SEAN COMBS - DIDDY'S BAD BOYS II SOUNDTRACK HITS THE TOP SPOT

Hip-hop mogul SEAN 'P DIDDY' COMBS is celebrating his return to the top this week (ends25JUL03), after his BAD BOYS II soundtrack debuted at number one on America's BILLBOARD 200 albums chart.

The LP sold more than 324,000 copies in its first week and is the first release under Combs' new distribution agreement with UNIVERSAL RECORDS.

The elated New York native says in a statement, "Having the first album released under the BAD BOY UNIVERSAL partnership debut at number one is a true blessing. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come in the future. I am very, very happy."

The two current singles from the soundtrack are SHAKE YA TAIL FEATHER by NELLY, featuring Diddy and MURPHY LEE, and LA LA LA by JAY-Z. The next single from the set will be SHOW ME YOUR SOUL by LENNY KRAVITZ, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, Diddy and LOON.

Rapper CHINGY's album JACKPOT debuted at second place, while BEYONCE KNOWLES' DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE sits in third place, followed by BROOKS + DUNN's RED DIRT ROAD and ASHANTI with CHAPTER II.

The movie Bad Boys II is also presently at number one in America. The film, which stars MARTIN LAWRENCE and WILL SMITH earned more than $46 million (GBP28.7 million) when it opened last week (ends18JUL03).