Tinashe scores first top 10 with Popstar at No. 6

Tinashe has her first US top 10 album. Popstar opened at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, the weekly ranking of the most popular albums in the United States.

The set earned 35,500 equivalent album units in its opening week, the measure that turns streams and sales into album sales, according to Billboard. It is her highest-charting album so far and her first appearance in the top 10. Billboard

She celebrated on X on Oct. 5. “I’m so unbelievably grateful, this is CRAZY! #6 BILLBOARD DEBUT,” she wrote. Singer Victoria Monét quote-tweeted the post to congratulate her, with the exchange quickly picked up by fans tracking the chart news.

Popstar was released on Sept. 25 via Nice Life, Atlantic and Tinashe Music, the labels credited with the release. The album holds 16 tracks. It follows Quantum Baby, her 2024 album, which had arrived at No. 199 on the same chart. Billboard

The new peak clears a high that stood for more than a decade. Her major-label debut, 2014’s Aquarius, opened and peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and held her career best until this week. She later reached No. 89 with Nightride and No. 58 with Joyride. The step from No. 199 last time out to No. 6 is sharp. Billboard

Singles laid the groundwork for the return. Her 2024 single “Nasty” reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100, the US singles chart. Her collaboration with Disco Lines, “No Broke Boys,” went further to No. 36. That gave her a first top 40 Hot 100 hit since “2 On” in 2014. “No Broke Boys” then spent 24 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

What makes this stand out is the length of the climb. Twelve years separate Aquarius and Popstar. Eleven places separate No. 17 and No. 6. For listeners who have followed that run, the meaning is plain. A personal best, by a distance.