Stray Kids Breaks Record for Most No. 1 Albums for a Group Since 2000

Stray Kids have broken a major record with their seventh Billboard 200 chart-topper, "Karma," making them the act with the most No. 1 albums so far this century. The group has now overtaken both BTS and legendary American bands such as Linkin Park and Dave Matthews Band. Data from Luminate shows the album amassed 313,000 equivalent album units in the week ending August 28, marking the third-largest weekly total of 2025 and the year’s second-biggest sales week.

Entirely produced by the group’s in-house production team 3RACHA—comprising Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han—the 11-track project was spearheaded by the single "Ceremony." Stray Kids, who first reached No. 1 in 2022 with "Oddinary," are the only act in the 69-year history of the Billboard 200 to debut at the top with their first six albums. Their sustained dominance is fueled by a deeply engaged global fandom, known as STAY, and the group’s hands-on involvement in writing and production—a rarity in the highly curated K-pop industry.

In support of the album, a sing-along edition of their recent concert film was released in theaters and on Netflix, while the soundtrack was issued on CD ahead of a full physical rollout on September 5. The lead single "Golden" held the No. 1 position on the Hot 100 for a third consecutive week, with two other Stray Kids tracks landing in the top five and "How It’s Done" rising to No. 9.

Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey notched her first top 10 album as "A Matter of Time" entered at No. 4 with 99,000 units. The release was supported by an extensive array of physical editions, including eight vinyl variants, three signed CD versions, and a cassette. Laufey, who has gained recognition for merging jazz traditions with contemporary pop, will kick off a 26-date North American tour on September 15 in Orlando. As music critic Elena Torres observed, “Her sophisticated yet accessible sound has created a new niche that resonates across generations.”

Deftones scored their seventh top 10 album with "Private Music," which debuted at No. 5 with 87,000 units—their best sales week to date. Meanwhile, rapper BigXthaPlug achieved a personal best as "I Hope You’re Happy" entered at No. 7 with 47,000 units, featuring collaborations with artists spanning country and hip-hop, including Darius Rucker and Jelly Roll. In a notable chart return, Tyler, The Creator’s 2015 album "Cherry Bomb" re-entered at No. 6 following a 10th-anniversary reissue that included multiple vinyl editions and deluxe box sets, earning 52,000 units for the week.