Ludacris earns his first No. 1 album on The Billboard 200 with his third Def Jam set, “Chicken & Beer.” U.S. sales of the album topped 429,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, easily placing it ahead of OutKast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” (Arista), which had a two-week run at the top.
In late 2001, Ludacris reached the No. 3 post on The Billboard 200 with “Word of Mouf.” The album entered with sales of 282,000 copies, and has since sold about 3.3 million. The rapper’s latest single, “Stand Up” featuring Shawnna, hops 3-1 this week on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart.
Despite falling to No. 2, OutKast’s two-CD set continues to perform well. Sales of “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” fell only 20% to 187,000 copies, giving it a three-week total of 931,000 copies. While the hip-hop duo’s “The Way You Move” has already become a solid hit in urban markets, companion single “Hey Ya!” is starting to gain at crossover radio. The latter is up 39-28 this week on the Top 40 Mainstream chart published by Billboard’s sister publication Airplay Monitor.
RCA’s latest Elvis Presley compilation, “Elvis 2nd to None,” lands at No. 3 with sales of 181,000 copies. The album is the follow-up to last year’s “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits,” which bowed at No. 1 with sales of 500,000 copies and has sold about 9 million to date. The new compilation contains Paul Oakenfold’s remix of “Rubberneckin,” which recently topped Billboard’s Hot 100 Single Sales chart.
While sales of Dido’s “Life for Rent” (Arista) fell 43% to 110,000 copies in its sophomore week on the chart, the album is able to maintain its No. 4 post. In two weeks, the album has sold about 300,000 copies. Also standing its ground is Dave Matthews’ “Some Devil” (RCA), which is No. 5 for the second week in a row. Sales of his set slipped 34% to 103,000 copies.
Sting’s “Sacred Love” suffered a 51% sales drop to 94,000 copies in its second week and the A&M set drifts 3-6. Its two-week total is 289,000 copies. Also taking a second week hit is Bad Boy’s Da Band’s “Too Hot for T.V.” (Bad Boy), which falls 2-7 on a 59% sales drop to 83,000 copies. The album has sold about 287,000 copies in two weeks of release.
R. Kelly’s “The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1” (Jive) holds at No. 8 for a second week in a row. In its third week, sales dipped 32% to 81,000 copies. Hilary Duff jumps back into the top-10 at No. 9 with her Buena Vista debut “Metamorphosis,” despite a 13% decline to 81,000 copies. Rounding out the top-10 is Nickelback’s “The Long Road” (Roadrunner), which is down one from its No. 9 post last week. Sales declined 23% to 79,000 copies.
Four additional albums make their debuts inside the top-20, led by “Totally Hits 2003” (BMG), which bows at No. 13 on sales of 67,800 copies. Close behind is the latest from rock act Sevendust, “Seasons” (TVT),” bowing at No. 14 with 67,000 copies.
The latest posthumous 2Pac release, “Nu-Mixx Klazzics” (Death Row/Koch), lands at No. 15 with 66, 000 copies. Hard rock act Static-X enters at No. 20 with 48,000 copies. Some other notable entries include Primus’ “Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People” (Interscope; No. 44), Howie Day’s “Stop the World” (Epic; No. 46) and RZA’s “Birth of a Prince” (Sanctuary; No. 49).
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