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Chart Juice: Drake, Seal Win Seals of Approval on R&B/Hip-Hop Charts

Seal Performs in 2009 | Getty Images

Artists in this Article

Seal
Mary J. Blige
Jay-Z
Beyoncé
Kanye West
Young Jeezy
Trey Songz
Rick Ross
Nicki Minaj
Big Sean

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Unlike the past few weeks, the top 10 of the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this week shuffles around, with enough position gains and drops that only the top two titles, the monsters of the list, remain in place.
 
"Make Me Proud," the song that became Drake's eighth No. 1 last week, reigns supreme for the second consecutive week after its 15-week creep up the ladder. The song is also Nicki Minaj's second No. 1 and first as a featured artist. It was with Drake that she earned her first gold medal: "Moment for Life."
 
When Drake came and nudged the top dog to step aside last week, it was Wale who was sent down to No. 2. Wale is the only other artist in the top 10 who maintains his position. Despite a 2% loss in audience impressions, "Lotus Flower Bomb" sustains its runner-up spot.
 
The R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Greatest Gainer/Airplay award goes to chart dominator Drake, whose "The Motto" shoots 8-3. The song logged a 22% jump in audience this week with the help of WWPR New York and the station's 2.3 million impression increase during the tracking week.
 
Making a sweet jump from the No. 7 spot to No. 4 is Young Jeezy with his Jay-Z and Andre 3000-assisted track "I Do." It's Jeezy's highest-charting single since "Put On," feat. Kanye West, hit No. 3 on Sept. 13, 2008.
 
Rounding out the top five, Beyoncé's "Party" slips 3-5 with an audience loss of 9%. No worries: her "Love on Top" rises 13-9, giving Bey her 18th top 10.
 
Bey's hubby Jay-Z's "Ni**as in Paris," with West, falls a step (5-6). After taking up residence in the top five for eight weeks, Big Sean's Minaj-assisted "Dance (A$$)" sinks 4-7 with a  10% audience decrease. Rick Ross' "You the Boss," also featuring Minaj, slumps down two notches, 6-8, while J. Cole's "Can't get Enough," feat. Trey Songz, caps the top 10 (9-10).
 
On R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, the most obvious name that may come to mind, considering his seven-week reign through last week with "Take Care," has been Drake. He's not No. 1 this week, though.
 
Seal, the British soul star and rare find on this chart, sold 27,000 copies of "Soul 2," according to Nielsen SoundScan, enough to claim the chart's crown. The set just one-ups Drake's sum of 26,000 for "Take."
 
"Soul 2" is only Seal's second album to chart on the survey and the first to appear since 2008, when predecessor "Soul" debuted and peaked at No. 4. Both sets consist of classic soul ballads covered by Seal. Tracks include updates of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," the official first release from the new album (it's currently No. 16 on Adult Contemporary) and Rose Royce's "Wishing on a Star," the follow-up single. Ironically, the album's complete track listing is writing on the wall for the soul man, as those titles plus "Oh Girl," "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Love Won't Let Me Wait" are a bit too close to his real-life fate. He and wife of nearly seven years, and the mother of his four children, Heidi Klum, announced their separation last month.
 
Despite his dip to No. 2, Drake's "Take Care" has sold 1.4 million copies, according to SoundScan, and was just certified Platinum by the RIAA.
 
Rihanna's "Talk That Talk" drops 2-3 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, down 7% in sales, and Young Jeezy's "TM: 103: Hustlerz Ambition" slips 3-4 . The chart's Greatest Gainer recognition goes to the queen, Mary J. Blige. Although her chart position remains static at No. 5, sales for "My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act I)" swelled by 21%. Currently on a media promotional tour, Blige has recently co-hosted "Live With Kelly" and has appeared on the "Wendy Williams Show."
 
As always, browse R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the charts menu on billboard.com.




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