(MENAFN- Arab Times) The soundtrack for song-infused comedy 'Pitch Perfect 2' debuted atop the weekly US Billboard 200 chart on Wednesday after the sequel conquered the box office last weekend. 'Pitch Perfect 2,' featuring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson as the sassy stars of a women's acapella choir, sold 92,000 albums, 134,000 songs and was streamed 3.3 million times, for a total of 108,000 sales units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In its opening last weekend, the sequel to the 2012 hit earned $70.3 million at the US and Canadian box office, more than the first film's $65 million take from its North American theatrical run.
The 'Pitch Perfect 2' soundtrack knocked British folk band Mumford & Sons down to No. 2 from last week's top position. 'Wilder Mind,' the group's third studio album, sold 58,000 units in the week ending May 17. Another soundtrack, for 'Grey,' moved into the third spot, up from No. 6, with 49,000 units. The musical companion for blockbuster 'Furious 7' bumped up two places into No. 5, placing three soundtracks into the Top 5 for the first time since 2007, according to Billboard. The Billboard 200 chart tallies album sales, song sales (10 songs equal one album) and streaming activity (1,500 streams equal one album).
French DJ David Guetta jumped from No. 30 to No. 4, his highest position in the Billboard 200, with 'Listen,' released last November. Rock band Incubus also made it into the Top 10, with its justreleased 'Trust Fall (Side A),' snagging the No. 6 slot. On the Digital Songs chart, which measures online sales, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's 'See You Again' from the 'Furious 7' soundtrack continued its hold at No. 1, with 229,000 downloads.
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Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Akon says being a successful entertainer has given him a platform to pursue his dream of helping Africa grow and prosper. The performer, songwriter and producer was born in the U.S. of Senegalese parents and reared in both countries. He started an initiative called 'Akon Lighting Africa' two years ago with a goal of bringing electricity to a million homes by the end of 2014. He told a U.N. news conference Wednesday on promoting clean energy that the initiative not only achieved that but has spread to 14 African countries.
Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, said the biggest obstacle to Africa's growth is the need for infrastructure and energy. That's why he launched 'Akon Lighting Africa' with two partners and a credit line of $1 billion, he said. It now employs over 5,000 mainly young people who install and maintain solar equipment. 'To be able to facilitate the needs of millions of people in Africa, has always been a dream of mine,' Akon said. 'Our main goal and initiative is to become the key tool to help Africa's growth, utilizing the youth of Africa to be the main catapults of making that happen.' With more than a dozen
Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including 'Smack That,' ''I Wanna Love You' and 'Locked Up,' Akon said he realized that as an entertainer he has a big audience and is in a position to influence them. 'I think ultimately ' where God allows you to speak to a billion people you always ask yourself, when you get a chance of that nature, what will you say? What is your purpose?,' Akon said. 'I felt that entertainment was always the key that would open the door to bigger and better things in my life and I can be able to pass on with a legacy, and my name can ring towards development of a full (African) continent.'
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Rapper Layzie Bone of the Grammy Award-winning group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony helped a driver who went into diabetic shock and nearly ran into the performer's vehicle in Wyoming. Casper news station KCWY-TV reports that Steven 'Layzie Bone' Howse was heading to a concert in Riverton on Saturday to promote his new album 'Perfect Timing' when he saw a car swerving across the roadway. It spun to a stop in front of the rapper's vehicle. Layzie Bone told the station that he rushed to the man and offered him apples and oranges to help his blood sugar while they waited for paramedics. The rapper says he was scared for the man and glad he could help. Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Chris Schell says a medical emergency causing erratic driving is rare.
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