Jay-Z Has a ‘Blueprint’ for Success

Jay-Z may not have the acclaim of Bob Dylan nor the media profile of Mariah Carey, but the New York rapper easily outsold both last week, according to SoundScan.

His new collection, “The Blueprint,” sold 427,000 copies during its first week in the stores, which placed it No. 1 on the national sales chart that was announced Wednesday.

Though the figure was more than 100,000 behind the first-week total registered by Jay-Z’s last album, 2000’s “The Dynasty Roc La Familia (2000-),” it is considered impressive because many consumers had other priorities in the days after the terrorist attacks.

Reviewing the album for The Times, Soren Baker hailed “The Blueprint” as a superior rap collection. “The immensely talented ... rapper returns with a vengeance on his sixth album, displaying a sense of purpose that’s been absent since his bone-crushing breakthrough [in 1998],” Baker wrote.

Two other new releases--Canadian rock band Nickelback’s “Silverside Up” and rapper Fabolous’ “Ghetto Fabolous”--also outpaced the new Dylan and Carey releases, finishing second and fourth, respectively, with sales of 178,000 and 143,000. Alicia Keys’ “Songs in A Minor” was third with sales of 161,000.

The big surprise for many was that Dylan outsold Carey. The legendary singer-songwriter’s new “Love and Theft,” which has been getting even stronger reviews than its predecessor, “Time Out of Mind,” sold 134,000 copies to finish fifth on the chart. That’s up from the 100,000 tally registered in 1997 by the Grammy-winning “Time.”

Carey’s new “Glitter” sold only 116,000 copies to finish seventh. That figure is down dramatically from the 320,000 first-week total of her last album, 1999’s “Rainbow.” Carey has been absent from the usual promotional whirl because of emotional and physical exhaustion, which has recently led her to check into hospitals twice.

Joining those six albums in this week’s Top 10: P.O.D’s “Satellite” (No. 6), Linkin Park’s “Hybrid Theory” (No. 8), the “Now” hit compilation (No. 9) and Aaliyah’s “Aaliyah” (No. 10).

The nation’s best-selling single remains Jagged Edge’s “Where the Party At?”

SOUND ADVICE

(From The Times’ album reviews)

Alicia Keys, “Songs in A Minor,” J. In a striking debut, Keys moves from the funky sensuality of Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore” to the neo-soul vitality of Macy Gray and Jill Scott. (Robert Hilburn)

Mary J. Blige, “No More Drama,” MCA. Though, perhaps inevitably, not as innovative as her early recordings, “No More Drama” seamlessly incorporates the smoother soul and gospel flavors of 1999’s “Mary” with her trademark blend of hip-hop, funk and R&B.; (Natalie Nichols)

Bob Dylan, “Love and Theft,” Columbia. Dylan and his dazzling road band play with the defiance of true believers who feel pop music has been taken over by charlatans. He pulls us back to the start of rock ‘n’ roll sonically, reminding us of the innocence and energy of the times. In the process, he challenges those who feel that rock is exhausted as an art form. (R.H.)

Macy Gray, “The Id,” Epic. The album showcases the further blossoming of an artist who’s as gifted as the best moments of her debut collection suggested. (R.H.)

P.O.D., “Satellite,” Atlantic. A giant leap forward for the San Diego quartet, the album sharpens the emotional and spiritual edge of the band’s platinum-selling debut. (Lina Lecaro).

Slipknot, “IOWA,” Roadrunner. This bludgeoning collection makes it clear that once you take away the freak show surrounding this masked band, what’s left is not very interesting. (L.L.)

System of a Down, “Toxicity,” American Recordings. Most of the album’s ragged, manic structures are too distracting to effectively convey the sociological statements behind them, but the inventive presentation is challenging nonetheless. (L.L.)