Jaheim finds third-time charm with "Classics"

By Geoff Mayfield

The third set from Jaheim strikes the right note, as "Ghetto Classics" becomes the R&B singer's first No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

This also marks his first No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and, with 152,000 copies sold at the overall Nielsen SoundScan panel, his best sales week.

First album "Ghetto Love" owned his prior R&B/hip-hop chart peak (No. 2 in 2001), but his second set, "Still Ghetto," held his best prior marks on the big chart and on Nielsen SoundScan's scoreboard: It hit No. 8 in 2002, selling 111,000 copies in its first week.

The New Jersey native engaged in a busy release-week schedule, appearing on multiple radio stations and at numerous stores in the New York metro area.

Jaheim's appearances on "Soul Train" and BET's "106 & Park," a commercial buy in major markets during an episode of UPN's "Girlfriends" and the use of one of his songs in a Verizon commercial touting the cellular service's VCast platform helped raise the singer's national visibility.

That exposure makes up for an iffy radio picture. Lead track "Everytime I Think About Her" peaked at No. 36 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, while "The Chosen One" bows at No. 67.

Reuters/Billboard