Whitney Houston's <i>I Look To You</i>
Photo: Sony BMG

After seven years off the charts, Whitney Houston has proven she's still got it. The R&B diva will debut at #1 on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart with her comeback album, I Look to You. The LP notched 305,000 in sales last week (and 6,000 copies were sold before its official release), a strong showing that handily outperformed 2002's Just Whitney, which managed just 205,000 in its first week for a #9 debut.

There is plenty of company in the top 10 this week for Houston, according to numbers provided by Nielsen SoundScan, with five other debuts. Trey Songz comes in at a solid #3 with Ready (131,000). The Juggalos came out for makeup rappers Insane Clown Posse, whose Bang! Pow! Boom! is #4 (50,000). Hard-rockers Chevelle have a respectable debut at #6 with Sci-Fi Crimes (46,000), rapper Pitbull pulls into #8 with Rebelution (41,000), and emo rockers the Used hit #10 with Artwork (35,000).

Other than that, the rest of the top 10 is mostly unchanged: Miley Cyrus climbs up a notch to #2 with her Wal-Mart exclusive EP Time of Our Lives (153,000); Colbie Caillat drops four spots to #5 with her second album, Breakthrough (47,000); Kings of Leon bump down three spots to #7 with the still-strong Only by the Night (45,000) and Taylor Swift's equally indomitable Fearless holds at #9 (35,000).

Just outside the top 10, the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) falls to #11 (34,000) as it passes the platinum mark three months after its release. Classic rockers the Black Crowes land at #12 with their double live/studio disc Before the Frost ... Until the Freeze (32,000), and Young Chris debuts at #19 with Man I Want to Be (26,000).

It was a brief sojourn in the top 10 for English alt-popster Imogen Heap, whose Ellipse shed nearly 70 percent of its first-week business to drop 24 spots to #29 (15,000). The Josh Homme-produced third effort from the Arctic Monkeys, Humbug, got the cold shoulder, as it dropped more than 60 percent from its debut, swooning 35 spots to #50 in week two (10,000). And rapper Beanie Sigel's Broad Street Bully didn't have much punch, debuting at #77 (6,000).

Next week's charts should be on fire, with the chart debut of the Beatles reissues, Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3, and new ones from Boys Like Girls, Raekwon and Phish.

• Whitney Houston Previews I Look To You

• Whitney Houston Performs On "Good Morning America"

• Whitney Houston
• Trey Songz
• Chevelle
• The Used
• Pitbull

Trey Songz performs in New York on Tuesday
Photo: Jenna Talavera/ MTV News

NEW YORK — Trey Songz's long-awaited (and much-leaked) third LP, Ready, hit stores this week, and what better place to celebrate than New York City?

On Tuesday night, Songz took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd at the Highline Ballroom. Before the show, fans in the audience waved CDs and posters as they screamed, "We want Trey!" DJ Self from Power 105.1 introduced the singer, who wore a black dress shirt and pants with a mocha-brown blazer. He immediately kicked off his set with "Black Roses."

"New York City, how you feeling tonight?" he asked, before continuing with "Scratchin Me Up" (from the deluxe edition), "I Invented Sex," "Panty Droppa" and "Successful." Before the show, rumors were flying that Drake (who collaborated on the song) would make a surprise appearance, but the Young Money artist did not take the stage. However, that didn't diminish the energy in the room, as the audience chanted Songz's signature "Yuuuup!" and female fans screamed as he took off his jacket.

"It's been a long day, but I'm here for you," Songz said. He rocked the crowd with "Last Time," followed by "LOL :-)" and "I Need a Girl."

And just when it seemed the ladies couldn't take any more, he unbuttoned his shirt and ended the show with the intimate song "Yo Side of the Bed."

He continued to take off his shirt and asked the females in the crowd, "Who wants this?" The screams grew louder and arms began to flail as Songz asked, "Who's gonna sleep with me every night?" He kissed his shirt and threw it in the crowd, where 10 pairs of arms were fighting to keep the souvenir while the singer took a bow and exited the stage.

Last month during a Mixtape Daily interview, Songz spoke about his passion for music and his fans. "I think it's important to show people that you are good at what you do. And outside of being good at what you do, you should show appreciation for the people that appreciate you."

• Trey Songz

Drake in "Successful"
Photo: Atlantic Records

If this is a celebration, someone forgot to tell Drake and Trey Songz.

When two hot, young talents collaborate on a song and it's called "Successful," well, you pretty much know what to expect: big, coated beats, slinky, treated vocals, and plenty of ephemera (cars, clothes, cash, clubs, chicks, etc.). There's a formula to these things, after all.

But here's the thing: "Successful" — which features prominently on Drake's breakout So Far Gone mixtape and Songz Ready album (which hits stores Tuesday) — is delightfully devoid of any of that stuff. This is a lean, dark, downright ominous song, full of eerie strings, cracking snares and bottomless white noise (the production is courtesy of Noah "40" Shebib) and lyrics that poke holes through the premise that riches equal happiness.

Drake displays a depth some might not expect, rapping about meaningless sex, empty excess and the bizarre solitude that comes with success. On the hook, Songz is so cold he's near frozen, crooning about the money and cars and clothes, all while conveying an unspoken emptiness. It's chilling — deeply, artfully and sadly so.

And in keeping with that theme, everyone looks positively somber in the video too. It's moody, noirish, full of bleak cityscapes, empty hotel rooms and darkened urban streets. The message is clear, and rather shockingly so: Be careful what you wish for. Drake and Songz have the world at their feet. But if "Successful" cautions one thing, it's this: Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

• Drake
• Trey Songz

Trey Songz (file)
Photo: Ben Rose/ WireImage

According to Trey Songz, even as Drake was en route to the hospital after his onstage fall, the Young Money artist was planning his grand return home to Toronto. On Tuesday night, an injured Drake took to the stage to perform with his friend during Young Money Presents: The America's Most Wanted Music Festival stop in his hometown.

"I spoke to Drake the night that he actually fell, and you know what I mean — he was just pullin' up to the hospital and we rapped for a second," Songz told MTV News. "I been talking to him ever since then. He already had it made up in his mind that he was not gonna miss performing for Toronto."

Songz was already in Toronto for a club event, and Drake convinced him to stay an extra two days so they could rock onstage together.

"He came out to that 'Successful' — it was like an out-of-body experience," Trey gushed. "They went so crazy for the kid, man."

Since Drake had fallen and missed a couple of shows on the tour, his appearance on Tuesday surprised fans.

"He came out with his cane," Trey said. "He wanted to walk out. He wanted to take his time and he rocked on a stool. But the energy he was giving was like he was standing. With me and Wayne up there it was like an extension of him — [we were on] both sides of the stage. It was stupid ... the energy was so crazy.

"When we stepped off the stage, we gave each other hugs — it was love," he added. "All his peoples came, just givin' us love. It was crazy and we was taking pictures, and then we just sat and rapped about it for a second. He came back out for 'Every Girl.' But the energy was stupid when we got offstage. Everyone was just telling us how amazing it looked ... because none of it was really planned. Like when Wayne came back out — Wayne didn't know I was there — and when he came back out he stayed onstage. It was just the energy, man — it was unexplainable."

Although the night turned out to be successful, Trey said that people were having second thoughts about Drake taking the stage so soon after his injury.

"Everybody's nervous at every second," he said. "You know, making sure he got his cane, making sure he ain't putting too much pressure [on his leg]. I gotta tell him to sit down every now and then when I was up there — he's still a regular person. You want to be able to move. But he stayed on that stool ... there was a couple of times I seen he wanted to come up off that stool, but he stayed down. They went so crazy. Damn, I'm telling you — it was crazy."

Songz recorded a verse for a remix to "Successful," and will join Drake in front of the cameras for the video soon. There is no word if Lil Wayne will appear in the video.

• Trey Songz
• Drake

50 Cent
Photo: MTV News

Happy birthday to all the cancers out there — including MTV's own Shaheem Reid, Sway and Mixtape Daily go-to girl Whitney, not to mention Jim Jones and the G-Unit General himself, 50 Cent. Fif's born day was Monday, but he's still serving treats. He released his second mixtape in just a couple of weeks, , Forever King, and says in addition to the upcoming G-Unit mixtape, he might put out another free CD prior to Before I Self Destruct in September. Trey Songz is also locked in the studio, and he wants a bigger and better spot. Who's gonna stand in his way?

Finally and obviously, rest in peace to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Thank you for a lifetime of classic songs, videos, performances and moments. Your genius is eternal.

Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables

Mixtape: Forever King

Headliner: 50 Cent

Co-Starring: Michael Jackson, Gina Thompson, Christopher Williams, Jeff Redd and others

Records We Can't Stop Playing: "Michael Jackson Freestyle," "If U Leaving, Then Leave ... ," "Funny How Time Flies" and "Put That Work In"

Essential Info: We gave you the Forever King preview last week, and the mixtape definitely held us down over that Fourth of July weekend. 50 mixed his street linguistics with a gaggle of timeless music from the 1990s, plus some songs that keep to the here and now. Although Fif has his personal favorites, he gives it up to the man who discovered Notorious B.I.G. as the cat who slides some musical inspiration to him.

"It'll be some more records there playing," 50 said about the tunes already in the lab when he records mixtapes such as Forever King and its predecessor, Sincerely Southside. "Mister Cee plays a lot of that music still. I had Cee send me a CD that he thought would be hot to hear. Production-wise, I wanted them to still feel what the youthful audience feels is hot right now. Writing a remix is easy. It's just putting the words to the scenario. If you have no production plan, that's when it starts to get easy. Mixtape material is easy for me. Two days, three days, [I record it]. I know who I'm talking to."

Five More Throwback Jams We'd Like 50 Cent to Jump On: "I Like" by Guy; "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe; "Don't Stop Your Love" by Keith Sweat; "Angel in Disguise" by Brandy; and "My Life" by Mary J. Blige.

Mixtape: Anticipation

Headliner: Trey Songz

Co-Starring: Besides Drake on "Successful," Trey goes solo.

Show Stealers: "Famous" and "Scratchin' Me Up"

Essential Info: Your skills better be tight if you're calling out a legend like R. Kelly. Trey Songz raised eyebrows and left a few fans angry when he dropped a freestyle snapping at R. Kelly for using Auto-Tune on The Demo Tape a few weeks back. Trey maintains it wasn't a dis but a loud wake-up call to one of the cats who inspired him. We'll have more on Trey and the R. on Wednesday, but today, let's focus on Songz's new joint.

You can't deny that Trey might finally be having his long-awaited, much-deserved moment. The kid has been consistent for years but never really blew up to a mainstream superstar status. The past few months, however, he's been keeping his feet dirty, with freestyles, mixtapes (he's also apart of the Jermaine Dupri-led Ocean's 7) and that beloved street jam with his good friend Drake, "Successful." Songz actually came up with the concept and, of course, the hook. (That's Trey singing those eerie chords at the very beginning of "Successful," not a sample.) "I Need a Girl" becoming the biggest radio record of his career has Mr. Songz and a lot of his fans thinking that his upcoming album, Ready, could push him over the top.

As he explains, the singer's LP got pushed back from June 30 to August 4, so he wanted to have a body of work in the interim. The result is his mixtape of all new records.

"I was recording these songs, and my manager and my producer, they'll be listening," he said. "I got, like, four songs done, and ... they pulled me to the side and was like, 'You know you messing up. You're recording a whole new album?' So some things got swapped out. At this point, it's all about making sure that it's cohesive, that it's a move, that Ready says what I want it to say and Anticipation says what I want it to say all in the same. I think they're both gonna be great bodies of work. I'm feeling so good musically, man, it's showing. Whether it be the song selection or the passion that's into the song. Whether it be a hip-hop record or a soulful record or a ballad. You know, I'm putting my all into it.

"Anticipation," he added, "has more of a sexy feel to it. It's kinda dark, mysterious. I got a couple records on there that are fun as well. There's a record on there called 'Make It Rain' that Johnta [Austin], I and Eric Hudson did. It's not the typical 'make it rain' [song]. It has an organic feel."

Whether it be mixtapes or official releases, Trey said he wants to show off.

"I think it's important to show people that you are good at what you do," the singer continued. "And outside of being good at what you do, you should show appreciation for the people that appreciate you. So when I put out songs, it's because I love to do it and I would love for my fans to know that. I do this thing on my Twitter where every Monday, I put out new songs. Whether I go over somebody else's track or I put out original songs, just to let them know that I am so into what I am doing. And that's just to let them know I'm having fun. Musically, I'm in a space that I was in when I first started to record ... without the politics and without people telling me what I should be or what they think I am. I think I am in a space where I know what it is I need to be doing, and I'm getting better by the day. And it's fun for me."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily Video: Zaytoven, Rick Ross, Fabolous And More

• 50 Cent
• Trey Songz

Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige And More Come Out For Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash 2009

• Lil Wayne
• Trey Songz
• Plies
• Shawty Lo
• Pleasure P

T-Pain, Lil Mama, Snoop, More At BET's 'Rip The Runway'

• T-Pain
• Lil Mama
• Pharrell Williams
• Juelz Santana
• Snoop Dogg

Plies, Rick Ross, Lloyd, More At 2nd Annual Ozone Awards

• Papoose
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Trey Songz
• Lloyd
• DJ Drama

Tyrese, Trey Songz And More Onstage In New York, 04.14.07

• Trey Songz
• Tyrese

My Block: Virginia, Behind The Scenes

• Quan
• Trey Songz

MTV.com Exclusive: Trey Songz Photos 07.22.2005

• Trey Songz