‘N Sync Can’t Top Cypress Hill in L.A.

‘N Sync may rule the national charts, but when South Gate-spawned Cypress Hill hits the stores, the rap group’s home turf responds. “Skull & Bones,” which includes the radio hit “Rock (Superstar),” debuts at No. 1 on the new Southern California sales chart. Another artist who made his name in L.A., Neil Young, came up just short of the Top 10 with his new “Silver & Gold,” ranking No. 12 in the region. The album is No. 22 nationally.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

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Title, Artist (Nat’l Rank) Last Week 1 Skull & Bones, Cypress Hill (5) -- 2 No Strings Attached, ‘N Sync (1) 1 3 Heat, Toni Braxton (2) -- 4 Return of Saturn, No Doubt (11) 2 5 My Name Is Joe, Joe (3) 3 6 Supernatural, Santana (6) 5 7 Unleash the Dragon, Sisqo (4) 6 8 Romeo Must Die, various artists (14) 8 9 Dr. Dre 2001, Dr. Dre (9) 10 10 Writing’s on the Wall, Destiny’s Child (7) 7

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TOP 10 SINGLES

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Title, Artist (Nat’l Rank) Last Week 1 He Wasn’t Man Enough, Toni Braxton (1) 1 2 Maria Maria, Santana (2) 2 3 Back Here, BBMAK (16) -- 4 Breathe, Faith Hill (6) 4 5 Mirror Mirror, M2M (8) 10 6 Swear It Again, Westlife (11) 5 7 This Time Around, Hanson (5) 3 8 From the Bottom of My Broken Heart, Britney Spears (10) 6 9 Shackles (Praise You), Mary Mary (7) 8 10 Wobble Wobble, 504 Boyz (3) 13

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Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ended April 30