Nelly’s “Nellyville” (Universal) storms The Billboard 200 to knock out Eminem’s “The Eminem Show” and become the country’s new No. 1 album. Eminem’s Web/Aftermath/Interscope set had an impressive five-week run, but couldn’t block Nelly’s first week U.S. sales onslaught of 714,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Between the album and the single “Hot in Herre,” Nelly now holds the top slot on 10 Billboard charts, including Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally.
Nelly’s sales total is almost triple the first-week sales of his eight-times platinum debut, “Country Grammar” That set opened at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 on sales of 252,000 units in July 2000, and currently tops Billboard’s Top Pop Catalog Albums tally. “Hot in Herre” continues at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for a third week and also climbs to No. 1 this week on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Hot Rap Tracks charts.
At No. 2 on The Billboard 200, “The Eminem Show” is holding up nicely after slipping only 19% to sales of 308,000 units in its sixth week. The set also falls to No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, while the single “Without Me” holds at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Nelly is one of four hip-hop or R&B albums to bow among the top-15 of The Billboard 200. Coming in at No. 3 on sales of 119,000 units is rapper N.O.R.E., who is also one-half of duo Capone and Noreaga, with his third solo effort, “God’s Favorite” (Def Jam). N.O.R.E. ties his best Billboard 200 ranking as a solo artist, previously achieved with his self-titled debut in 1998. “God’s Favorite” lands at No. 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, while the single “Nothin'” is No. 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks tally.
New female artist Truth Hurts, who received some instant recognition thanks to production from Dr. Dre, blasts to No. 5 on sales of 89,000 units of “Truthfully Speaking” (Aftermath/Interscope). The set also bows at No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album count. Her first single, “Addictive,” sits at No. 3 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and falls 10-9 on the Hot 100.
Arriving just outside the top-10 is rapper/actor Will Smith, whose Columbia album “Born To Reign” sold 60,000 units to enter at No. 13 on The Billboard 200. Released to capitalize on yesterday’s (July 3) opening of his film “Men in Black II” in U.S. theaters, the album also enters at No. 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. “Born To Reign” pierces The Billboard 200 eight places lower than 1999’s “Willennium,” which went on to sell 2.1 million copies.
Some other notable newcomers on The Billboard 200 include SheDaisy’s “Knock on the Sky” (Lyric Street) at No. 23, Soulfly’s “3” (Roadrunner) at No. 46, Nonpoint’s “Development” (MCA) at No. 52, Los Temerarios’ “Una Lagrima No Basta” (Fonovisa) at No. 79, Cormega’s “The True Meaning” (Legal Hustle) at No. 95, and Sonic Youth’s “Murray Street” (Geffen) at No. 126.
Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” (BNA) logs a ninth week at No. 1 on Billboard Top Country Albums roundup, where SheDaisy arrives at No. 3. On Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks tally, Brad Paisley’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” holds at No. 1 for a second-straight week.
With Nelly in full command of the Hot 100 — where his “Hot in Herre” is the tally’s fastest-growing track at radio — the more notable movements are further down on the chart. DJ Sammy & Yanou’s “Heaven” scoots five slots to No. 20 as the chart’s fastest-growing track at retail. The dance remix of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation” by Dutch DJ JXL earns the chart’s top debut, rocketing to No. 50.
Other notable entries include Nelly’s “Dilemma” featuring Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child at No. 54, Eve’s “Gangsta Lovin'” featuring Alicia Keys at No. 61, Kelly Osbourne’s novelty cover of Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” at No. 74, and Wyclef Jean’s “Two Wrongs” featuring Claudette Ortiz at No. 76.
Over on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “By the Way” begins its third-straight week at No. 1, while Puddle Of Mudd’s “Drift & Die” also maintains its grip on the Mainstream Rock Tracks tally for the third week in a row.
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