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.


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[This message was edited Wed Oct 15 8:36:47 PDT 2003 by jthad1129]

That's not bad for sting considering. I have not even heard about the album

Ludacris is terrible.

Moonbeam said:

Better than Da Brand but that isn't saying much. I was almost tempted to get he new Ludacris CD. They had like a million of them out really cheap but I thankfully passed. And a 59% drop is almost kind! It should have been closer to 80! I’m shocked anyone bought it the second week!

I'm kind of happy the Elvis "2nd To None" CD did less than half the business of the first. I don't even know why I bought it! This was a very unnecessary repackaging of the same old hits. Dumb me for buying into it. At least I'm going to put my foot down for "3rd Time's A Charm"!

VinnyM27 said:

I would rather see you give your money to Elvis than 'da band' full of idiots. You're still OK with me

Ludacris haters...y'all crying

KatSkrizzle said:

i guess he has bill o'reiley to thank

I actually like "Stand Up." I think ppl underestimate Luda's creativity.

And glad that Outkast is still going strong with only 20% drop off.

NuPwrSoul said:

Stand Up was one of the 4 good songs on the whole cd! It wasnt that good. Just sum bullshit really.

He should take a break and bring us the real Luda like the first album he was very creative and different and thats what put him aside from other rappers but now i think he just threw a bunch of songs together and put it out. Hold up Stand Up is tha song though.

alacran83 said:

On MTV he said "I worked really really hard on this album, and I tried to make at least every song a single". Pleeeze. He wasnt workin as hard as he said he did.

paisleypark4 said:

Like i said he should really take the time and take his creative mind to a whole other level.