The Billboard 200 was once again won by Susan Boyle's I Dreamed A Dream, holding to top slot for the fifth consecutive week, knocking new releases from Mary J. Blige and Lil Wayne's Young Money crew outta the way.
While Boyle was able to hold off a new release from Mary, the R&B diva still managed to land at no. 2 with her latest album, Stronger With Each Tear. The new album arrived one week Alicia Keys' The Element of Freedom bowed at no. 2 behind Boyle with 417,000.
Blige's album sold 330,000 copies in its debut week, giving the singer her third straight album to sell more than 300,000 in its opening week. Her last LP, Growing Pains, opened at no. 1 with 629,000 in December of 2007, while The Breakthrough debuted at no. 1 with 727,000 in December of 2005.
According to Billboard.com, Blige is the ninth woman in SoundScan's 18-year history to see at least three albums all debut with an opening sales week of 300,000 or more. Stronger is also her 10th top 10 album on the Billboard 200, and her seventh set to reach the top two slots.
The other major debut on this week's charts wrap-up comes from Lil Wayne's Young Money label. The We Are Young Money compilation album debuted at no. 9 with 142,000 copies sold, and features the labels' roster, including Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Mack Maine, Tyga, Shanell, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Lil Chuckee, Lil Twist, and others.
Also in the top 10 was Keys' Freedom, which fell two slots to no. 4 with 280,000; while Lady Gaga's The Fame held steady at no. 6 with 169,000.
Eminem's Relapse came in at no. 11 with 128,000, and Michael Jackson's This Is It landed at no. 13 with 109,000.
Lastly, the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. earned the no. 15 spot with 104,000 copies sold.
To cop any of these new releases, head over to Amazon.com.
According to Billboard.com, overall album sales in this past chart week (ending Dec. 27) totaled 17.14 million units, up 13% compared to the sum last week (15.14 million) and up 1% compared to the same sales week of 2008 (17.03 million).
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