Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ Surges to No. 1 on Billboard Album Chart, Overtaking Travis Scott

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has achieved a major milestone with her sixth studio album, ‘Short n’ Sweet’, which has soared to the top of the Billboard 200 chart. The album, which marked Carpenter’s first No. 1 on the Billboard charts, amassed the equivalent of 362,000 album units. It has notably surpassed Travis Scott’s Days Before Rodeo, which, despite being a significant release, landed at No. 2.

Carpenter’s ascent to the top spot comes in the wake of a pointed social media message referencing Nicki Minaj’s previous chart battle. Minaj, in 2018, made headlines with her challenge to Scott’s ‘Astroworld’ album, which benefited from considerable tour and merchandise sales. 

Image Courtesy: Variety

Minaj’s comments about Scott’s chart performance included criticisms of how Billboard incorporated these sales into his numbers, suggesting an unfair advantage. In a nod to Minaj, Carpenter tweeted, “this one’s for nicki,” a gesture that received a warm response from the rapper later that evening. 

Minaj expressed support for Carpenter, writing, “Shout out Sabrina Carpenter, shout out all the Sabrina Carpenter fans.” This exchange highlighted Minaj’s long-standing criticism of the music industry’s treatment of women and their representation in charts.

Minaj’s 2018 remarks included dissatisfaction with how Scott’s tour and merchandise contributed to his chart performance, which she felt was not equitably available to her. She also directed her frustration towards Scott’s then-girlfriend Kylie Jenner and other industry figures, underscoring her belief that women often face systemic obstacles in their careers.

As Carpenter celebrates her success, her achievement is viewed not just as a personal victory but also as a symbolic nod to the ongoing conversations about fairness and representation in the music industry.

-Sushmita Sarkar