TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Feuding superstars R. Kelly & Jay-Z’s Unfinished Business (Jive/Rock Land/Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) tops the charts this week, despite a canceled tour, pepper spray facials and the former’s $75 million lawsuit.

Only in the music business, right?

But the biggest gainers of the week were two Ray Charles releases. "Ray!" the movie had a huge first week at the box office and both the soundtrack and the "Genius Loves Company" duets LP rocketed into our Top 5!"

Two Atlantic Records acts, Track Daddy (#2) and Lava’s Simple Plan (#3) debut in the Top 5, with the other Top 10 newcomer, Motown’s second Michael McDonald collection of soul hits, bowing at #8.

Tower Records’ Kevin Hawkins, after declaring victory for Ralph Nader, exclaimed: "The new R.Kelly and Jay Z record topped our chart and there were also solid debuts from Simple Plan and Trick Daddy." No kidding, Kev.

The rest of the Top 10 includes Fo’ Reel/Universal’s Nelly Suit album (#4), J/RMG’s Rod Stewart Songbook, last week’s #1 (#5), LaFace/ZLG’s repackaged Usher (#6), MCA Nashville’s George Strait (#7), Concord’s Ray Charles tribute (#8) and Reprise’s Green Day (#10).

Other chart newcomers are Reunion’s Christian star Michael W. Smith (#15) and Warner Bros. country act Blake Shelton at #19.

Atlantic/Rhino/WMG Soundtracks’ Ray album is the week’s top gainer, moving #27-11 with a 57% rise, thanks to the movie’s $20 million opening last weekend.

Added Hawkins: "The biggest gainers of the week were the two Ray Charles releases. Ray, the movie had a huge first week at the box office and both the soundtrack and the Genius Loves Company duets LP rocketed into our Top 5!" OK, now hit the road, Hawk.

A pair of country albums also showed upward movement, with Warner Bros. Nashville’s Big & Rich (#33-21, +28%) and Epic/Sony Nashville’s Gretchen Wilson (#26-22) both showing double-digit gains.

Columbia/CRG’s Switchfoot (#39, +4%) and RCA/RMG’s Velvet Revolver (#29, +1%) also register upticks, with hit singles now crossing to Top 40.

Next week, look for chart debuts from Capitol’s Now Vol. 17, Virgin’s A Perfect Circle, Geffen’s Counting Crows and DreamWorks Nashville’s 9/11 rabblerouser Darryl Worley.