NORAH MAKES HERSELF AT HOME

There’s no end to Norah’s reign in sight.

The Blue Note diva continues to dominate the charts with another 286k sold, and could stay there until next month. Only J Records’ Cassidy, which comes out March 16, or the following week’s release slate (3/23), which includes Arista’s Usher, Virgin’s N.E.R.D. and EMM’s Now Vol. 15, offers a shot to knock Queen Norah off her throne.

Tower Records’ Kevin Hawkins issued the following statement with an accompanying translation in Aramaic and old Latin: "Norah kept up her torrid pace, with no one in sight quite yet to displace her at the top of the charts. She is truly a unique phenomenon."

Roc-A-Fella/IDJ’s Young Gunz debuts at #2, while labelmate producer-turned-rapper Kanye West drops one slot to #3.

The rest of the leader board is rounded out by Wind-up’s Evanescence (#4), BNA/RLG’s Kenny Chesney (#5), Arista’s OutKast (#6), 143/Reprise’s Josh Groban (#7), Atlantic/Atl G’s Twista (#8), Jive’s Eamon (#9) and Top 10 newcomer Octone/J Records’ Maroon 5 (#10), which was up a whopping 20%.

Chart bows were registered by Reprise twin crunksters Trillville/Lil’ Scrappy, whose combined sales of their two identical albums reached #13, Jive’s moonlighting NSYNC member J.C. Chasez (#14), Integrity/Columbia’s Passion of the Christ soundtrack (#28) and Razor & Tie’s best-selling Kidz Bop 5 compilation (#32).

Added Hawkins: "Both Young Gunz and J.C. Chasez had solid first-week sales. And Maroon 5 continues to rocket back up the chart behind another huge, multi-format single at radio in ‘This Love.’ By the way, do you have Charlize Theron’s home number?"

A&M/Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas capitalized on post-Grammy exposure to register a 9% sales increase, moving #43-38. Republic/Universal’s 3 Doors Down was also up 4% at #45, while Elektra/EEG’s Blindside (#47) and Island/IDJ’s Hoobastank (#50) reentered the charts.