Welsh artist Ren has made a spectacular move ahead of Rick Astley in the race to become this week’s number one album in the UK.
With less than 24 hours to go until the Official Albums Chart results are announced, singer, rapper, writer and producer Ren is in the midst of a heroic attempt to score his first UK chart topper with his second full-length album, Sick Boi.
After being stuck behind pop stalwart Rick for most of the week, on the last full day of the race to number 1, Ren has just jumped into pole position, pushing Rick’s new album Are We There Yet? down to number 2.
But this is by no means a done deal. With just over 350 chart units separating the two artists at the moment, it’s all to play for as we enter the final hours where things could still change, with voting for the Official Albums Chart ending at midnight tonight.
Speaking to Official Charts earlier this week, Ren said: “To have a shot at number 1 is the most overwhelming thing ever. I’ve been working towards this since I was 12”.
If he manages to hold on until tomorrow, Sick Boi would be Ren’s first ever number one album in the UK, as well as his first album to ever chart inside the Official Albums Chart. Prior to that, he released a self-produced debut album, Freckled Angels, in 2016, and a series of EPs; The Tale of Jenny & Screech (2019), Demos (Don’t Share) Vol. 1 & 2 (2020), and Violet’s Tale (2022).
In the meantime, Rick Astley is no stranger to success on the official charts. He topped the Official Singles Chart for five weeks in 1987 with one of the most enduring hits of the 80s, Never Gonna Give You Up. With Whenever You Need Somebody (1987) and 50 (2016), he has had two UK Number 1 albums.
The UK Number 1 album will be announced tomorrow (Friday, October 20) live on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Jack Saunders at 4pm.
