NEWS: Nas Dethrones Lil Wayne Atop Billboard 200

One rapper replaces another atop The Billboard 200 this week, as Nas' untitled Def Jam album dethrones Lil Wayne's Cash Money/Universal set Tha Carter III. Nas' controversial album sold 187,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming the rapper's fifth No. 1.

Nas' prior album, 2006's Hip-Hop Is Dead, also debuted at No. 1 but sold 354,000 over Christmas week. Meanwhile, after three non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, Tha Carter III slips to No. 2 with a 15% sales decrease to 105,000.

David Banner debuts right behind at No. 8 with his third straight top 10 studio album, The Greatest Story Ever Told (SRC/Universal), shifting 52,000. His previous set, 2005's Certified, peaked at No. 6.