Seattle rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis are headed for the biggest debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart next week. The duo’s new set, “The Heist,” is aiming to start with more than 65,000 sold by the end of the tracking week on Oct. 14, according to industry forecasters.
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“The Heist,” Macklemore’s second full-length effort, should debut in the No. 2 slot behind Mumford & Sons’ “Babel.” The latter might claim a third straight week atop the Billboard 200 with around 90,000 to 100,000 sold
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Released independently through Alternative Distribution Alliance, “The Heist” comes after years of steady growth for the act. Lewis’ official YouTube channel has 47,000 subscribers and nearly 22 million views, while the duo’s SoundCloud has amassed 1 million plays from seven tracks. Macklemore and Lewis recently wrapped a sold-out European tour and have a 50-show U.S. and Canada trek that starts on Oct. 11 in Portland, Ore.
Macklemore and Lewis’ album is beating out other new efforts from a variety of superstars this week. Barbra Streisand’s archival set “Release Me” and Kiss’ first studio album in three years, “Monster,” are on course for starts of around 40,000 and 60,000, respectively. Others heading for sizable debuts include MGK’s “Lace Up” (perhaps 50,000) and Ellie Goulding’s “Halcyon” (30,000-ish).
