‘Down in Texas’ heads straight to the No. 1 spot

Rap and rock, which have dominated the top of the nation’s album sales chart for most of the year, both had to step aside this week for a country veteran: George Strait.

The singer’s new “Somewhere Down in Texas” debuted at No. 1 on Wednesday with first-week sales of 245,000 copies. It’s the first country album to top the pop charts since Kenny Chesney’s “Be as You Are” in February (311,000 copies).

“Somewhere” gives Strait his second No. 1 album on the pop charts in nine months. “50 Number Ones,” a greatest hits package, was No. 1 last October with first week sales of 343,000.

Coldplay’s “X&Y;” album, which had held the top spot for three weeks, fell to No. 3 this week, after selling 140,000 more copies.

Hip-hop’s the Ying Yang Twins captured the second spot on the charts after its new “U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta)” album sold 201,000 copies its first week. The only other new release to enter the Top 10 was rapper Cassidy’s “I’m a Hustla,” which is No. 5 on the chart after selling 93,000 copies.

Cassidy, whose real name is Barry Reese, is in jail in Philadelphia facing murder, attempted murder and weapons charges in connection with an April shooting that killed one man and injured two others.

With midyear sales figures final, 50 Cent’s “The Massacre” was clearly the six-month bestseller. The album has sold 4 million copies since its release in early March.