Notorious B.I.G. Continues to Dominate the Charts With ‘Life’ and ‘Hypnotize’

The Notorious B.I.G.’s posthumous “Life After Death” moves into its fourth week as the nation’s best-selling album, selling an estimated 165,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan. That pushes the album’s total sales to more than 1.3 million, or an estimated $26 million in retail sales. The late rapper’s “Hypnotize” also continues to be the nation’s best-selling single. The week’s highest debut on the album charts was Depeche Mode’s “Ultra.”

What’s Hot

Here are some recent releases that are generating critical or commercial attention:

Aerosmith’s “Nine Lives” (Columbia). At a time when rock questions its future, this veteran, high-energy quintet still comes straight at you with solidly entertaining, Top-40-minded music.

The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Life After Death” (Bad Boy/Arista). Rarely has a rapper attempted to please so many different audiences--and done it so brilliantly.

Ani DiFranco’s “Living in Clip” (Righteous Babe). DiFranco pumps emotions up to heroic scale, emerging as the bruised, enraged female counterpart to Springsteen’s sensitive Jersey boy.

Freedy Johnston’s “Never Home” (Elektra). On Johnston’s fifth album, there’s poetry in his aching, melodic probings into the X-files of the heart and wandering souls, but the production touches fail to add distinction.

Alison Krauss & Union Station’s “So Long So Wrong” (Rounder). When Krauss sings about happiness on her fine new album, it’s to warn that you can’t always trust it.

INXS’ “Elegantly Wasted” (Mercury). INXS almost wins your heart again--no kidding--with this totally imperfect yet rousing album.

U2’s “Pop” (Island). Engrossing mix of the energy of the dance music scene with songs that explore questions of personal and spiritual ideals and doubts.

What’s New

Tuesday: Mary J. Blige’s “Share My World” (MCA), Robert Cray’s “Sweet Potato Pie” (Mercury), Zhane’s “Saturday Night” (Motown).

What’s Coming

Tuesday: KRS-One’s “I Got Next” (Jive), Various Artists’ “Sprung” soundtrack (Qwest/Warner Bros.), Indigo Girl’s “Shaming of the Sun” (Epic), Cheap Trick’s “Cheap Trick” (Red Ant), Jimi Hendrix’s “First Rays of the New Rising Sun” (MCA).

May 6: Hanson’s “Middle of Nowhere” (Mercury), Robin S’ “From Now On” (Big Beat/Atlantic), Bee Gees’ “Still Waters” (Polydor), Buckwheat Zydeco’s “Trouble” (Mesa/Atlantic).