POP ALBUM CHART : Madonna: No. 2 With a Bullet

Rapper M.C. Hammer, with “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em,” is No. 1 on the Billboard magazine pop album chart for the third straight week, but he probably won’t make it four in a row. Hammer might be bumped by Madonna, whose “I’m Breathless” barrelled up to No. 2 in just three weeks. With the “Dick Tracy” movie campaign heating up, co-star Madonna’s album should reap the considerable publicity benefits. Johnny Gill’s album, “Johnny Gill,” inched three notches closer to the Top 10--to No. 13. Hot newcomers: Steve Vai’s “Passion and Warfare” (No. 19), Milli Vanilli’s “The Remix Album” (No. 32), Soul II Soul’s “Vol II-1990” (No. 24) and Jeff Healy’s “Hell to Pay” (No. 36 ). On the pop singles scene, Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love” is the new No. 1 single.

* The other potential No. 1 album is “Step By Step,” by New Kids on the Block, with a mighty debut at No. 14. New Kids may beat Madonna to No. 1. Also, the title song from the group’s album is No. 2 on the pop singles chart. At some point soon, the Kids will rule both pop charts.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em” 1 1 17 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 2. “I’m Breathless” 3 44 3 Madonna (Sire/Warner Bros.) 3. “I Do Not Want ... Haven’t Got” 2 .2 12 Sinead O’Connor (Chrysalis) 4. “Pretty Woman” 4 4 12 Soundtrack (EMI) 5. “Poison” 6 5 12 Bell Biv Devoe (MCA) * “Step By Step” ... ... 1 New Kids on the Block (Columbia)