Jackson Wang sets Chinese artist Billboard record with 'Magic Man 2'

Chinese pop star Jackson Wang's "Magic Man 2" debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 last week, making it the highest-charting album by a Chinese artist in the chart's history.

A scene from Jackson Wang's new music video "Made Me a Man." [Photo courtesy of Team Wang Records]

Wang is now the first Chinese artist to place multiple albums on the Billboard 200, with "Mirrors" (2019) debuting at No. 32 and "Magic Man" (2022) reaching No. 15. The new album also entered at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart and No. 3 on the Top Vinyl Albums chart.

In an interview with China.org.cn, Wang described the album's success as lifting a weight off his chest, calling it deeply personal. The project reflects his year-long break from the spotlight, a period of introspection during which he confronted painful experiences in the entertainment industry, including navigating vanity and betrayal while searching for his true self.

"It's a self-serving album, something that I have to put out for myself and also let my audiences know what I've been through and who I truly am," he said. "I also want to show my audience this is what happened to me, this is how I healed and recovered from it. And it's by accepting it and moving on with life."

The album transforms Wang's personal diaries into raw emotional content, capturing his difficult journey. The track "Everything" reveals his struggles with lyrics like "I'd give everything I have to feel alive." "Dear:" incorporates his mother's words of care, encouragement and wisdom from various moments, followed by "Sophie Ricky," a tribute to his parents' sacrifices.