Beyonce debuts at No. 1

It was surely Beyonce Knowles’ destiny to see her solo debut enter the album chart at No. 1. To no one’s surprise, the Destiny’s Child frontwoman’s ”Dangerously in Love” debuted in the top spot of the Billboard chart and sold some 317,000 copies, according to SoundScan. Apparently, it was also Beyonce’s destiny to force Michelle Branch, who released her sophomore album this week, to settle for second place. Branch’s ”Hotel Paper” debuted at No. 2 with sales of 157,000. The week’s other top 10 debut belonged to Southern rappers Three 6 Mafia, who sold 95,000 copies of Da Unbreakables and entered the chart in fourth place. Rounding out the top five were Luther Vandross’ ”Dance With My Father” (down one spot to No. 3) and Metallica’s ”St. Anger” (down two to land in fifth place).

Last week’s chart topper, Monica’s ”After the Storm,” fell to No. 7 in its second week. Holding in place were 50 Cent’s ”Get Rich or Die Tryin”’ (No. 6) and Evanescence’s ”Fallen” (No. 8). Norah Jones’ ”Come Away With Me” spent its 70th week on the chart at No. 9, down two from last week. Annie Lennox’s comeback ”Bare” slipped five slots to No. 10. The soundtrack to ”Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” featuring Pink, Pharrell Williams, Nas, Nickelback, and Kid Rock, mustered only a No. 14 debut with less-than-celestial sales of 50,000.