In one of the busiest weeks of the year for hip-hop releases, nine new rap albums debuted on the Billboard 200 charts. Leading the charge is Scarface's M.A.D.E., which sold 63,084 copies in its first week to land at #17. DJ Drama, who released his retail debut Gangsta Grillz under simply "Drama," moved 48,848 units, debuting at #26. Following close behind is Wyclef Jean at #28, who sold 46,519 copies of Carnival 2: Memoirs Of An Immigrant, the sequel to his 1997 solo debut.

Ghostface's Big Doe Rehab, the Wu-Tang MC's second album in less than a year, moved 35,671 albums, coming in at #41. LOX rapper Styles P's independent debut Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) comes in at #52 with a total of 29,047 units sold. 2Pac also released two new Best Of CDs last Tuesday, one called Thug, and one called Life. They sold 22,539 and 18,943 copies, respectively, coming in at #65 and #77. Hip-hop legend Too $hort released his 17th album Get Off The Stage, which sold 8,101 copies, coming in at #160. Rounding out the chart at #196 is the TVT compilation Crunk Hits Vol. 4, which moved 6,463 copies.