BY KEVIN JACKSON
Observer writer—

ON his fourth attempt, singer Romain Virgo tops the Billboard Reggae Album Chart with Love Sick . Released on March 30 by VP Records, the 16-track piece sold 296 copies in its first week.

Most of the songs on Love Sick are produced by Nicholas Browne (Lifeline Music). Among its songs are In This Together, Sweet Liar, Caress Me, Face to Face and a cover of Sam Smith’s Stay With Me.

Virgo is the second Digicel Rising Stars alumni to make the Billboard Reggae table. In February last year, Christopher Martin reached number three with Big Deal. Virgo’s previous ‘charters’ are his 2010 self-titled debut which peaked at number 15;The System (number six in 2012) and Lifted (number seven in 2015).

Hawaiian duo Maoli’s With Love enters at number two. It is released by Maoli Records.

Maoli previously charted with Rock Easy (number five in 2010), Arise (number nine in 2012) and One Eighty EP (number four in 2015).

I Octane is at number three, earning his highest debut with Love & Life. Released on March 30 by his Conquering Globe label, it has sold 261 copies to date.

The 19-track Love & Life features collaborations with Shaggy, Demarco, Romain Virgo, Yanique “Curvy Diva” Barrett, J Boog and Ginjah.

This is Octane’s third time on the chart. He first entered in 2012 with Crying to The Nation, which went as high as number six. That was followed two years later by My Journey which peaked at number four.

Another new entry is Dancehall Soca by Khago, produced by Kemar “Flava” McGregor for the FM Records label. The album sold 186 copies and is at number four.

This is the second album from Khago to appear on the Billboard chart in a matter of weeks. He went number two in March with Walk A Mile, also produced by McGregor.

Damian Marley’s Stony Hill falls to number five, with sales of 19,423 copies. Box Full of Steel by The Dubplates rises from 20 to number six, selling an additional 178 copies to bring its total to 1,654.

The Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica compilation falls from two to seven with 164 additional copies. Last week’s number one, Reggae Forever, by Etana dips to number eight after selling another 148 copies. Since its release five weeks ago, Reggae Forever has sold 907 copies.

Sister Caro (EP) by Henricci is down from six to nine with 112 copies for a total of 1,996, while Poetry in Motion by SOJA rises from 18 to 10 with 98 copies sold. Since it entered the chart in November, the set has sold 6,939 copies.

Elsewhere, Don’t Make Me Wait by Sting and Shaggy rises from 28 to 22 in its third week on Billboard’s Dance Music Club Play Chart. Walking Trophy by Hood Celebrityy moves up to number six on the Reggae Digital Song Sales Chart.