"Ghetto Gospel" Becomes Tupac's First Number 1 in Great Britain

Almost nine years after his death, Tupac had his first Number 1 hit in Great Britain. In the chart published on June 26, 2005, “Ghetto Gospel” with Elton John entered directly at Number 1. The song comes from the album Loyal to the Game and uses a sample from Elton John’s “Indian Sunset” from the 1971 album Madman Across the Water.

Three Weeks at the Top

“Ghetto Gospel” displaced “Axel F” by Crazy Frog, which had been in the lead for four weeks. Billboard counted the song as the fifth British Top 10 single with Tupac.

The following week, on July 3, the track held off the new entry “Crazy Chick” by Charlotte Church, who entered at Number 2. On July 10, the third week at Number 1 began, this time ahead of Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together”, which was currently leading the Hot 100 in the US and entered at Number 2 in Great Britain.

Praise and Competition

Already in the review of Loyal to the Game in January 2005, Rolling Stone had highlighted the Elton John sample. At the top of the overall European Eurochart Hot 100, on the other hand, stood Crazy Frog during these weeks.