T-Pain Suprised at #1 Opening of "Epiphany"

With three big records coming in the same week, people knew that it would be a tough competition in Billboard 200 chart. Paul McCartney's heavily promoted album "Memory Almost Full" moved 161,000 copies yet the album is placed at #3. Even Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" that was led by #1 single "Umbrella" only managed to get the second runner-up post with 162,000 sales. The ultimately anticipated album this week turns out to be that of T-Pain's "Epiphany".

On being told that his record reached 171,000 sales and scored #1 in the tally the rapper said, "It's special, man. I ain't never expect to be up there, so it was never a goal to me. I was happy with being 20. I was just happy to be on a chart."

The 22-year-old, whose single "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" is the main reason of the big sale, celebrated the charting with his friends who poured champagne all over him. "I had to change clothes and everything," he said. "It felt good to be recognized after being hated on for so long."

T-Pain's glory knocked down last week's reigners such as R. Kelly's "Double Up" and Maroon 5's "It Won't Be Soon Before Long". The former slips to no.4 this week after a 69 per cent decrease sale to 121,000 while the latter follows behind with 112,000.

Another newcomer in the top ten is country duo Big & Rich whose album "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace" moved 103,000 units. At the same time, the album also entered Country Albums chart at #1.

Former biggest seller this year Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight" has to take a heavy plunge from the third position to #7 despite mere 24 per cent decrease to 96,000. Marilyn Manson's "Eat Me, Drink Me" meanwhile, opens at #8 with 88,000 sale, a number comparably small to his previous effort "The Golden Age of Grotesque" (2003).

In ninth post, Daddy Yankee's "El Cartel: The Big Boss" boosts 82,000 sale in the first week release while Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" falls 6-10 despite 33 per cent increase to 67,000.