Jay-Z, OutKast, U2 Capture Top of Chart

Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z, Atlanta rappers OutKast and Irish rockers U2 captured the firstthree places on the nation’s pop album chart this week with high-profile debuts as the record industry moves into its hectic holiday season.

Jay-Z’s “The Dynasty Roc La Familia (2000- )” sold about 558,000 copies to nab the top spot, narrowly edging OutKast’s “Stankonia,” which sold 526,000 copies. U2’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” sold 428,000 copies.

Limp Bizkit’s “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water,” which had held the No. 1 spot for two weeks, fell to fourth with sales of 298,000. Another debut--rock group Godsmack’s “Awake”--rounds out the Top 5, thanks to sales of 256,000.

Because about a quarter of the record industry’s annual $14 billion sales total is generated between now and Christmas, there is usually a flood of year-end releases.

R. Kelly’s “TP-2.Com,” which was released Tuesday by Jive Records, should enter the charts next week at No. 1. Based on first-day sales, one major U.S. retailer projects the album will sell around 650,000 this week.

Here are some of the high-profile artists who will be battling for that holiday bounty.

Tuesday: the Offspring (last album sales: 4.5 million) and Ricky Martin (6.6 million). Plus: a Beatles’ greatest-hits package and a four-disc Eagles boxed set.

Nov. 21: the Backstreet Boys (11.3 million), Erykah Badu (1.6 million), a greatest-hits set from Tim McGraw (2.8 million) and the Wu-Tang Clan (1.8 million).

In the race for the year’s biggest sales, ‘N Sync’s “No Strings Attached” continues to hold the lead. The album, which is No. 16 after eight months on the chart, has just passed the 8.5 million mark. Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP,” which is No. 18 after six months, is next with nearly 7.3 million, followed by Britney Spears’ “Oops! . . . I Did It Again,” which has sold almost 6.4 million copies. Spears’ album is No. 14 after six months.

Christina Aguilera’s “Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” tops the nation’s singles chart for the sixth straight week.

Johnny Cash, “American III: Solitary Man,” Columbia.

In the third in a series of striking albums with producer Rick Rubin, the legendary country singer draws upon his country, rock, gospel and folk roots with sometimes dark, but often uplifting results.

U2, “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” Interscope.

The great Irish rock band returns to its classic musical stance with a collection of soulful and affecting songs that reach out with open arms and an open heart.