Rapper Drake has emerged as top of the shop for the third time after his latest album, Nothing Was The Same, rose to the number one place on Billboard's Hot 200 album chart.

In its first week of sales, the new album shifted 658,000 copies according to figures compiled by Nielsen SoundScan, via Billboard. Drake's new record, widely reviewed as engrossing yet safe material, joins the other three albums that have debuted in the top five.

DrakeHow long can Drake stay at #1?

Last week's No.1 album, Jack Johnson's From Here To Now dropped down to fifth place whilst Kings of Leon's Mechanical Bull sold 110,000, Cher's Closer To The Truth shifted 63,000 and Elton John's The Diving Board sold 47,000; placing second, third and fourth respectively.

Nothing Was The Same marks Drake's third album to be placed at number one and incredibly his previous two chart-topping albums are still lingering in the top 200 with 2010's Thank Me Later at 179 and 2011's Take Care at 74, perhaps boosted by the success.

Meanwhile, Drake's fellow hip hop star Rihanna has tweeted her congratulations to the rapper, writing "Congratulations @champagnepapi Excellent work!! #NWTS," and posting a picture of the new album's striking sleeve art. Drake and Rihanna's ex Chris Brown were involved in an altercation after tensions rose over dating the 'Pour It Up' singer.

Brown and Drake famously brawled in a club last year but seem to have reconciled and are back to being buddies again. Brown wrote on Facebook that he was "hanging in the studio with Drake" which shows that the pair, who have both been romantically linked to Rihanna, are back on good terms.

It's unclear what the two performers were working on together in the studio or whether they were just using it as a place to chill but it has been speculated by Billboard that Drake may be featuring on Chris' new album, X, after Timbaland, Danja, Diplo BAM, Drumma Boy, CP Dubb, Mel and Mus, Verse Simmonds and Camper have all pitched in.