Steve Lacy’s sophomore album, Gemini Rights, debuts at No. 7 this week with 34,000 equivalent units sold. It’s his highest-ranking debut on the Billboard 200 and his first album to appear in the top ten of this chart.
Lacy made his solo Billboard 200 debut with the 2019 album Apollo XXI, which went to No. 160 in June 2019. He appeared on this list twice as part of The Internet, having their best opening week with Hive Mind, which commenced at No. 26 in August 2018.
Gemini Rights simultaneously leads three Billboard charts, including Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums. It also reached No. 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Shortly before Gemini Rights was released on July 15, its second pre-album single, “Bad Habit,” nabbed Lacy his first Hot 100 appearance. Since then, the track has climbed to No. 50.
In addition to “Bad Habit” and its supporting video, Lacy shared the tracks “Mercury” and the Fousheé-assisted “Sunshine,” along with their accompanying visuals.
Of Gemini Rights, Lacy told Grammy.com, “It’s a story that is very fluid [and] very fun. To me, the subject matter could be sad if you look at it that way, but I feel like it is way more hopeful — and that’s the story: finding happiness. I’m finding myself after a heartbreak.”
In the three years since Apollo XXI, Lacy has contributed to albums and projects by Ravyn Lenae, Fousheé and most recently, Brent Faiyaz. He had a co-writing assist on Faiyaz’s Tyler, the Creator-assisted “Gravity” with DJ Dahi, taken from Wasteland.
Debuts on this week’s #Billboard200 (1/2):
#2, @lizzo Special
#7, @realstevelacyy Gemini Rights
#8, @ITZYofficial Checkmate
#11, #VariousArtists Gangsta Art
#17, #JHOPE Jack In The Box
#23, @SabrinaAnnLynn Emails I Can’t Send— billboard charts (@billboardcharts) July 25, 2022