Plan B Beating Scouting for Girls and MGMT in UK Album Chart Race

His stage name Plan B is turning out to be apt, as the foul-mouthed rapper turned blue-eyed soul singer finds himself at No. 1 in the UK midweek album charts.

Three second efforts are battling for contention, but with 'The Defamation of Strickland Banks,' Ben Drew, aka Plan B, is beating off strong competition from Scouting for Girls. In the same week, the piano-pop trio have released 'Everybody Wants to Be on TV,' the follow up to their eponymous debut album that reached the top slot in January 2008.

A third release out this week, MGMT's 'Congratulations,' is at No. 3 in the midweek countdown, with current chart topper, Lady Gaga, pushed a place lower. She returned to the top spot on Sunday, April 11 for the fourth time since she released 'The Fame' last January.

It is a stunning change in fortunes for Drew, who has swapped his hoodie for a sharp suit and unveiled a credible white soul voice capable of delivering bittersweet love songs. His debut album 'Who Needs Actions When You Got Words,' while being critically acclaimed, could only reach No. 30 in June 2006. back then, the rapper wrote hard-hitting tunes with titles such as 'Mama (Loves a Crackhead).'