The Official Albums Chart is witnessing a true clash of the titans this week as Canadian rap superstar Drake goes head-to-head with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, for the coveted Number 1 spot. Drake’s latest studio album, ICEMAN, has taken an early lead at Number 1, threatening to freeze out Jackson’s retrospective compilation, The Essential Michael Jackson, which currently sits in second place.
The chart battle carries a poetic twist, as the artwork for ICEMAN directly pays homage to Jackson. If the album maintains its momentum through Friday, it will secure Drake his seventh UK chart-topping record, joining the ranks of Views (2016), Scorpion (2018), Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020), Certified Lover Boy (2021), Her Loss (2022), and For All The Dogs (2023). Drake is also on track for an unprecedented chart takeover, as his two other surprise LPs released last week, MAID OF HONOUR and HABIBTI, are currently tracking at Number 3 and Number 4 respectively.
Outside of the top-tier battle, pop icon Katy Perry is eyeing upward mobility as her compilation The Ones That Got The Plays hovers just outside the Top 10 at Number 11. Meanwhile, rock outfit The Karma Effect are on track for their highest-charting album to date, with Cruel Intentions sitting at Number 13 midweek.
Anniversary reissues and legacy acts are also dominating the wider standings. German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk are eyeing a maiden Top 40 entry for their 1975 classic Radio-Activity at Number 16, driven by a special 50th-anniversary release. Similarly, Jethro Tull’s 1984 album Under Wraps is rebounding toward the Top 20 at Number 19 following a comprehensive box-set reissue.
In emerging talent, former Junior Eurovision representative Freya Skye is tracking at Number 22 with her debut EP Stardust. Finally, reunited '90s Britpop band Gene are aiming for their first chart entry since 1999 with Apollo (Live) at Number 26, while The Style Council’s Café Bleu targets a return at Number 33 thanks to a new unreleased material collection.
