Posted by G Herbo’s new album 25 has opened at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart following its July 2 release, making it his highest-charting debut to date.
The Chicago rapper’s fourth studio effort sold roughly 46,000 total album-equivalent units in its first week, made up of 44,000 SEA units (61.17 million on-demand song streams), just over 1,000 album sales and less than 1,000 TEA units. With features from Polo G, Lil Tjay, 21 Savage, The Kid LAROI, Gunna and Rowdy Rebel, the project’s title derives from G Herbo’s current age and also serves as a tribute to his late friend who passed away seven days before his 25th birthday.
25 marks his second Top 10 album after PTSD, which peaked at No. 7 in March 2020 with around 59,000 total album-equivalent units.
Billboard 200: #5(new) @gherbo, '25' 46,000 [61.17 million on-demand streams | 1,000 pure sales].
— chart data (@chartdata) July 11, 2021
During a recent interview with Complex, G Herbo explained how 25 differs from his previous album.
“I feel like 25 is different [from PTSD] in a way,” he said. “PTSD, mental health, that’s me. That’s going to always be something that’s true to me because of the importance of mental health. But I’ve grown as an artist, just lyrically and mentally. Where I am [now] is not what PTSD was. I’m in a different head space.”
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He continued, “[This album] is me telling the story of where I am now and where I come from turning 25 years old. I feel like all my music is a reflection of me, but I want it to be different. As much as I mature, I want my music to mature.”
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With all of the hard work he’s put in up to this point in his career, G Herbo feels it’s finally time to take a break soon.
“I never got a chance to really enjoy the fruits of my labor,” he told Complex. “I’m so busy working and just taking this shit head-on like a champ, where it’s like, I’m going to need a break soon, man. It’s so much of the world I need to go see, bro. I ain’t never been to Europe. None of that shit. I never did a show out there.
“I want to go see the world and enjoy myself, man. I feel like I need to go sit on a beach and just reflect on life. And I think when I do that, I’m going to come back to the States better than ever, ready to work.”