GRAMMY-winning hip-hop artist’s ‘Anomaly’ becomes top-selling album in the U.S.—a first for Reach Records

Christian rapper Lecrae achieved No. 1 status on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart with Anomaly. The Sept. 9 release by the GRAMMY-winning artist sold 88,000 copies in its debut week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and is the first to land atop the chart for the Reach Records label, which he co-founded.

Anomaly is the artist’s sixth No. 1 release on the Gospel Albums chart and his fifth leader on Christian Albums, according to Billboard. It also hit multiple other Billboard charts.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Lecrae tweeted after receiving the news of the feat. I haven’t had time to download it all. I am so grateful for the support.”

The release is just the fifth album to top Christian Albums and the Billboard 200 simultaneously, following Chris Tomlin’s Burning Lights (2013), TobyMac’s Eye on It (2012), LeAnn Rimes’ You Light Up My Life—Inspirational Songs (1997) and Bob Carlisle’s Butterfly Kisses (Shades of Grace) (1997).

Lecrae’s single “All I Need Is You” also debuted atop the iTunes Hip-Hop chart.

“This marks the first time that a Christian hip-hop artist has hit No. 1 on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap song chart and the first time a Christian hip-hop artist has hit No. 1 on the iTunes song chart overall!” according to Rapzilla.com.

The rapper has sold 1.4 million albums and 2.9 million track downloads.

Lecrae invited fans to share what makes them an anomaly. He planned to use their stories and pictures on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square. —Johnson

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