Mariah the Scientist Secures First No. 1 on Billboard Top R&B Albums Chart

Mariah the Scientist’s fourth studio album Hearts Sold Separately debuted atop Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart on the week ending September 6, marking her first No. 1 on that ranking. The album earned 36,000 equivalent units-32,000 from 42.3 million on-demand streams and 4,000 in traditional sales-during its opening tracking week of August 22-28.

The chart-topping arrival underscores Mariah’s growing impact on the modern R&B scene. After breaking through with her 2021 release Master and earning critical acclaim for her third album, she has now translated that buzz into a commercial milestone, demonstrating strong fan engagement across streaming and purchases.

Career Milestone and Chart Performance

• Hearts Sold Separately opens at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums, No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 11 on the all-genre Billboard 200-each a personal best for the Atlanta singer-songwriter.
• The album’s lead single, “Burning Blue,” propelled Mariah into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 25 in May and has since climbed to No. 2 on Hot R&B Songs this week.
• Ten tracks from Hearts Sold Separately appear on this week’s Hot R&B Songs chart, including “Is It a Crime” featuring Kali Uchis at No. 7 and “Sacrifice” at No. 8.

Streaming Strength and Fan Support

Hearts Sold Separately amassed 42.3 million streams in its first week, reflecting sustained listener interest. Mariah has cultivated a devoted following by pairing introspective lyrics with contemporary R&B production, and the album rollout-including pre-order campaigns and a headlining North American tour launching this month-has galvanized fan engagement.

Looking Ahead

With Hearts Sold Separately claiming the top R&B album spot, Mariah the Scientist cements her status as a rising star in her genre. As she embarks on her September tour dates, industry observers will watch whether she can sustain this momentum with future singles and live performances.