"Vultures" First Week Sales Projections Increase Amid Distribution Drama

BYGabriel Bras Nevares4.2K Views
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2016 Hot 97 Summer Jam
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JUNE 05: Kanye West performs at the 2016 Hot 97 Summer Jam at MetLife Stadium on June 5, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
We can't call whether or not the album will be on streaming in the foreseeable future, but we do know that so many folks tuned in.

Say what you will about Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign's new collaborative album Vultures, but it's been the talk of the town all week. Moreover, whether folks are discussing some of their favorite moments or unpacking the controversies behind the release, everyone has something to say about the LP. If you remember last time we got projections for its first-week sales, this first installment in an allegedly longer series was expected to sell around 140K units. However, a new report from HITSDailyDouble on Friday (February 16) indicates that it's now expected to sell over 150K units and debut at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart with less than a full week of availability.

Furthermore, this last point will be quite an interesting one for Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign because of how difficult it's been to put Vultures out. The album already disappeared several times from Apple Music after failing to appear on Spotify in the first place. This was due to various distribution issues, which since resolved themselves temporarily with a simple change letting the album back on the streaming platform. As such, many folks wonder what difference these removals and issues caused when it comes to the project's bottom-line sales, streams, and marketing.

Kanye West & Ty Dolla Sign's Vultures Gets First-Week Sales Projections Update

Not only that, but Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign faced a whole slew of other technical problems with Vultures. Sample clearance issues, delayed live events, clearing verses... the list goes on. Still, it seems like the duo hasn't given up yet and doesn't mind continuing to deal with these headaches. They are apparently holding more listening parties for the collab album and for its supposed sequels, but this time, in Italy.

Meanwhile, with more live performances scheduled (such as for Rolling Loud California), we'll see how much longer the Vultures train stays on track. Well, not having a clear track seems to be the point, so we'll see how much longer they can keep this all up. If previous Ye rollouts are anything to go by, then this is just the beginning. On that note, stay up to date on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign, and Vultures.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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