'TONES BOW AT #3,
BUSTA BUSTS OUT!

Eminem and Britney are holding fast at #1 and #2, but they have some company in the upper reaches of this week's sales chart. Maverick's Sacramento-based skate-rockers Deftones have ridden their "White Pony" into the #3 slot with first-week sales in excess of 186k, giving the basketball Kings a run for their money as hometown heroes. And Elektra/EEG rapper-turned-celluloid star Busta Rhymes bows at #4, racking up numbers north of 145k. Jive perennials NSYNC round out the Top Five.

"They haven't really been a factor for us in the past, but they've really turned into a national force for us now," said Mike Fuller of Hastings, referring to Deftones and echoing the feelings of many industry weasels nationwide. Mike was happy to comment on Deftones because he's able to split their name into two mono-syllabic words.

"Plus, I've heard the term, ‘tone deaf' many times in my life," said the nutty, nutty retailer.

OK. Anyhow, the dynamic rocker's third Maverick project proved the charm, putting them firmly on the radar of every major retailer in America.

"It ranked at #2 behind Eminem for us and really came as no surprise. We've been getting requests at the store levels for weeks," gurgled Fuller as he attempted to master the use of his bar code scanner.

"Busta sold a lot of music this week," said Fuller, referring to Rhymes and displaying the wit, intelligence and vitality that led him into the dynamic retail sector. "I think this whole rap thing has a real chance of happening."

Creed, Eric Clapton, Kid Rock, Papa Roach and matchbox twenty complete the Top 10, with Arista's Next debuting at #11 and A&M/Interscope's Sting continuing his comeback as he logged another 58,000 units, good for #20.

Next week, it's all about Lil' Kim.

"Next week, it's all about Lil' Kim," said Fuller as he impaled himself on a jumbo paper clip.