R&B stars Timbaland, Akon lead singles chart

By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Timbaland's "Give It to Me" featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake began a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday.

Akon's former chart-topper "Don't Matter" was No. 2 for a second week, while Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" rose one to a new high of No. 3; the song comes from Lavigne's album "The Best Damn Thing," which was released Tuesday.

Fergie's "Glamorous" featuring Ludacris held at No. 4, followed by Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" featuring Akon (down two to No. 5), Mims' "This Is Why I'm Hot" (down one to No. 6), T-Pain's "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" featuring Yung Joc (up three to No. 7), Beyonce and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar" (up one to No. 8), Gym Class Heroes' "Cupid's Chokehold" featuring Patrick Stump (down one to No. 9), and Diddy's "Last Night" featuring Keyshia Cole (up one to No. 10).

Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" climbed seven places to No. 15 in its 33rd week on the Hot 100, the slowest climb to this level in the almost 49-year existence of the chart. The song generated three prizes at the CMT Music Awards Monday.

The Hot 100's top debut was Fall Out Boy's "Thanks Fr The Mmrs" at No. 67. Other debuts included Justin Timberlake's "Summer Love" at No. 74, Brandi Carlile's "The Story" at No. 75 and Bjork's "Earth Intruders" at No. 84.

Reuters/Billboard