Halsey's "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom" is the Jersey girl's first No. 1
If you required any further convincing of New Jersey singer Halsey's significance in mainstream pop, here's some undeniable proof: her new "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom" LP is the best-selling album in America right now.
Billboard announced Sunday the Warren County-bred songstress's sophomore record had bested rapper Bryson Tiller's "True To Self" LP as the No. 1 album in the U.S., raking in 106,000 album equivalent units (76,000 in traditional album sales). It is the first No. 1 album by a solo female artist in 2017. It's also the first No. 1 album from a solo New Jersey woman since Lauryn Hill's acclaimed "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" in 1998.
"Hopeless Fountain Kingdom" was released June 2 and marked a thematic leap forward for the artist born Ashley Frangipane; its almost conceptual narration of a "Romeo and Juliet"-esque romantic failure was an emotional triumph for the daring 22-year-old singer. The album's slinking lead single "Now or Never" has already taken off online, earning more than 90 million listens on Spotify alone.
A boost in Halsey's popularity came last fall when she was a featured on The Chainsmokers' monster hit "Closer," which was the No. 1 song in America from Labor Day to Thanksgiving 2016.
Halsey will play much of the album -- her first No. 1 (her 2015 debut "Badlands" reached No. 2) -- Oct. 14 when her new arena tour visits Prudential Center in Newark.
Pop mega-star Katy Perry's June 9 release "Witness" will almost certainly dethrone Halsey later this week, but for now the Jersey girl leads the pack.
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.