Although he has more than 15 years of experience in music and is as respected as he is, Common has never enjoyed a chart-topping release. That's all changed with the release of his latest effort, Finding Forever.

The Chicago native's new album dropped last week and this week finds itself atop the Billboard 200 at no. 1, the first time in his career. The album sold 155,300 copies to fend off new releases from both rock band Korn and newcomer Sean Kingston.

Common's last album, Be, was the closest he's come to topping the charts, bowing at no. 2, selling over 184,600 copies in its first week out, thanks in part to his connection with producer Kanye West, who he hooked up with again for Finding Forever.

The NOW 25 hits compilation finally falls from the no. 1 spot to no. 3 this week, after holding down the throne for two weeks. This week, the album sells 123,000 copies.

17-year-old Sean Kingston enters at no. 6 with his self-titled debut, scanning 74,700 copies, thanks to his chart-topping hit single, "Beautiful Girls." According to Billboard, the single jumped from 23-1 last week on the Hot 100 Singles chart due to its strong performance at digital retail.

T.I.'s T.I. vs. T.I.P. falls from no. 5 to no. 8 this week, recording another 55,000 units, while Fergie's The Dutchess dips three spots to no. 9 with 53,000 sales.

Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight closes out the top 10 with 44,000 copies sold this week.

Another debut this week is Keith Murray, who returns to the charts at no. 52 with his new album, Rap-Murr-Phobia (The Fear of Real Hip-Hop), moving 13,300 units in its first week.

Kia Shine's Due Season -- which boasts the hit single "Krispy" -- comes in at no. 84, selling just 9,500 copies this week.

According to Billboard.com, sales this week are up 3.8% compared to last week's sum at 8.27 million units and down 9.6% compared to the same week last year. There have been 271.25 million album sales to date for the year, down 14.2% compared to last year's sum.