Pop Album Chart : Heady Debut for N.W.A’s Latest

Who says Billboard magazine’s new chart methodology discriminates against rap? The new album by N.W.A, the Compton rap group that delivers its tough, cynical messages in hard-core street lingo, made a remarkable debut--at No. 2 on the Billboard pop album chart. Paula Abdul, who already had the No. 1 pop album, “Spellbound,” now also has the No. 1 pop single--”Rush Rush.” Another rapper, Ice-T, seems to have peaked early with his new one, “O.G. Original Gangster.” It debuted at No. 17 two weeks ago, moved up to No. 15 and then slipped to No. 18 this week.

* Motown, which has had trouble breaking new artists in recent years, is on a roll. On the heels of the successes of Johnny Gill and Another Bad Creation comes the rapid rise of the R&B; singing group Boyz II Men, whose “CooleyHigh Harmony” is bounding up the pop chart. In three weeks it has jumped to No. 31.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Spellbound” 1 5 3 Paula Abdul (Virgin) 2. “Niggaz4life” ... ... 1 N.W.A (Priority) 3. “Out of Time” 3 1 12 R.E.M. (Warner Bros.) 4. “Time, Love and Tenderness” 2 2 6 Michael Bolton (Columbia) 5. “Gonna Make You Sweat” 5 7 23 C+C Music Factory (Columbia) *”CooleyHigh Harmony” 43 58 3 “Boyz II Men” (Motown)