T.I. Breakin' Records (Again) And Takin' Names

Today, T.I. and Rihanna's "Live Your Life" made an unheard of leap from #80 to #1 after selling 335,000 digital download and gaining radio airplay. This once again breaks the record for biggest jump to #1, a record that T.I. himself set just over a month ago when "Whatever You Like" soared from 71 to 1. T.I. also becomes the ninth artist in Billboard history to replace himself at the one spot and the first since 2004. With "Whatever You Like" at #2, this week becomes the eleventh instance in chart history that an artist has occupied the top two spots. Rihanna has now scored five #1 hits (three of them this year alone) and she now takes the lead for female artist with most chart toppers this decade. Only Usher with seven has more. Wow.


The biggest jump to number one record has all but become irrelevant. It was originally set by The Beatles in 1964 when "Can't Buy Me Love" went 27-1 in one week (which made them the first and so far, one of two acts to replace themselves with three different songs, Usher was the second). This record remained for 38 years until Kelly Clarkson's, "A Moment Like This" went 52-1 thanks to unprecedented excitement over the crowning of her as the inagural American Idol. Clarkson's jump is now the fifth best in chart history but there is no reason to think it will remain there for very long. The reason for all of the sudden leaps to #1 is the revolution that is legal digital downloading. Whoever wants to be the next to break this record not only needs a molten hot hit of a song, but enough luck to debut in the ninties right before the song takes off so they can make an even better jump. Who would have thought a #100 debut could be so valuable?

Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Gettin' Better" is the week's hot shot debut, coming in at #7. Just a couple weeks ago rock journalists were foaming at the mouth at the idea of a repeat Kanye-50 chart battle, but with 808s and Heartbreak being moved up several weeks, that seems unlikley. Instead, the decade old rivalry between Christina and Britney seems to be heating up with Britney Spears releasing her electro-clash number, "Womanizer", only a week after Aguilera released hers. "Womanizer" debuts today at #96. Other notable entries this week are David Cook's "Light On" at #17 and The Killer's "Human" at #32.

This Weeks Top Ten:

1. "Live Your Life" - T.I. feat Rihanna
2. "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
3. "So What" - Pink

4. "Disturbia" - Rihanna

5. "Let It Rock" - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne

6. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry

7. "Keeps Gettin' Better" - Christina Aguilera

8. "Can't Believe It" - T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne

9. "Paper Planes" - M.I.A.

10. "Gotta Be Somebody" - Nickleback

Biggest Jump To Number One:

1. 80-1 "Live You Life" - T.I. feat Rihanna

2. 71-1 "Whatever You Like" - T.I.

3. 64-1 "Makes Me Wonder" - Maroon 5

4. 53-1 "Take A Bow" - Rihanna

5. 52-1 "A Moment Like This" - Kelly Clarkson

6. 51-1 "Love In The Club" - Usher feat. Young Jeezy

7. 42-1 "Give It To Me" - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

8. 41-1 "Umbrella" - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

9. 34-1 "SOS" - Rihanna

10. 32-1 "This Is Why I'm Hot" - Mims

Self Replacement at Number One:

1. Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog" replaced by "Love Me Tender"

2. The Beatles - "I Want To Hold Your Hand" replaced by "She Loves You" replaced by "Can't Buy Me Love"

3. Boyz II Men - "I'll Make Love To You" replaced by "On Bended Knee"

4. Puff Daddy - "I'll Be Missin' You" replaced by "Mo Money Mo Problems"

5. Ja Rule - "Always On Time" replaced by "Ain't It Funny"

6. Nelly - "Hot In Herre" replaced by "Dilemma"

7. OutKast - "Hey Ya!" replaced by "The Way You Move"

8. Usher - "Yeah" replaced by "Burn" replaced by "Confessions Part II"

9. T.I. - "Whatever You Like" replaced by "Live Your Life"