For the second consecutive week, the Beastie Boys’ Capitol Records disc “Hello Nasty” topped the nation’s album sales chart.

The disc, which last week logged the largest first-week bow of the year, saw its second-week tally drop by more than half to 315,000 copies for the period ended July 26.

Such a drop had been expected by label execs in light of the disc’s potent bow on the chart following its first six days on sale.

The Beastie Boys were among a handful of hip-hop albums on the upper rungs of the chart, including bows from Jermaine Dupri, Wu-Tang Killa and newcomer Cam’ron.

At No. 2 was the soundtrack to “Armageddon,” marking its second week in that slot.

The Columbia Records/Sony Music Soundtrax disc went home with 243,000 consumers, which represented a 10,000-unit uptick from the previous chart. It also crossed the 1 million-unit plateau in just its fourth week of release.

“Life in 1472,” the So So Def/Columbia Records disc from Jermaine Dupri, landed at No. 3 on sales of 162,000 copies.

The heavily publicized disc is also benefiting by radio’s acceptance of the single “Money Ain’t a Thang,” which features Dupri and Jay-Z.

At No. 4 was “Swarm” by Wu-Tang Killa, which nabbed a 140,000-copy tally for the Priority Records disc.

Though “City of Angels” has largely faded, the Warner-Sunset/Reprise Records soundtrack is still racking up strong sales. The disc slid a slot to No. 5 but posted a healthy 138,000-unit tally.

“Confessions of Fire” from newcomer Cam’ron debuted at No. 6 on sales of 107,000 copies. “Horse & Carriage,” the kickoff track of the Untertainment/Epic Records disc, also features Bad Boy/Arista Records’ artist Mase.

Despite a four-post drop, “Stunt,” the third disc from Reprise Records’ Barenaked Ladies, showed plenty of life with its 93,000-copy tally in its third week of release.

A strong presence at the box office is helping to fuel sales of the soundtrack to TriStar’s “The Mask of Zorro,” which registered a 77-slot jump. The Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtrax disc, which went home with 17,000 consumers, is getting a boost from the rising profile of the duet between Latin music heartthrob Marc Anthony and Tina Arena, who warble the ballad “I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You.”