50 Cent still cashing in on hot sales

New York rapper 50 Cent’s major-label debut, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” continues to set a sizzling pace, selling 822,000 copies last week to hold on to its top spot on the nation’s sales chart.

The album, which features production by Eminem and Dr. Dre, entered the chart at No. 1 last week after selling 872,000 in its first four days in the stores. The album was scheduled to be released Feb. 11, but Interscope Records moved the date to Feb. 6 in hopes of combating online piracy and bootlegging. The chart is based on a sales week that runs Monday through Sunday.

“Get Rich” outsold the next six albums on the chart combined last week. Its closest competition was the Dixie Chicks’ “Home,” which sold 171,000 copies.

The 50 Cent package benefited from the appearance of the track “Wanksta” on the hit soundtrack for Eminem’s movie, “8 Mile,” and from the success of “In Da Club,” a huge radio and club hit.

Two country artists, George Strait and Vince Gill, were the highest-ranking new arrivals on the chart, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Strait’s “Live” finished No. 7 after selling 101,000 copies, while Gill’s “Next Big Thing” rated No. 14 with sales last week of 67,000.

-- Robert Hilburn