Usher's 'Raymond v Raymond' knocks Justin Bieber's 'My World 2.0' out of the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200, coming in at 329,000 according to Nielsen SoundScan. This is Usher's third consecutive No. 1 album, following chart-toppers 2008's 'Here I Stand' and 2004's 'Confessions.' According to Billboard, 'Raymond v Raymond' currently holds the third-best sales week of this year after Sade's 'Soldier of Love' and Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now.' Weighing in on personal experiences, 'Raymond v Raymond' already boasts the promotional track 'Papers,' addressing the end of his marriage and three singles: 'Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home),' which proves the crooner is back on the market, the Nicki Minaj-featured 'Lil Freak' and Usher's newest and first international single 'OMG.' Usher performed 'OMG' on 'American Idol' and the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' last week, which features Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
Although Justin Bieber's 'My World 2.0' slides down a notch to No. 2 selling 291,000 copies, the album's sales mark the first time a No. 1 debuted album had a increase in sales in its second week since 2002. Erykah Badu's fifth studio album 'New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh),' rolls in at No. 4 selling 110,000 copies. The album -- which follows 2008's 'New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)' -- includes her recent Web-only bonus release 'Jump in the Air (Stay There)' featuring Lil Wayne and the Nina Simone-sounding single 'Window Seat' -- whose paired music video has stirred some controversy.
Another newcomer on the chart is Alan Jackson's 'Freight Train' at No. 7, selling 72,000 copies in its first week. This makes 'Freight Train' his 11th studio effort to make it in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
Shifters on the top 10 include the compilation album 'Now 33' at No. 3 with 123,000, Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now' at No. 5 with 87,000, Monica's 'Still Standing' dropping four spots to No. 6 with 81,000 Justin Bieber's first effort 'My World' at No. 8 with 63,000, GaGa's 'The Fame' at No. 9 with 49,000 and lastly the Black Eyed Peas' 'The E.N.D.' closing out the top 10 with 43,000.