JAHEIM’S GHETTO FABULOUS AT #1

Emerging Urban star Jaheim’s third album for the label, Ghetto Classics, was the charm, as he debuts at #1 on the HITS Top 50, easily outdistancing Decca/Universal Classics’ tenor Andrea Bocelli with 144k in sales to the latter’s 110k.

New Jersey-born soulster Jaheim, who lost both his mother and father while still a teenager, has released two previous albums for the label, 2003’s Still Ghetto and 2001’s Ghetto Love, after originally signing to WB’s Divine Mill Records. Valentine’s Day sales undoubtedly helped boost both the Jaheim and Bocelli albums, as well as some other titles, such as James Blunt, Michael Buble and Faith Hill.

Geffen’s Mary J. Blige was #3, beating out last week’s chart-topping Jack Johnson Enjoy/Universal soundtrack to Curious George, which finished #4.

Arista/RMG’s comebacking Barry Manilow was #5, followed by the fast-riding Walt Disney Records High School Musical soundtrack, which was up 36% at #6, and Custard/Atlantic Brit-winning crooner Blunt, who was up 26%, returning to the Top 10 at #7.

Arista/RMG crossover country queen Carrie Underwood was up 20% at #8, Shady/Aftermath/Interscope rapper Eminem stayed steady at #9 and J Records/RMG’s Jamie Foxx once again landed at #10.

Other artists who experienced double-digit one-week sales increases include A&M/Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas (#18-12, +15%), Reprise’s Buble (#29-18, +26%), Warner Bros.’ Hill (#34-24, +18%), A&M/Interscope’s Pussycat Dolls (#35-27, +13%) and A&M/Interscope’s Keyshia Cole (#28-19, +22%).

Concord/Hear Music’s Sergio Mendes (#42) and Virgin newcomer KT Tunstall (#50) registered chart debuts.

Next week, expect chart debuts from Razor & Tie’s Kidz Bop 9 collection and Capitol’s Dilated Peoples, with Domino’s Arctic Monkeys (distributed here by ADA) also hoping to climb into the Top 50. The latter sold a record-breaking 360k its first week on sale in the U.K. and is looking to make inroads into the stateside market.