Newcomers claim the top spots

R&B; star Musiq Soulchild leads a squad of newcomers at the top of the nation’s album chart with his fourth CD, “Luvanmusiq,” which sold 149,000 copies to take the No. 1 spot in the Nielsen SoundScan sales tally.

“Luvanmusiq,” which features the radio hit “Buddy,” is another entry in the Philadelphia native’s collection of creative spellings: His first album was “Aijuswanaseing” in 2000, and he followed that up with “Juslisen” two years later.

At No. 2, it’s another R&B; singer, Lloyd, with the lusty album “Street Love,” which sold 144,000 copies. It’s the second album from the Atlanta-bred Lloyd, who is best known to pop fans for “Southside,” the steamy duet with Ashanti and the title track of his 2002 debut.

Rapper Rich Boy has the No. 3 spot with his debut CD, which sold 112,000 copies in its first week in stores thanks to the hit song “Throw Some D’s,” an ode to gaudy materialism. (The “D’s,” by the way, are high-end Dayton rims for his new Cadillac.)

Three other new titles claim positions in the Top 10. Up first, at No. 6, is Neil Young’s “Live at Massey Hall,” the second in a series of concerts from the rocker’s vaults (this show was in 1971 in Toronto), which sold 57,000 copies. Right behind Young is earthy British diva Amy Winehouse and her critically acclaimed debut, “Back to Black,” which sold 51,000 copies. At No. 8, fittingly, it’s Southern rappers 8-Ball & MJG, back with “Ridin’ High,” which sold 50,000 copies.

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