WEEK IN PREVIEW: BEYONCE BOUNCES TO THE TOP

As the new week begins, last week’s prognostications appear to still hold water: Beyonce’s solo debut, Dangerously in Love (Columbia) in on track to top 350k for its first week, making it a lock for #1 when the chart closes tomorrow.

Also blowing up is Michelle Branch’s Hotel Paper (Maverick), which looks like it will have sold well over 150k by the time the counting’s done.

That makes Branch the leader for #2 on the chart, likely to be followed by last week’s big albums—Luther Vandross’ Dance with My Father (J), which enjoyed its second week at #1, and Monica’s After the Storm (also J), which bowed at #2.

Meanwhile, Three 6 Mafia’s Da Unbreakables (Hypnotized Minds/Columbia) also had a strong week and should come out the other end with about 100k under their belts.

Huh huh huh. We said "come out the other end." Heh.