Pop Album Chart : 2Pac’s ‘World’ Makes Impressive Debut

When rapper 2Pac’s new “Me Against the World� entered the pop charts at No. 1 this week, he earned the dubious distinction of becoming, no doubt, the first artist in prison ever to have an album debut at No. 1. 2Pac recently began serving up to 4 1/2 years in a New York prison on a sexual abuse conviction. Several other artists also made impressive chart entries: rapper E-40’s “In a Major Way� (No. 13), alternative rockers Mad Season’s “Above� (No. 24) and Georgia rockers Collective Soul’s “Collective Soul� (No. 39). One debut, though, was surprisingly low. Linda Ronstadt’s return to her early country-flavored pop-rock base, “Feels Like Home,� only reached No. 128. Could keyboardist John Tesh give New Age king Yanni a serious run for his money? Tesh’s “Live at Red Rocks� jumped from No. 86 to No. 54 in its second week on the chart. Pop singles: Madonna’s “Take a Bow� continues its long run as the top pop single but the big news is that, for a second week in a row, TLC has two singles in the Top 5--�Creep� (No. 3) and “Red Light Special� (No. 4).

* Although Lennox’s album of cover material is off to a fast start, it wasn’t quite fast enough to make the Top 10. Missing the charmed circle by a nose, it debuted at No. 11.

For the week ending March 18

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Me Against the World,� 2Pac ... ... 1 2. “Greatest Hits,� 1 1 3 Bruce Springsteen 3. “Hell Freezes Over,� Eagles 4 8 19 4. “Cracked Rear View,� 6 6 36 Hootie & the Blowfish 5. “The Lion King,� soundtrack 2 14 42 6. “II,� Boyz II Men 5 2 29 7. “Tuesday Night Music Club,� 3 4 55 Sheryl Crow 8. “The Hits,� Garth Brooks 7 3 14 9. “Throwing Copper,� Live 9 9 47 10. “Dookie,� Green Day 8 5 58 * “Medusa,� Annie Lennox ... ... 1