Nuthin’ But a ‘J’ Thang

As expected, Janet Jackson’s new “janet.” is an instant sales smash, not only opening on top of The Times’ Southern California pop album chart, but the R&B; chart as well. Jackson is queen of another chart too--the pop singles chart, with “That’s the Way Love Goes.” Incidentally, the pop Top 10 looks more like a rap/R&B; Top 10. Only the rapidly rising Rod Stewart and UB40 singles aren’t rap or R&B.; Dr. Dre heads the rap chart with “The Chronic,” but he’s also well represented on the pop singles chart, with two hits--”Dre Day” (No. 5) and “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (No. 8).

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 janet., Janet Jackson (1) -- 2 Love Deluxe, Sade (13) 3 3 The Bodyguard, soundtrack (2) 2 4 Ten Summoner’s Tales, Sting (10) 1 5 The Chronic, Dr. Dre (7) 5 6 Breathless, Kenny G (5) 6 7 Pocket. . .of Kryptonite, Spin Doctors (4) 9 8 It’s About Time, SWV (8) 11 9 Tell Me Why, Wynonna (6) 4 10 Unplugged, Eric Clapton (11) 8

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 That’s the Way. . ., Janet Jackson (1) 1 2 Knockin’ Da Boots, H-Town (2) 2 3 Show Me Love, Robin S (10) 3 4 Weak, SWV (4) 4 5 Dre Day, Dr. Dre (9) 10 6 Have I Told You Lately, Rod Stewart (11) 7 7 Can’t Help Falling in Love, UB40 (45) 9 8 Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang, Dr. Dre (6) 5 9 Six Feet Deep, Geto Boys (26) -- 10 Freak Me, Silk (3) 6

TOP 10 RAP ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 The Chronic, Dr. Dre (1) 1 2 Bizarre Ride to the. . ., Pharcyde (12) 5 3 12 Inches of Snow, Snow (2) 3 4 Down With the King, Run-DMC (3) 2 5 Bliss Album?, PM Dawn (5) 7 6 Which Doobie U B?, Funkdoobiest (14) 4 7 F--- New York, Rodney O/Joe Cooley (34) 8 8 14 Shots to the Dome, LL Cool J (10) -- 9 Predator, Ice Cube (7) 6 10 Bacdafucup, Onyx (4) --

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week of May 23