Send In The 'Clones'

After producing hits for everyone in the universe, the Neptunes are now topping the charts themselves. Powered by the radio smash ”Frontin’,” costarring Jay-Z, the duo’s premiere set sold an out-of-this-world 249,000 copies its first week. Hip-hop further lifted a down industry, with top 10 debuts from Lil’-no-more Bow Wow(120,000), It Thug T.I. (109,000), and Roc-A-Fella’s Juelz Santana (74,000). Jessica Simpson’s 98 Degrees connection paid off, with a hot No. 10 landing (64,000), while Rancid’s No. 15 bow (51,000) didn’t stink at all.

POP ALBUMS

LAST WEEKS ON WEEK CHART

1 — VARIOUS ARTISTS The Neptunes Presents…Clones, Arista 1 2 1 ALAN JACKSON Greatest Hits Volume II…, Arista Nashville 2 3 — BOW WOW Unleashed, Columbia 1 4 — T.I. Trap Muzik, Atlantic 1 5 3 VARIOUS ARTISTS Bad Boys II soundtrack, Bad Boy/Universal 6 6 99 VARIOUS ARTISTS Chicago soundtrack, Epic 32 7 4 EVANESCENCE Fallen, Wind-up 25 8 — JUELZ SANTANA From Me to U, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam 1 9 5 BEYONCE Dangerously in Love, Columbia 9 10 — JESSICA SIMPSON In This Skin, Columbia 1 11 7 CHINGY Jackpot, Disturbing Tha Peace/Capitol 6 12 9 NORAH JONES Come Away With Me, Blue Note 78 13 10 VARIOUS ARTISTS Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack, Disney 18 14 11 50 CENT Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Shady/Aftermath/Interscope 29 15 — RANCID Indestructible, Hellcat 1

(c)2003 VNU BUSINESS MEDIA, INC./NIELSEN SOUNDSCAN. USED WITH PERMISSION FROM BILLBOARD, AUGUST 22, 2003.

IN STORES SEPTEMBER 9

JOHN MAYER Heavier Things (Aware/Columbia) In 2001, the singer-songwriter proved there was plenty of room for lite-minded squares. Now he’s slinging an electric guitar for a Heavier sound.

SINEAD O’CONNOR She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty (Vanguard) O’Connor says this two-CD set — with previously unreleased studio tracks and live cuts — is her swan song.

SEAL Seal (Warner Bros.) He’s reunited with producer Trevor Horn, but expect something more diverse than the orchestral maneuvers of ”Kiss From a Rose.”

THE DECEMBERISTS Her Majesty the Decemberists (Kill Rock Stars) The second LP from Portland’s kooky quintet, who specialize in comely pop tunes.

IF YOU LIKE…

The blustery bravado of KID ROCK, get an earful of BROOKS BUFORD’s recent rap-rockin’ opus, Straight Outta Rehab.

The moody country-noir of COWBOY JUNKIES, try OVER THE RHINE’s just-released double-CD set, Ohio.

Shakin’ a tail feather to the STRAY CATS, check out their rockabilly-lovin’ brethren THE FRANTIC FLATTOPS’ Hi-Fi Honey Revisited.