Greatest Of All Time: Ll Cool J Gets First No. 1

With four new releases jumping into the top 10 of the Billboard 200, the fall season is off to a good start for the recording industry.

Hip-hop veteran LL Cool J's first album in three years, "G.O.A.T.," debuts at No. 1, ending Nelly's five-week reign at the top. His Def Jam release scanned 208,650 units, pushing Nelly's "Country Grammar" (Universal) to No. 2 on 187,600 copies sold, according to SoundScan figures for the week ending Sept. 17 obtained from industry sources.

"This is LL's first pop No. 1 album out of his nine albums," Def Jam/Def Soul Records president Kevin Liles said. "Fifteen years ago, when he made his first record, and even now, all he wants to do is make quality music. … He's probably one of the most recognized artists in hip-hop right now."

Of the album's title, which stands for "Greatest of All Time," Liles said, "I don't mind him claiming that he's the greatest because if he doesn't do it, no one else will."

Universal Music Group's family of labels scores the top four albums and six of the top 10.

"Nathan/Michael/Shawn/ Wanya," Boyz II Men's first album in three years and their first for Universal Records, debuts at No. 4 on 133,000 copies sold, while Canadian pop-rock group Barenaked Ladies' "Maroon" (Warner Bros. Records) comes in at No. 5 on 127,900 units scanned.

Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" (Interscope/Aftermath) slips a notch to No. 3 on 153,450 units sold, and Britney Spears' Jive release "Oops! … I Did It Again" falls four notches to No. 7, scanning 120,125 units vs. 142,600 the previous week.

Creed's BMG/Wind-Up release "Human Clay" drops two spots to No. 6, adding 127,300 units, while 'N Sync's "No Strings Attached" falls three places to No. 8 on 102,075 units scanned. The boy band's Jive release has sold more than 8 million copies since its March release.

Universal Records' alternative rock band 3 Doors Down drops two spots to No. 9 with its debut album, "The Better Life," which moved 93,175 units vs. 101,600 the previous week, while Universal Music Enterprises' pop compilation album "NOW That's What I Call Music 4" falls four places to No. 10, adding 86,750 units.

Other notable debuts this week include Too $hort's "You Nasty" (No. 12), Universal Records' soundtrack to "Baller Blockin' " (No. 13), the Corrs' "In Blue" (No. 21), Andrea Bocelli's "Verdi" (No. 23) and Christina Aguilera's Spanish-language debut "Mi Reflejo" (No. 27).