Shakur’s Double Album Soars to Top of the Chart

Tupac Shakur, one of the most controversial and respected figures ever in rap, returns to the album bestseller list for the fifth time since he was killed in Las Vegas almost five years ago by unknown assailants.

His “Until the End of Time” sold nearly 427,000 copies in its first week in stores to enter the charts at No. 1, according to SoundScan. The figure--which tops runner-up Shaggy’s “Hotshot” by about 251,000 copies--is all the more remarkable because “Time” is a two-disc package.

Based on an estimated retail price of $24, the Shakur album generated around $10.2 million last week--$8 million more than “Hotshot,” a single-disc collection.

Shakur’s four posthumous albums of previously unreleased material have sold more than 7.4 million copies, including the figure for “Time.” In addition, a 1998 greatest-hits album has sold 3.3 million copies.

One reason Shakur--who recorded under the name 2Pac--has continued to be such a commanding sales force is that he left about 150 unreleased tracks, and the quality has been outstanding so far.

Another double album of unreleased Shakur material is due this fall from Amaru Entertainment Records, which is owned by the rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur, in association with Death Row and Interscope.

Other hot arrivals on this week’s album chart are rock group Train, whose “Drops of Jupiter,” finished No. 6, and soul singer India.Arie’s “Acoustic Soul,” which finished No. 10. The rest of the Top 5: the Dave Matthews Band’s “Everyday”; 112’s “Part III” and Dido’s “No Angel.”

Janet Jackson’s “All for You” is the nation’s best-selling single.