2PAC RISES FROM THE GRAVE

He is one of the most prolific artists in all of rap. When his new music is released, fans flock to stores and a buying frenzy ensues. He is a guru, a prophet, an inspiration to millions.

Oh, yeah, he's also dead.

"It was our #1 title last week, outselling our #2 by a three-to-one margin. Whaddaya mean he's dead?" gurgled Mike Fuller of Hastings.

What Mikey's gurgling about is the monumental #1 debut of "Until The End Of Time." It's the latest posthumous release from Amaru/Death Row/Interscope's Tupac Shakur…or, in the case of this latest #1 triumph, 2Pac.

"Well, I'll be an American spy plane blatantly violating the sovereignty of another country," spewed Fuller.

Of course, there were some other impressive debuts on the HITS Top 50 this week, including a #6 bow from Columbia's Train and a major #10 debut from Motown's India.Arie. That one's being powered by some radio play, some video play…and a whole lotta people really liking this soulful new artist.

"Who?" queried Hastings' Fuller. Or is that Fuller's Hastings?

Following 2Pac are MCA's mindboggling Shaggy at #2 and RCA's Dave Matthews Band at #3, while L.A. Reid's surging Arista lands a pair in the Top Five, with Dido at #4 and 112 in the fifth spot.

And if posthumous releases are your thing, then you'll be rolling in your grave over Tuesday's release from the late Big Pun. He'll be joined on next week's album chart by new ones from Ginuwine, Cappadonna and the latest installment in the mega-gigantor-monster "NOW" series. We can't wait. Can you?

Naturally, none of those titles will be released by the People's Republic of China.