T.I. sets record for jump to top of singles chart

Hip Hop star T.I. talks during the nominations news conference for the MTV Video Music Awards in New York, in this July 31, 2006 file photograph.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Rapper T.I. establishes the mark for biggest jump to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 as his single "Whatever You Like" soars from No. 71 to No. 1 in its third week on the list.

The new chart will be published Thursday (August 28) on Billboard.com.

A No. 1 opening on the Hot Digital Songs chart with debut-week sales of 205,000 downloads is the impetus for the record-setting Hot 100 move, which surpasses the leap from No. 64 to No. 1 that Maroon 5's "Makes Me Wonder" took in May 2007.

"Like" is the rapper's first No. 1 as a lead artist (he was featured on Justin Timberlake's 2006 chart-topper "My Love"), and his opening-week digital sum is the best by a rap track since Nielsen SoundScan began compiling download data in 2003.

T.I.'s new Grand Hustle/Atlantic album, "Paper Trail," will be released September 30.

The performer pled guilty to federal weapons charges in conjunction with an October 2007 arrest in Atlanta. He will serve a year in jail after completing 1,000 hours of community service.

Reuters/Billboard