The Game Wins No. 1 On The Billboard 200
The Game
November 22, 2006, 12:00 PM ET
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Two popular urban acts occupy the top two spots on The Billboard 200 this week, with the Game's "Doctor's Advocate" coming in at No. 1. The Geffen effort moved 358,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, a significant drop off from the 587,000-unit first week of his 2005 debut, "The Documentary." However, the new album's total was more than enough to debut at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Akon's SRC/Up Front/Konvict set "Konvicted" sold 284,000 to bow at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The artist's 2004 debut, "Trouble," had a much more modest opening with 24,000. "Konvicted" has benefited from two huge singles, "I Wanna Love You" (featuring Snoop Dogg) and "Smack That" (featuring Eminem), both of which have peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 thus far.

The Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group/EMI/Universal/Zomba hits compilation "NOW 23" falls to No. 3 after its No. 1 start last week, selling 194,000, a slide of 42%. Josh Groban's "Awake" (143/Reprise) follows suit, descending 2-4 with 150,000 and -44% sales hit.

The soundtrack to Disney's "Hannah Montana" keeps the No. 5 spot warm for a second week with 114,000, a 13% dip. Keith Urban's Capitol Nashville release "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing" drops 3-6 with 103,000 (-62%) while Sugarland's "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury) slips 4-7 with 81,000 (-61%).

Rock duo Tenacious D cruises to a No. 8 debut with the Epic soundtrack to its film "The Pick of Destiny." The album sold 81,000 copies, nearly double the 42,000 the group's self-titled debut moved in its first week in 2001. That album has since shifted 987,000 copies.

Beyonce's Columbia set "B'Day" re-enters the top tier, climbing 16-9 with 68,000, a 17% sales increase.

"When Your Heart Stops Beating" by (+44), which comprises two former Blink 182 members, enters at No. 10. The Interscope release moved 66,000 units and also enters at No. 2 on the Top Rock Albums chart, behind "The Pick of Destiny."

Rapper Fat Joe debuts at No. 14 with "Me, Myself & I," his first album with EMI's Imperial Records. The set sold 60,000 units, earning Joe a No. 3 on debut Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and a No. 2 start on Top Rap Albums.

Damien Rice's "9" (Vector/Warner Bros.) cracks the big chart at No. 22 with 45,000, his best charting and sales week. The Irish singer/songwriter's 2003 album, "O," only managed a No. 114 peak. Other big debuts this week include Kenny G's "I'm In the Mood for Love" (No. 37; 32,000) and Staind's "Singles 1996-2006" (No. 41; 27,000).

Overall CD sales are up 4.5% from last week's count and down 4.7% compared to the same week a year ago at 12.49 million units. Sales for 2006 are down 5% compared to 2005 at 468.7 million units.



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