Jay Sean ends Peas US chart reign

Jay Sean has made US chart history

British R&B singer Jay Sean has ended the Black Eyed Peas' 26-week reign at the top of the US singles chart.

Sean's single Down, featuring rapper Lil Wayne, has climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It has now sold 1.5 million downloads in total.

"It's just incredible to have reached number one with my first release in America," the 27-year-old said.

The star, from Hounslow, west London, is the first male British urban artist to have a number one single in the US.

Leona Lewis topped the US charts with her song Bleeding Love last year, while Soul II Soul, Mark Morrison, Craig David, MIA and Estelle have broken into the top 10 in the past.

'Head is spinning'

Sean, who is releasing his single in the UK on 26 October, said being at number one was "insane".

He added: "It's difficult for me to put into words, my head is spinning. I've been grinding hard for the last seven years releasing records independently and now to have the biggest record in the USA this week, it's just a dream come true."

Sean signed a record deal in 2003, after quitting his medicine degree.

He had two UK top 10 hits in 2004, but later split with his record label Virgin when, he says, they tried to make him sound like James Blunt.

He went on to form his own record label Jayded with his management company 2 Point 9, and the resulting music attracted the attention of US hip-hop label Cash Money, home of Lil Wayne.

The Black Eyed Peas will not be too downhearted at being toppled from the top slot, however.

Their six-month run with consecutive number one singles Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling is the longest in US chart history.