Mariah The Scientist just hit a career milestone, earning her very first No. 1 album. Her latest release, Hearts Sold Separately, has claimed the top spot on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart for the week of September 6. The project, dropped through Buckles Laboratories and Epic Records, marks the first time she has ever led the chart.
According to Luminate, the album moved 36,000 equivalent units in its opening week from August 22 to August 28. Most of that came from streaming, with fans clocking 42.3 million on-demand plays across audio and video platforms, which translated into 32,000 units. Physical sales added 4,000 units, while track equivalent albums made up only a small slice of the total.
This is only Mariah’s second appearance on the Top R&B Albums list. Her 2023 project To Be Eaten Alive peaked at No. 14. With Hearts Sold Separately, she has now raised the bar, opening at No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and No. 11 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Leading the campaign was “Burning Blue,” the single that introduced Mariah to a much wider audience. In May, it climbed to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving her a first top 40 hit. The record also pushed her into the top 10 of Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs. Following the album’s release, “Burning Blue” has soared even higher, now sitting at No. 2 on Hot R&B Songs and No. 3 on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs this week.
The project’s momentum continues across the board, with ten tracks charting on Hot R&B Songs. That includes “Is It a Crime” with Kali Uchis at No. 7, “Sacrifice” at No. 8, and “Rainy Days” at No. 10. Other standouts like “Like You Never,” “Eternal Flame,” and “No More Entertainers” also landed impressive debuts, cementing Mariah The Scientist’s breakout moment as one of the most significant in R&B this year.