Michael Jackson continues to show far-reaching influence with singer-songwriter Jason Derulo topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week with “Whatcha Say.”

Derulo, who penned his first track when he was just eight years old, has said in interviews that his galvanizing moment as a songsmith was seeing Michael Jackson perform for the first time.

"I knew that's what I wanted to do. From then on, my goal in life was to express myself through song and to showcase it to the world," said he who has already written songs for the likes of Lil Wayne, Keyshia Cole, and Cassie.

Like Jackson, Derulo never planned to stay behind the scenes.

“I never wanted to be a songwriter -- it just kind of fell on my lap. I love writing, but I always wanted to be the voice, not just the pen," says Derulo. "I always yearned to sing my own song, and now, here I am doing just that."

“Whatcha Say” boots last week’s top song “Fireflies” by techno pop act Owl City to number two.

Interestingly, Derulo’s ‘mentor’ continues his posthumous success by topping this week’s album chart with the release of the companion soundtrack to his number one hit movie, “This Is It,” Jackson’s sixth number one album after “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous,” “HIStory,” and “Invincible.”

Meanwhile, Jay-Z’s “Empire State Of Mind” (featuring Alicia Keys) is the biggest gainer in the singles chart this week, racing up an impressive ten notches to number three.

Jay Sean, in contrast, retreats a step to number four with his hit “Down” (feat. Lil Wayne) as with Miley Cyrus whose “Party In The U.S.A”  goes down one place to number five.

Lady Gaga remains stable at the number six spot with “Paparazzi” while “Run This Town” by Jay Z, Rihanna & Kanye West loses some ground, falling two notches to number seven.

Britney Spear’s paean to threesomes, “3,” stays comfy at number eight while Lady Gaga’s second entry in the Top Ten, “Bad Romance,” zooms to number nine.

Rounding up the singles chart list is Taylor Swift who debuts “Jump Then Fall” at number ten.

Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten: (1) “Whatcha Say” – Jason Derulo; (2) “Fireflies” – Owl City; (3) “Empire State Of Mind” – Jay-Z (feat. Alicia Keys); (4) “Down” – Jay Sean (feat. Lil Wayne); (5) “Party In The U.S.A.” – Miley Cyrus; (6) “Paparazzi” – Lady Gaga; (7) “Run This Town” – Jay Z, Rihanna & Kanye West; (8) "3" – Britney Spears; (9) “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga; and (10) “Jump Then Fall” – Taylor Swift.

Billboard 200 Top Ten: (1) “This Is It” – Michael Jackson; (2) “Full Circle” –Creed; (3) “Fearless” – Taylor Swift; (4) “Soulbook” – Rod Stewart; (5) “Night Castle” – Trans Siberian Orchestra; (6) “If  On A Winter’s Night” –  Sting; (7) “Crazy Love” –  Michael Buble; (8) “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” - OST; (9) “Southern Voice” – Tim McGraw; and (10) “The Blueprint 3” – Jay Z.