Mr. Smith Goes to the Top

Will Smith is back on top--of the pop charts. The movie star and Grammy-winning rapper has returned to musical form with the title track of the “Men in Black” soundtrack. In its second week in the stores, the collection moved to No. 1 after selling approximately 179,000 copies, according to SoundScan.

Prodigy’s “The Fat of the Land,” which debuted at No. 1 last week, fell to No. 3 based on sales of about 124,000.

The nation’s best-selling single, for the seventh consecutive week, is Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You.”

What’s Hot

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

Prodigy’s “The Fat of the Land” (Maverick). “Fat,” which employs samples from such varied sources as Ultramagnetic M.C.’s and the Breeders, carries you along with the sonic rise and fall of a spectacular roller-coaster ride.

Lady of Rage’s “Necessary Roughness” (Death Row). Rage delivers her lyrics with gale force and knocks out her tracks with rabbit-punch viciousness. A formidable woman with many surprises up her Afro puffs.

Wu-Tang Clan’s “Wu-Tang Forever” (Loud). The overwhelming passion of the music and the relentless nature of the rhyming make the concept “Wu-Tang Forever” feel more like a reality than a folly.

Radiohead’s “OK Computer” (Capitol). This work is a solid, far-reaching nightmare of paranoia, aliens, “the future,” technology and social disgust, and the band makes the fear inviting with a dreamy cushion of stunning musicality.

Wyclef Jean’s “Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival” (Ruffhouse/Columbia). As captivating as the Fugees’ Lauryn Hill is, her partner’s record proves that the group’s success is due to the sum of all of its parts. The future of the Fugees may be even stronger as a result.

What’s New

In stores now: Eddi Reader’s “Candyfloss and Medicine” (Reprise), Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers’ “Fallen Is Babylon” (Elektra).

What’s Coming

Tuesday: Puff Daddy’s “No Way Out” (Bad Boy).