Lloyd Banks’ ‘Hunger’ gets him to No. 1

Lloyd Banks, a cohort of 50 Cent in the group G Unit, leads a hip-hop assault on the national pop charts this week with his album “The Hunger for More.”

The rapper’s CD entered the charts at No. 1 after selling 434,000 copies in its first week in stores.

“I came on the scene with the golden stamp on me,” Banks has said of 50 Cent’s endorsement. “I jumped over all those hurdles that new artists usually have to deal with.” Banks and 50 Cent grew up in the same Jamaica, Queens, New York City neighborhood, and 50 Cent’s enormous success opened a door for both G Unit and Banks. G Unit’s “Beg for Mercy” has sold almost 2.4 million copies since its release late last year. It is No. 115 on this week’s chart.

The other hip-hop entries in the Top 10: Jadakiss, whose “Kiss of Death” placed No. 4 after selling 122,000 copies in its second week in stores; Lil’ Wayne’s “Carter,” No. 5 with sales of 116,000 in its first week, and the Beastie Boys’ “To the 5 Boroughs,” which is No. 6, selling 92,000 copies in its third week.

Pop-R&B; singer Brandy’s new “Afrodisiac” album debuted at No. 3 with first-week sales of 131,000 copies, while Usher’s “Confessions” continues to run away with the 2004 album sales crown. His CD sold another 148,000 copies last week to finish second on this week’s chart. The album’s total sales now top 4.6 million.