THE GAME WINNER

The Geffen west coast rapper, and one-time member of 50 Cent's G Unit posse, grabs the #1 slot on this week's HITS Album sales chart with his third effort, L.A.X., which nabs 223k.

That was just enough to slip past Roadrunner's masked rockers Slipknot, whose All Hope Is Gone bows right behind it with 221k.

Atlantic's Kid Rock (#3), Hollywood's Jonas Brothers (#4) and Decca's resilient Mamma Mia! soundtrack return to round out the Top 5.

Cash Money/Universal Motown's Lil Wayne maintains his torrid pace at #6 for Tha Carter III, the year's top debut, followed by the Top 10's other newcomer, Universal Nashville/UMe's Now Country compilation.

Capitol's Coldplay (#8), Mercury Nashville's Sugarland (#9) and Atlantic's Staind (#10) are the other Top 10 entries.

Geffen's Solange, Beyonce's sister, leads the other Top 50 bows with her solo album, Sol-Angel & Hadley St. Dreams, entering at #14.

Valory's Jimmy Wayne (#20), Roadrunner British guitar metal gods Dragonforce (#21), On Our Own/MRI's The Verve (#26), SBMG Nashville's Lost Trailer (#29) and Geffen's B.B. King (#40) also debut on the HITS chart this week.

Atlantic's Jason Mraz is the big gainer, moving #21-18, up 27%. Others showing upward movement include J/RMG's Leona Lewis (#16, +9%) and LaFace/ZLG's Usher (#36, +4%).

Hitting retail today are new albums from Def Jam/IDJ's Young Jeezy, Interscope's New Kids on the Block, Capitol/EMI's Brian Wilson, Tooth & Nail Christian rockers Underoath and Making the Band 3's Bad Boy Levittown, L.I., breakout Donnie Klang.