Ludacris pips Gorillaz to US album No. 1

Gorrilaz have been beaten to number one on the US Billboard 200 by Ludacris.
The rapper's latest effort Battle Of The Sexes sold 137,000 copies to take the top spot. The Damon Albarn-helmed band managed 112,000 units to nab number two with new album Plastic Beach.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, the cartoon group's third LP, which features a host of cameos including Snoop Dogg and Lou Reed, is their highest-charting album in the US after second record Demon Days scaled to number six in 2006.
Elsewhere, Jimi Hendrix's reissue package Valleys Of Neptune was a new entry at number four and Lady Antebellum's Need You Now fell from the top to number three.
The self-titled debut from Broken Bells, a duo composed of Danger Mouse and the Shins' lead singer James Mercer, also charted inside the top ten at number seven

Gorillaz Number One album in first ever official midweek chart

Gorrilaz are on course to score a Number One album on Sunday (March 14), with 'Plastic Beach', currently Number One in the official midweek charts.

Today is the first time the midweeks have been made public by the Official Chart Company. Previously the data was restricted to the music industry, although it was routinely leaked.
Damon Albarn's cartoon band face competition from a host of fellow new entries this week: Boyzone are Number Two with 'Brother', Amy MacDonald is Number Three with 'A Curious Thing', Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Love Never Dies' album is at Four, while Alicia Keys' 'The Element Of Freedom' (the only non-new entry in the Top Five) is at Five.

In the midweek singles chart Tinie Tempah is still holding onto the top spot, with 'Pass Out' currently fending off competition from Rihanna, who is at Number Two with 'Rude Boy'.
Check GigSport.com from 7pm (GMT) on Sunday to see if Gorillaz' third album does indeed end up topping the charts on its first week of release.