Hamilton Mixtape Set to Hit No. 1, Childish Gambino Not Far Behind
The Hamilton Mixtape, a companion album to the smash hit Broadway musical, is projected to be the number one album in America this week, according to Billboard. The album features covers by high-profile artists of songs from the show; demos and songs that were cut from earlier versions of the musical; and new songs inspired by the play. It was put together by the show’s composer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Roots’ Questlove, and mixtape DJ J.Period.
The Hamilton Mixtape is projected to move between 175,000 and 200,000 equivalent album units, a measure of both the reach of the musical and the star power involved in the project. Amongst the album’s featured artists are The Roots, Chance the Rapper, Sia, Queen Latifah, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, Busta Rhymes, and many others.
Hamilton‘s original cast album is a huge hit, having spent over a year (and counting) on the Billboard 200. That album was also co-produced by Miranda and Questlove, along with Alex Lacamoire, Bill Sherman, and The Roots’ lead rhymer Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter.
Childish Gambino’s new album “Awaken, My Love” is also projected to be in Billboard’s top five next week, with sales of around 100,000 units. The funk-influenced set—Donald Glover has mentioned the Isley Brothers and Funkadelic as touchstones in interviews—has been met with mixed reaction. Some people have raved, while others consider it a “misfire.”
“Awaken, My Love” comes out on the heels of the first season of Atlanta, Glover’s critically beloved television show, as well as the news that Glover will be playing Lando Calrissian in an upcoming Star Wars spin-off.
