Mega-hit albums that somehow took off without a No. 1 single

You might be most familiar with Nelly's 2002 project, Nellyville, which included the Hot 100 No. 1 hit, "Hot in Herre." But his debut album, Country Grammar, also featured some bangers, including "E.I." and "Ride with Me," which peaked at No. 3. 

Avril Lavigne's 2002 debut project, Let Go, is complete with pop-rock style tracks, including the No. 2 single, "Complicated." She would later claim the chart's highest spot with her 2007 single, "Girlfriend." 

Maroon 5's debut album, Songs About Jane, didn't have chart-topping singles, but the few they did release ("This Love," "Sunday Morning," and "She Will Be Loved") were so popular that the group became overnight sensations. When their sophomore album hit the shelves, they snagged their first of four No. 1s, “Makes Me Wonder." 

Even though Justin Timberlake’s album Justified featured the wildly popular tracks “Cry Me A River” and “Rock Your Body,” neither reached No. 1 on the charts. That didn’t stop his hustle, though. The singer claimed the highest spot with later singles, “My Love,” “SexyBack,” and “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”

Kanye West’s 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which featured the top-20 hits “Monster” and “Runaway,” didn’t produce a No. 1 single; however, the project did win the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2012. 

Midnight Memories is the third studio album from the boy band One Direction. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and received generally positive reviews from fans and critics alike. It’s home to the group’s highest-charting single, "Best Song Ever," which reached No. 2 in the United States. 

Ariana Grande’s sophomore album, My Everything, is where the tides began to shift for the singer. In her attempt to “Break Free” from her Nickelodeon image, Grande explored deeper themes on tracks like “Love Me Harder,” “Hands on Me,” and “Best Mistake” with her then-boyfriend Big Sean. The album’s highest-charting single, “Problem,” featuring Iggy Azalea,  peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100. 

For anybody keeping tabs on Taylor Swift’s career lately, it’s hard to believe she could ever have an album without a No. 1 single — however, her sophomore project, Fearless, produced zero No. 1 hits.

Nicki Minaj’s debut album produced eight singles, but none hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. However, “Super Bass” reached No. 3 on the chart and became an international hit.   

Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway may not have had any No. 1 singles; however, it won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2006. 

Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0 housed many popular hits from the singer that his fans couldn’t get enough of. JB’s highest-peaking track from this era was the lead tune, “Baby,” featuring Ludacris, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

With hits including “Oops!... I Did It Again” and “Stronger,” you’d think Britney Spears’ second is full of No. 1 singles. But you’d better think again. The project’s lead single of the same name peaked at No. 9 on the Hot 100 in June 2000. 

The Fame Monster, released as a reissue of Lady Gaga’s debut album, had plenty of catchy pop singles, including “Telephone” and “Bad Romance,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100. 

It’s shocking that Beyoncé’s surprise album of the same name, home to the popular song “Drunk In Love,” didn’t have any No. 1 singles. Regardless, the project still had a monumental impact on the music industry and pop culture, selling over 828,773 copies in just three days.  

Another second album with extremely popular songs that didn’t snag a No. 1 was Drake’s Take Care. It was released in November 2011, sold 631,000 copies in the first week, and has been marked as one of the rapper’s strongest projects ever. 

Future Nostalgia is Dua Lipa’s sophomore album, which spawned six singles, including “Physical” and “Levitating.” The album was praised by critics for its production and theme and topped the charts in several countries like Scotland and Ireland. Despite the album’s success, the singles' highest-charting spot was No. 2. 

Sweetener is Ariana Grande’s fourth studio album released in August 2018. The project’s songs incorporate genres like trap, house, and, of course, pop and R&B. None of the singles (“No Tears Left to Cry” and “God Is a Woman”) reached No. 1 on the charts, but they both snagged spots in the top 10. In 2019, Grande won her first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. 

American Idiot is considered by many to be Green Day’s comeback project after disappointing sales from their 2000 album Warning. The group underwent a massive change, changing their wardrobe and sound, which drew more attention to the band, causing the album to sell over 16 million copies worldwide. Even then, the project’s five singles, including “American Idiot,” never reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. 

Christina Aguilera’s 2002 project is full of moving songs that showcase the singer’s dynamic vocal abilities. Singles included “Dirrty” and “Beautiful,” which peaked at Nos. 48 and 2 on the Billboard chart, respectively. It won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2004 and has since become an anthem, inspiring listeners to embrace their inner beauty. 

Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers housed five singles, including the popular track “The Real Slim Shady,” which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard. However, that’s this album’s highest-charting jam, spending 19 weeks on the chart in 2000.