LUDACRIS A MONEY MAKER AT #1

The Def Jam South/IDJ rapper-turned-actor’s new album debuts at #1 with 314k in sales, more than enough to turn back the challenge of Virgin queen Janet Jackson’s 20 Y.O., which finishes #2 with 301k. It was a battle to the end, with Jackson’s quick start thanks to her appearance on Oprah counteracted by late-week action on the Atlanta hip-hop icon.

Columbia continues to roll out its impressive roster of living legends, as Steve Barnett and company help 80-year-old Tony Bennett secure his best chart debut ever, with Duets: An American Classic entering at #3, boasting an impressive 200k in first-week sales.

SMGB Nashville/Arista country legend Alan Jackson’s Like Red on a Rose comes on at #5 in its first week, while Volcano/ZLG rock satirist Weird Al Yankovic is the other Top 10 debut at #9.

Holdovers include last week’s chart-topping Jive/ZLG superstar Justin Timberlake at #4, Aware/Columbia’s John Mayer at #6, RCA’s Clay Aiken at #7, Universal Republic’s ascendant Hinder at #8 and A&M/Interscope’s Fergie at #10.

Chart newcomers include Universal Motown’s Scissor Sisters (#19), Capitol rockers Saosin (#22), Artist First’s Jerry Lee Lewis (#26), Hollywood’s High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens (#28), Machete Music’s Luny Tunes & Tain (#34) and Concord Jazz vet Boney James (#45).

A&M/Interscope’s Snow Patrol are the week’s largest double-digit gainer, up 14% at #30, thanks to exposure from Grey’s Anatomy, followed by Def Jam/IDJ’s Rick Ross (#24) and Hinder, both up 10%. Arista/RMG’s Carrie Underwood (#32, +6%) along with Disney’s High School Musical (#39, +5%) and The Cheetah Girls soundtracks (#18, +3%), are also up, as is Universal Motown’s Blue October (#40, +3%).

This week, Island’s The Killers and Wind-up’s Evanescence hit stores, along with MCA Nashville’s George Strait, Sony BMG Nashville’s Jimmy Buffett, Interscope’s Beck, Elektra’s Jet, J’s Monica and Concord’s Ray Charles & Count Basie Orchestra, in conjunction with Starbucks Hear Music.