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Britney Spears

By Craig Seymour

Oops!... She couldn't do it again. Britney Spears drops one spot from the No. 2 perch she's held for seven weeks on Billboard's album chart, replaced by the debut of ''Ryde or Die II,'' the latest compilation by rapper DMX's posse the Ruff Ryders (Eve, the Lox, and newcomers Drag-On and Yung Wun). ''Ryde'' -- which sold 255,000 copies and features cameos from such rap luminaries as Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg -- is the second hip hop set to knock Britney's ''Oops!... I Did It Again'' down a notch. After debuting in the top spot in May, the teen queen was booted to No. 2 by funny foulmouth Eminem, who remains at No. 1 for the seventh week, selling an additional 290,000 albums of ''The Marshall Mathers LP.''

And he's not the only rapper holding strong on the charts. Hip hop newcomer Nelly, who shocked industry observers last week when his ''Country Grammar'' debuted higher than the new release from media darling Lil' Kim, remains in the top 5, dropping only one place -- a tiny fall for a new hip hop release -- from No. 3 to No. 4. Meanwhile, Kim's randy ''The Notorious KIM'' takes a more dramatic dip, from No. 4 to No. 7. And 'N Sync move up to No. 5 with their 8 million selling ''No Strings Attached.'' The almost four month old album is regaining heat because of the radio success of ''It's Gonna Be Me'' -- and it's only gonna get hotter with the group's live HBO concert on July 27.

Also heating up are Northern California's latest breakthrough band of alt-metalheads Papa Roach, whose ''Infest'' has invaded the top 10 on the strength of the single ''Last Resort'' -- currently the second most-played video on MTV. ''Infest'' moves to No. 8, just below fellow rockers Creed (No. 6) and besting Kid Rock (No. 9), and B.B. King and Eric Clapton (No. 10). Britney, break out the Raid!

Posted Jul 13, 2000 | Order Article Reprints