Indie rapper Mac Miller’s first album, “Blue Slide Park,” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 144,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

While it didn’t shift as much as some industry sources had expected ( 180,000 was the projection), he still can lay claim to a pretty cool chart feat: “Blue Slide Park” is the first independently distributed debut album by an act to hit No. 1 since 1995.

The last (and only previous one) was Tha Dogg Pound’s “Dogg Food.” It started in the penthouse on the Nov. 18, 1995, chart with 278,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “Dogg” was released on Death Row/Interscope, but independently distributed via Priority. “Blue Slide” is a Rostrum Records release, distributed by INgrooves via Fontana Distribution (Universal Music Group Distribution’s indie arm).

“Blue Slide” is the second indie-distributed No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this year, following Cake’s “Showroom of Compassion.” The latter arrived atop the tally on the Jan. 29 list. Last year, we saw three indie leaders: Vampire Weekend’s “Contra,” the charity compilation “Hope for Haiti Now” and Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs.”

Behind Miller is a surging Michael Buble, whose “Christmas” album rises 8-2 with 123,000 and a 38% sales gain. It’s a new peak for the set, which started at No. 3 two weeks ago. While it’s unlikely Buble will hit No. 1 next week (as Drake’s “Take Care” should arrive atop the list), expect “Christmas” to perform strongly through the holiday season.

The new “Now 40” hits compilation bows at No. 3 this week with 119,000 while the “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1” soundtrack enters at No. 4 with 105,000. The latter should see a gain next week, following the movie’s premiere in theaters on Nov. 18.

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