DMX’s “The Great Depression” entered the nation’s...

DMX’s “The Great Depression” entered the nation’s album chart at No. 1 Wednesday, marking the third consecutive time the hard-core rapper has opened there.

The first-week sales of 440,000 gave DMX an easy win over Incubus, whose “Morning View” sold 266,000 copies, according to SoundScan.

But industry observers are already looking at next week’s chart results, where Michael Jackson’s “Invincible” will likely outsell a greatest-hits collection from the Backstreet Boys.

Based on first-day sales, retailers Wednesday estimated that “Invincible” this week will sell between 300,000 and the 391,000 figure generated by his 1995 two-disc “HIStory...,” said Geoff Mayfield, director of charts for Billboard magazine. “For someone who has been around as long as he has, I think that’s a pretty good figure,” Mayfield said. “What other artist that was popular when his career got going with ‘Off the Wall’ still has a shot at being No. 1?”

The rest of the Top 10 is held, in order, by Enya, the “God Bless America” compilation, the Dave Matthews Band’s new live album, Ja Rule, Nickelback, Linkin Park, Usher and “Totally Hits 2001.” Whitney Houston’s “The Star Spangled Banner” is the No. 1 single.