Reggae pop singer Shenseea celebrates her annual “Yeng Day” with her fans today May 20 and says it would be nice if she hit the Billboard 200 Albums Chart with her second release “Never Gets Late Here” set for May 24.
In an exclusive interview with World Music Views®, the Interscope Recording artist says, “Wow, that would be amazing” on the question of whether she is looking forward to hitting the mainstream album chart in the US. “I mean, who can complain about that? As I said, I won’t put it on my mind to say it has to hit the chart, but I would not be upset if it did. I would still be out there celebrating. Regardless, I am going to be celebrating because I did put a lot of work into this project. So, upon its release, I’ll still be celebrating like I just hit the 200.”
It has been ten years since a female Jamaican artist entered the US Billboard 200 albums chart when Tessanne Chin’s second studio album, “Count On My Love,” debuted at #41 the week of July 19, 2014, staying on the chart for 2 weeks. Released under Republic Records/Universal Republic, Count On Love was released immediately following her victory on U.S. talent show The Voice, after selling 7,000 copies in its first week. Republic Records and The Voice faced scrutiny for perceived inadequacies in promoting the album, but no other Jamaican female artist has made the chart since.
The Billboard 200 albums chart is the week’s most popular albums as compiled by Luminate, based on multi-metric consumption (blending traditional album sales, track equivalent albums, and streaming equivalent albums). The chart evolved from a weekly top 10 list in 1956 to expand into a top 200 list by May 1967. It adopted its current name in March 1992. Previously, it was known as the Billboard Top LPs (1961–1972), Billboard Top LPs & Tape (1972–1984), Billboard Top 200 Albums (1984–1985), and Billboard Top Pop Albums (1985–1992).
Shenseea’s last album “Alpha” debuted at #2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart after selling 4,900 units total from sales and streaming in the United States in its first week of release. It also debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, which highlights and ranks the sales by new and developing musical recording artists each week. Weekly album and single sales are recorded between Friday and the following Thursday.
Since then Shenseea’s fanbase has increased significantly, particularly in the US where she has been living for the last two years and collaborating with several artists.
Hip Hop producer London On The Track is the Executive Producer for “Never Gets Late Here” and the album features production from RIAA Diamond selling production duo Stargate and Nigerian hitmaker Wizkid.
Female Jamaican and the Billboard 200 Albums Chart
‘My Boy Lollipop’ by Millie Small, released by Smash Records, was the first album by a female Jamaican artist to enter the Billboard 200 albums chart. It debuted the week of August 8, 1964, and stayed on the chart for 5 weeks, peaking at #132 by August 29.
Following the breakout success of Millie Small, Grace Jones made her mark on the Billboard 200 chart with a total of nine albums, starting with “Portfolio,” which debuted on October 22, 1977, then peaking at 109 in December 3, 1977. Following that success, “Fame” peaked at # 97 ( September 16, 1978.)
Continuing her trajectory, “Muse” peaked at # 156, (September 29, 1979), “Warm Leatherette” topped out at #132 (August 2, 1980), “Nightclubbing” hit at # 32 (July 25, 1981), “Living My Life,” at #86 (December 25, 1982.)
She maintained her momentum with “Fame To The Rhythm,” which peaked at #73, December 21, 1985. The compilation album “Island Life” peaked at # 7 on February 15, 1986. Her last album to make the chart was “Inside Story” reaching #81 in January 24, 1987.
Jamaican female artists maintained a presence the BB200 the following year when Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, made up of Cedella and Sharon Marley along with brother Stephen charted with “Conscious Party” which peaked at #23 on July 2, 1988.
The group followed up with “One Bright Day” which peaked at #26 on September 16, 1989, then “Jahmekya” which peaked at # 63 on June 22, 1991.
Dancehall artist Patra was next to take the mantle with her debut album “Queen of the Pack” (1993) which charted at #103, followed by “Scent of Attraction” (1995) at #151.
Diana King’s Columbia Records’ debut album, “Tougher Than Love,” peaked at No. 179 August 19, 1995, lead by four hit singles: “Shy Guy,” “Love Triangle,” a rendition of the classic “Ain’t Nobody” originally by Rufus & Chaka Khan (1983), and “Treat Her Like a Lady.”
