Kanye West's New Album 'Ye' Heading for No. 1 Debut

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Despite all the drama surrounding his new album Ye, Kanye West's new LP is still heading for a No. 1 debut.

According to industry forecasters, the new record, which arrived on June 1, could launch with around 175,000 equivalent album units. If it does debut on top of the Billboard 200, it would be West's eighth time to crown the U.S. album chart.

All but one of West's previous records have hit No. 1, including 2016's The Life of Pablo and Watch the Throne, his collaborative LP with Jay-Z. His first album, The College Dropout, is his only record which did not top the charts, peaking at No. 2 in 2004.

Ye's arrival last week capped months of controversy, speculation and tension relating to West's support of Donald Trump, his suggestion that slavery was a choice, his decision to scrap his working album and create an entirely new record (which became Ye) and his relationship with his wife Kim Kardashian (which he addresses on the album).

Even until the last moments before its release, Ye was given a whirlwind rollout. West captured the photo for the artwork on the way to the Wyoming listening party, which was live-streamed but started two hours later than planned, leaving fans to wait anxiously while watching horses roam on a ranch.