D12 TOPS ALICIA KEYS IN THRILLER
This week, Keys demonstrated remarkable commercial staying power as "Songs In A Minor" fought Eminem’s D12 to the very end for the #1 spot. The round eventually went to D12, but just barely—fewer than 6,000 total pieces separated the two—but these two will be slugging it out for some time to come.
"The Alicia Keys story is truly exciting," said Valley Media’s Jerry Suarez, whose own excitement quotient is often likened to that of a small soap dish. "The power of Clive Davis to be able to break a new artist is nothing short of phenomenal. Her second week is proof that there is no end in sight to a sales story that we’re going to see through the rest of the year." Jerry then broke his nose when Clive unexpectedly stopped short in his tracks.
Besides #1 D12 and #2 Alicia, the Top Five was rounded out by Flip/Elektra’s Staind at #3, So So Def/Columbia’s Jagged Edge at #4 and Columbia’s Destiny’s Child at #5.
The biggest debut of the week belonged to Soulja/Priority’s Lil’ Romeo, whose #9 debut makes him among the richest Americans who haven’t reached puberty.
Meanwhile, the posthumous Blix Street release by Eva Cassidy re-enters at #21, thanks to a repeat of a "Nightline" story about the late D.C. folk-blues singer.
Next week, P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean "Puffy" Combs and the rest of his 1,098,876 personalities will all make their impact felt on the album chart.
"We’re getting ready for a big week from P.Diddy, who from our ship numbers appears to have a solid shot at #1 next week," said Juarez before boring himself into a midday nap.
