Dance (A$$)” (No. 10), David Guetta’s “Turn Me On” (No. 4) and Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’” (No. 10). In an interview with Ryan Seacrest following the premiere of “Starships,” the lead single for Minaj’s sophomore album, she said, “I’ve never had this much fun recording music in my life. My first album I was very guarded. I felt like I was making music to please everyone else. I had to be politically correct, but this album I am just creating music, and there’s such a big difference.” With newfound freedom in tow, Minaj was ready to continue her success with Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.

Did It Live Up?

Yes (with a small caveat). Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 253,000 copies sold. Led by the top five Hot 100 hit “Starships” Minaj’s sophomore album found her bridging her rap roots with a pivot towards the dominant EDM and dance-pop of the time. Although some critics used the album’s dance-heavy sound to discount Minaj’s artistry and rap ability, she was still able to turn the album into a successful follow-up to Pink Friday. Although they performed less impressively on the Billboard 200, songs like “Stupid Hoe,” “Roman Holiday” and “Beez in the Trap” (with 2 Chainz) proved to become enduring hits in Minaj’s catalog. Seven months after the album’s release, Minaj reissued the record as Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded — The Re-Up, which spawned more hit singles like “High School” (with Lil Wayne) and “The Boys” (with Cassie). Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded finished the year as the best-selling hip-hop album released in 2012.

The Hype

Back in 2013, Ariana Grande arrived on the pop scene with Yours Truly, her doo-wop-indebted debut studio album. The record debuted and peaked at the summit of the Billboard 200, and spawned the Hot 100 top 10 hit “The Way” (with Mac Miller). Grande’s show-stopping vocals quickly made her a household name for those who weren’t already familiar with her through her work with Nickelodeon. Yours Truly received favorable reviews from critics and helped lay the foundation for her sophomore record’s imminent dominance. After dropping off Christmas Kisses, a holiday EP, in December 2013, Grande focused her attention squarely on her follow-up to Yours Truly. In fact, during the promotional tour for Yours Truly, Grande confirmed that she had already begun work on her sophomore album, which she wanted to “do a little bit different.”

Did It Live Up?

Without question. My Everything debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 169,000 copies sold in its first week. The album was preceded by three smash hit singles: “Problem” (No. 2), “Break Free” (No. 4) and “Bang Bang” (No. 3), all three of which concurrently ranked in the top 10 of the Hot 100 just two weeks before their parent album hit the charts. Grande also squeezed out an additional top 10 hit with The Weeknd-assisted “Love Me Harder” (No. 7). There was also “One Last Time,” the album’s final single which peaked at No. 13 during its initial Hot 100 run and later found new life as an anthem of remembrance following a deadly terrorist attack at a 2016 Grande concert in Manchester, England. My Everything garnered Grande her first two Grammy nominations, drew more acclaim from critics, and helped the singer launch her first arena concert tour.

The Hype

When Ed Sheeran kicked off his Mathematics series back in 2011, +, his debut studio album, yielded a number of memorable hits. From the Grammy-nominated “The A-Team” to “Lego House,” the guitar-touting singer-songwriter quickly made a name for himself on both sides of the pond. The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 with 42,000 copies sold in its first week. In an interview leading up to the release of x, Sheeran said that he got into the studio with famed producer Rick Rubin to “rerecord all the songs” he wrote two years prior. The process, Sheeran said, made the songs sound “raw and interesting” even if he had been sitting with them for a while. Sheeran’s debut primarily consisted of tender acoustic ballads, but all signs were pointing to more prominent hip-hop and R&B influences on his follow-up.

Did It Live Up?

Absolutely. X debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 210,000 copies sold, Sheeran’s first No. 1 album in the U.S. Lead single “Sing” previewed the album and became Sheeran’s highest-charting Hot 100 entry at the time (No. 15). The following singles, however, truly cemented x as a commercial juggernaut. Second single “Don’t” became Sheeran’s first top 10 hit on the Hot 100 (No. 9), “Thinking Out Loud” grew into one of his signature songs and one of the most successful singles of the 2010s (No. 2) and “Photograph” gave the album one final top 10 hit (No. 10). According to the IFPI, x was the world’s third best-selling album of 2014 and the world’s second best-selling album of 2015. Received positively by critics, x also collected a slew of industry honors — including five Grammy nominations, ultimately winning song of the year and best pop vocal performance, both for “Thinking Out Loud.”

The Hype

After taking the hip-hop world by storm with Section.80, his debut studio album, Kendrick Lamar was set to conquer the universe with Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, his major label debut and sophomore studio album. The album debuted with minimum promotion and coverage from mainstream media, selling just 5,000 copies in its first week — good for a No. 113 entry on the Billboard 200. Nonetheless, the album made an impact where it was intended. Hip-hop circles lauded the project, and tracks like “A.D.H.D.,” “HiiiiPoWeR,” “Rigamortis,” and “Kush & Corinthians” emerged as fan favorites. The success of Section.80 soon gave way to a record deal with a major label. Lamar signed a deal with Interscope Records and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, choosing to stick with Top Dawg’s in-house producers as he prepped his next record. In an interview, Lamar outlined a return to his roots for his major label debut; “Back to the neighborhood and [going] back in that same space where we used to be, got [me] inspired. So this album won’t sound like Section.80,” he mused.

Did It Live Up?

Absolutely. Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City roared onto the Billboard 200 at No. 2 with 242,000 copies sold and some of the most rapturous acclaim for any mainstream rap album of 2010s bar his own later projects. Two singles preceded the album, “The Recipe,” a Dr. Dre collab that failed to enter the Hot 100, and “Swimming Pools” a slow-burning smash that peaked at No. 17 and earned Lamar a Grammy nod for best rap performance. Three more hit singles followed (“Poetic Justice,” “B—h, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and “Backseat Freestyle”), perfectly positioning Lamar for a blowout Grammy night. Lamar entered the 2014 Grammys with seven nominations (five for Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City and its tracks) and left the ceremony empty-handed. His loss to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis in the best rap album category remains one of the most infamous and derided decisions in Grammy history, so much so that Macklemore even apologized to Lamar via text for the Recording Academy’s blunder. Kendrick’s sophomore album helped him morph into not just a mainstream rapper but also a burgeoning pop star.

The Hype

Harry Styles was always destined for greatness, and he laid a sturdy foundation for a successful solo career with his eponymous debut solo studio album. Introduced by the sweeping Hot 100 top five hit “Sign of the Times” (No. 4), Harry Styles opened atop the Billboard 200 with 230,000 units sold — the highest first sales week for a British male soloist’s debut LP. The album’s subsequent singles failed to make as strong of a chart impact as “Sign of the Times,” but tracks like “Kiwi,” “Carolina,” and “Ever Since New York” proved to be fan favorites and live concert highlights. Harry Styles finished 2017 as the fourth best-selling album by a British artist worldwide and the ninth best-selling album in the world. As Styles prepped his follow-up, he revealed that his sophomore record would be “all about having sex and feeling sad.”

Did It Live Up?

Off the strength of lead single “Lights Up,” which peaked at No. 17 on the Hot 100, dedicated fans, and residual goodwill from his fans, Fine Line debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 478,000 units sold. The massive debut proved to be the begging of a commercial re-peak for Styles. Two of the album’s later singles — “Adore You” and “Watermelon Sugar” — spent ample time in the top 10 of the Hot 100, with the latter becoming Styles’ first No. 1 single in the U.S. “Watermelon Sugar” also earned Styles his first Grammy, which he won for best pop solo performance. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Fine Line was the fifth best-selling album of 2019 in pure sales, and it accomplished that with just half a month on the clock. The album clocked the largest sales week from a British male artist in the SoundScan era, and currently stands as one of only three albums released in 2019 to have sold one million copies in pure album sales in the U.S. Lauded by critics, Fine Line also appeared on a number of year-end, decade-end, and all-time album rankings, further cementing the star as one of the biggest and brightest artists of his class.

The Hype

About two years before she tackled her sophomore era, Billie Eilish led a new class of pop stars into the mainstream with her wildly successful and rapturously acclaimed debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? The album opened atop the Billboard 200 with 313,000 units sold. The set performed impressively on the chart, helping Eilish become the youngest female artist to spend more than one week atop the Billboard 200 in 20 years since Britney Spears led the ranking for multiple frames with …Baby One More Time in 1999. The singles campaign for Eilish’s debut stretched from the summer of 2018 to the spring of 2020, yielding a slew of Hot 100 hits including “Bad Guy” (No. 1), “Bury a Friend” (No. 14) and “When the Party’s Over” (No. 29).

The set also earned Eilish a whopping five Grammys — four of which she won in the General Field, making her the first woman in Grammy history to triumph in the ceremony’s four major categories in the same year. Eilish’s debut finished 2019 as the best-performing Billboard 200 album of the year and the world’s fifth best-selling album of the year. Following her debut album, also Eilish unleashed “No Time to Die,” a Grammy and Oscar-winning Bond theme, and “Everything I Wanted,” a Grammy-winning Hot 100 top 10 hit. Needless to say, Eilish’s sophomore record had a lot to live up to.

Did It Live Up?

Yes and no. Sporting heavy bossa nova and jazz influences, as well as a newly bleach-blonde Eilish, Happier Than Ever marked a stark tonal, aesthetic, and sonic shift for the young singer. Much of the album’s campaign unfolded right after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, an entire year passed between the release of “My Future,” the set’s lead single, and the album’s full release. Happier Than Ever debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 238,000 units sold, a 24% decrease from her debut.

Eilish managed to squeeze three top 10 hits out of the album — “My Fututre” (No. 6), “Therefore I Am” (No. 2) and “Your Power” (No. 10) — although none of them hit the top of the Hot 100. Arguably the album’s signature song, “Happier Than Ever,” the set’s rousing two-part title track, peaked at No. 11. Happier Than Ever was warmly received by critics — though perhaps less feverishly than her debut — while some fans bemoaned Eilish’s shift away from the darker aesthetics and trap influences of her first record. Eilish’s sophomore album earned seven Grammy nominations and lost every single one. Far from a bomb, but still miles away from the unanimous critical and commercial success of her debut, Happier Than Ever found Eilish keeping her footing steady instead of completely cracking under the pressure of the sophomore album, and that’s more than good enough.

The Hype

Although he has yet to visit the top 10 of the Hot 100 since the summer of 2020, Roddy Ricch began the decade with a pair of massive Hot 100 No. 1 hits. Roddy dominated the warmer months of the year alongside DaBaby with “Rockstar,” but it was “The Box,” his runaway smash hit from that winter, that heralded the Los Angeles rapper as the decade’s hottest new rap star. “The Box” sat atop the Hot 100 for eleven weeks and its parent album, Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial, spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200 between 2019 and 2020, debuting at No. 1 with 101,000 units sold. The album finished 2020 as the third best-performing Billboard 200 album of the year.

With top honors at the BET Awards and Apple Music Awards and a triumph in the favorite rap/hip-hop album category at the American Music Awards, Roddy Ricch was on top of the world with Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial. In a GQ interview previewing his next album, Roddy said, “It’s really not about it being ready or not ready. It’s more about the timing. I really just drop when I feel like it. The next album is going to be a full-blown masterpiece. A real idea. A real body of work.”

Did It Live Up?

No. Live Life Fast, Roddy’s sophomore record, yielded just one official single: “Late at Night,” which topped out at No. 20 on the Hot 100. The album opened at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 62,000 units sold, a 38% sales decrease from his debut despite having a much high profile. The album was negatively received by critics and fans alike, with Roddy enduring some intense social media hate, as outlined in an episode of Hulu’s RapCaviar Presents docuseries. Despite a star-studded tracklist featuring the likes of Jamie Foxx, Future and 21 Savage, the album spent just 10 weeks on the Billboard 200.

The Hype

Half a decade separated SZA’s debut and sophomore albums, and in the interim, the R&B savant expertly stoked the flames of anticipation to the tune of the most commercially successful year of her career to date. Back in 2017, SZA’s debut album opened at No. 3 with 60,000 units sold. Thanks to rave reviews, immediate fan embrace and the success of hit singles like “Love Galore” (with Travis Scott) and “The Weeknd,” the album continued to grow, eventually lasting over 300 weeks on the Billboard 200 and reaching over three million units sold. Ctrl also earned SZA five Grammy nominations, although she lost each one of them.

As Ctrl chugged along, SZA made some smart business decisions to solidify her place on pop radio. “What Lovers Do,” her collaboration with Maroon 5, became her first top 10 hit on the Hot 100 with a No. 9 peak in late 2017. The following year, she teamed up with then-label mate Kendrick Lamar for the Oscar-nominated “All the Stars” (No. 7) from the Black Panther soundtrack. Two years later, SZA earned her first top five hit on the Hot 100 with “Kiss Me More” (with Doja Cat), which also earned her first Grammy win. With a sturdy foundation on pop radio and a lengthy singles campaign that combined the power of TikTok with three beloved pre-release singles (Hot 100 top 10 hits “Good Days” and “I Hate U,” as well as the No. 11-peaking “Shirt), SZA’s sophomore record was perfectly primed for maximum success.

Did It Live Up?

Unquestionably. SOS debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 318,000 units moved, spending a total of 10 non-consecutive weeks at the chart’s summit. The album was also a streaming juggernaut, earning nearly 405 million on-demand streams and breaking the record for the biggest streaming week ever for an R&B album. “Kill Bill” quickly became the runaway hit from the album, eventually becoming SZA’s first song to top the Hot 100. Twenty of the album’s songs debuted on the Hot 100, helping SZA collect yet another top 10 hit with “Nobody Gets Me” (No. 10). Recently, “Snooze,” the album’s sixth radio single, reached a new peak of No. 13 on the Hot 100, nearly sixth months after it first appeared on the chart. Critics and fans adored the album, and despite its December release, the record still appeared on several 2022 year-end lists. Although awards season hasn’t quite started yet, SOS has already picked up an Album of the Year win at the 2023 BET Awards, where it tied with Beyoncé’s Renaissance. The lengthy wait between Ctrl and SOS threatened to push fans to their limit, but SZA played the game perfectly and is continuing to reap the benefits.

The Hype

There aren’t many artists who have had as massive of a debut as Olivia Rodrigo. She took the music industry and the entire world by storm when “Drivers License,” her Grammy-winning official debut single, debuted atop the Hot 100 with record-breaking streaming numbers. She soon followed that up with “Deja Vu,” another Hot 100 top five hit (No. 4), and “Good 4 U,” another No. 1 smash. Sour, her debut studio album, opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,000 units moved. The record spent five non-consecutive weeks atop the ranking and garnered both the second-biggest streaming week for an album by a female artist in the U.S. and the biggest streaming week in history for a debut album by a female artist. Sour brought Rodrigo a large collection of awards, including three Grammys for best new artist, best pop solo performance, and best pop vocal album. All 11 of the album’s songs reached the top 30 of the Hot 100, and each track has moved at least one million units in the U.S. Sour has also spent the most weeks in the top ten of the Billboard 200 for a 21st-century debut album.

Did It Live Up?

That remains to be seen. But if the immediate love for lead single “Vampire” is anything to go by, Olivia Rodrigo will probably be just fine.