Kanye West is back at number one. The emcee’s new album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” opens atop this week’s Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 496-thousand. The record is Kanye’s fourth release to reach number one, and is enjoying a bigger debut than his last effort — 2008’s “808s & Heartbreak” — which sold 450-thousand copies in its first week. Following Kanye West this week is fellow rap star Nicki Minaj. The hip-hop diva’s debut album, “Pink Friday,” opens at number two after moving 375-thousand units. Minaj’s “Pink Friday” now holds the honor of having the second-best sales week of any female rap act. Lauryn Hill’s 1998 release “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is still leading the way with 423-thousand copies in its first week.
Scottish vocalist Susan Boyle is number three on this week’s Billboard 200, as her sophomore effort “The Gift” sold another 263-thousand copies. Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” is fourth with 241-thousand albums, while Jackie Evancho’s “O Holy Night” rounds out the top five with 142-thousand copies.

Here are the top ten albums on the Billboard 200:

1. Kanye West — “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (496-thousand albums)
2. Nicki Minaj — “Pink Friday” (375-thousand albums)
3. Susan Boyle — “The Gift” (263-thousand albums)
4. Taylor Swift — “Speak Now” (241-thousand albums)
5. Jackie Evancho — “O Holy Night” (142-thousand albums)
6. Rihanna — “Loud” (141-thousand albums)
7. Justin Bieber — “My World Acoustic” (115-thousand albums)
8. My Chemical Romance — “Danger Days: the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys” (112-thousand albums)
9. Ne-Yo — “Libra Scale” (112-thousand albums)