via Showbiz 411

What happened to rap? It’s off the charts with two minor exceptions: a sluggish new album from 50 Cent, and an oldish album at the bottom of the charts by SchoolBoyQ.

What’s in? Pop, Pop R&B, white kids, black kids who sound white. Led Zeppelin reisssued its first three albums from 196-1972. They are all in the new top 40 albums and sold a total more than 60,000 copies total. Yikes.

Is rock back? Heavy rock too?

Not selling: Mariah Carey’s “Me I Am Mariah” and Michael Jackson’s “Xscape.” The latter at least had a couple of good weeks. Mariah’s CD, with great reviews and terrific tracks, has gone nowhere.

Country albums take four of the top 10 spots this week: Miranda Lambert is number 1, followed by Brantley Gilbert and Lucy Hale. A country compilation, “Now Country 7,” is also in the top 10.

So is the soundtrack to “The Fault in Our Stars,” which will finish in 2nd place this week.

But real rap? It’s been on the downslide for a while. Jay Z had a hit only with Justin Timberlake singing around him last winter. No one knows how many copies Jay Z’s “Magna Carta” actually sold because it was given away with Samsung phones.

Kanye West’s “Yeezus” really yielded no actual hits, but was a loss leader for his tour.

Missy Elliott’s been missing a long time. Rappers like Lil Wayne have come and gone.

Maybe the rap audience tired of their stars singing about “Mo Money, Mo Problems” during a recession, no jobs, etc. It’s hard to sympathize with someone who’s complaining about their Bentley.

Next major sort of rap release: Common, the very talented actor and composer, on July 22nd.