Pop Album Chart : Snoop Doggy Dogg Still in the Hunt

Snoop Dogg is creeping up on Mariah Carey. His “Doggystyle,” which slipped to No. 4 last week, appeared ready to slip down the chart. But he’s back up to No. 2, barking at chart-leader Carey’s door. Singer-rapper R. Kelly’s steamy “12 Play” continues its rapid rise, bounding from No. 22 to No. 11. Giant steps up the chart: Counting Crows’ “August and Everything After” (No. 70 to No. 32) and the “Philadelphia” soundtrack, featuring a new Bruce Springsteen song, climbed from No. 74 to No. 34. “All for Love,” by Bryan Adams, Sting and Rod Stewart, is still the No. 1 pop single.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Music Box,” Mariah Carey 1 2 20 2. “Doggystyle,” Snoop Doggy Dogg 4 1 8 3. “Vs.,” Pearl Jam 2 3 13 4. “The One Thing,” Michael Bolton 3 5 9 5. “Diary of a Mad Band,” Jodeci 8 8 4 6. “So Far So Good,” Bryan Adams 7 7 10 7. “janet.,” Janet Jackson 6 4 35 8. “Bat Out of Hell II,” Meat Loaf 5 6 18 9. “Greatest Hits,” Tom Petty 10 9 9 10. “Toni Braxton,” Toni Braxton 12 13 27 * “Very Necessary,” Salt-n-Pepa 26 25 14

* This female rap group’s album, already over the 500,000 mark, leaped up the chart, from No. 26 to No. 12, apparently headed for the Top 10. Its new single “Whatta Man,” featuring En Vogue, which rocketed from No. 69 to No. 22 on the pop chart, is powering the album’s ascent.

Source: Billboard/Soundscan