The Chart Update: Dave’s ‘Psychodrama’ Longevity & Well Performing Projects

We’re shifting the focus in this week’s Chart Update and looking at the listings from a different angle. At the core, a charting single or record is a merit of commercial success which is then extended and heightened by longevity. 

There is a handful of prominent U.K. Rap singles and projects that are still floating around in the Official Chart table, weeks after their release. Dave’s ‘Psychodrama’ album arrived just over two years ago, yet has remained in the top 100. The Streatham rapper’s debut was a career-defining project, boldly unpacking themes such as the Black experience, the system and relationships. Having consecutively remained in the running, ‘Psychodrama’ stands as an exemplar model of charting success. 

D Block Europe, Fredo, Digga D and, more recently, Central Cee are likely to experience the same longevity. Between DBE’s ‘The Blueprint: Us vs Them’ album and Central Cee’s ‘Wild West’ mixtape, they all landed top two positions in their first week. Each of these projects still rank within the U.K. Official Album Chart’s top 100, including Central Cee’s tape which is now at #8 – proving the forward (commercial) movement of our scene.  

We see similar achievements on the U.K. Official Singles Chart too! Teen acts, A1 & J1, have kept their place at #2 with their breakout “Latest Trends” hit which later saw a remix with Manny star, Aitch. What’s more? An impressive new entry from WeWantWaraiths with his first charting single, “Know You”, at 59^th position! 

Ultimately, relevance and music that can compete, across a wide time span, is what we want to see for more acts in our scene. 

Track U.K. music achievements weekly, via The Chart Update.