[Bboy samurai]

September 14, 2007, 12:50 PM ET

Hillary Crosley, N.Y.
After weeks of public rivalry between 50 Cent and Kanye West about whose Sept. 11 album release would sell more copies, West's "Graduation" (Def Jam) has pulled into a six-figure lead over 50's "Curtis" (G-Unit/Interscope), based on projections from representatives at the four major labels. That data indicates "Graduation" leads with 781,000 units, followed by "Curtis" with 603,000.

50 Cent had claimed he would retire from making solo albums if West won the sales battle, but in an interview with Billboard, he maintains the race is still early and there is no concrete winner just yet.

"[The sales] can't be considered [any one way] anyway because it's just a few days out," he says. "I guess [the music industry] would consider me to be a hip-hop favorite because of my sales history, and people like to root for the underdog."

50 Cent also changed his tune yesterday (Sept. 13) about his threat to stop rapping. On New York's Hot 97 radio station, 50 said if West outsells him he would instead go round for round, matching G-Unit releases with Def Jam's.

"The [fans that aren't supporting me now] are the same people that supported me in the past," says 50 Cent. "The impression I gave them was so strong that they have different standards for me. When my music comes out, if it was someone else's record, it would be a hit because it spun 3,500 times. But they're looking for the hottest music out at the time from 50 Cent, so if it's not that, then they show me resistance until I deliver. I've only been in the music business for four years and I'm already receiving some backlash. That's amazing, isn't it?"


50 Cent admits he is miffed with his treatment by BET's "106 & Park" and organizers of the MTV Video Music Awards. On the former, he was upstaged by Jay-Z during an intended showdown with West, and on the latter, he says he received considerably less screen time than Kanye.

At BET on Tuesday, 50 says he could have countered the Jay-Z moment had he been informed ahead of time. "Every time I do a show, the plans change," he offers. "Now, either I'm going to know exactly what I'm doing on the show or I'm not going to go. Usually if you have a TV show and you do two songs, it's not optional for you to do two records, and another one off your album. If I knew I could've brought a special guest, I would've brought Eminem ... but that [show] is not what I needed."

"As far as the VMAs were concerned, Kanye received the upper hand. I ain't going to front," he continues. "He had four looks -- his song "Stronger," his new record "Good Life," he had a performance with Soulja Boy, "Crank Dat," and then he came out with me. So I feel like Def Jam is doing a better job of promoting the CD than Interscope. Interscope is just relying on my base and the actual music. I was on the VMAs for one minute and 20 seconds. I should've just stayed home."

Additional reporting by Ed Christman.

***Courtesy of Billboard Music Charts - Latest Music News - Music Videos

[[Sikk]]

Originally Posted by Bboy samurai I've only been in the music business for four years and I'm already receiving some backlash. That's amazing, isn't it?"

So he's ignoring all the backlash from when he first came out. Who doesn't already hate him? Promotion my ass. You can promote like crazy, people won't buy a CD that sucks. Nobody wants to spend money for that. Besides, he should be happy his shit is even selling.

[Bboy samurai]

^Yeah, I agree with that for the most part, but he actually wasn't that bad when he first came out. "Get Rich..." was actually a pretty decent album. But everything after that was pure TRASH.

But did any of you see "Diary of 50 Cent" on MTV? He was a completely different person on that documentary than he is on interviews. Weird, ain't it?

[Mr.Bboy]

send us a link of that Diary. haha.

[ScaryMovie73]

I actually just finished watching it...50 Cent is just acting every time he shows up media. "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was good, and all his other albums are just sad attempts to recreate that popularity (his albums use pretty much the same formula every time around).

It's just sad how he's changing his tone...He tried to create another conflict to create buzz (what he's done with every album) and it backfired this time.

[Bboy samurai]

Yeah, he actually SEEMS like a cool, laid-back dude. Idk. The way he was acting in that documentary was more realistic than his "antics" on BET or MTV interviews.

[dangflo]

i downloaded both albums and they were overall terrible, with the exception of a couple tracks

[PopTrunk]

Yeah, this is off topic- but I don't care.
Actually, it's not off topic because it has 50 Cent in it.

50 Cent & G-Unit hosting Rap City, last week > ALL of Rap City, since the show was born.
Well maybe not when Tigger use to host it, but since he left- last week's Rap City was the best it has ever been. Real talk.



Video 50 Cent / G-unit On Rap City (09-14-07) - 50, Cent, G-Unit, Rap, Prodigy - Dailymotion Share Your Videos

^1 day of it.
Look for the rest. They all funny as hell.

[BuddhaTEO]

kanye's stronger is shit... and 50 cent is only good to make girls dance....


but it's strange that he would think of quitting if kanye beat him coz that means he leaves the game as a loser....and now he wants to match every def jam record? that's jst his whole label playing the loser to def jam....fkn stupid dude

[Bboy samurai]

Originally Posted by dangflo i downloaded both albums and they were overall terrible, with the exception of a couple tracks

Dude, Kanye's album is pretty dope. Would you rather download Soulja Boy's album? That's what you would definitely call TERRIBLE.

[shigity]

^ LOL! yeah i like kanye's album and other rap stuff doesnt sound as good once you hear his stuff. but 50's perceptions arnet necessarily wrong. people have been giving kanye a lot of hype, as it is a good way to attract viewers/listeners. also, it is a more popular choice so it makes you look better to support kanye over 50. not saying that 50's album is inferior to kanye's though.

[Bboy samurai]

^Uh, well, 50's album actually has some good club bangers, but it's not an album you'll ever catch me purchasing.

[[Sikk]]

So who's getting the new Percee P album?

[dbaznxdragon]

Originally Posted by PopTrunk Yeah, this is off topic- but I don't care. Actually, it's not off topic because it has 50 Cent in it. 50 Cent & G-Unit hosting Rap City, last week > ALL of Rap City, since the show was born. Well maybe not when Tigger use to host it, but since he left- last week's Rap City was the best it has ever been. Real talk. Video 50 Cent / G-unit On Rap City (09-14-07) - 50, Cent, G-Unit, Rap, Prodigy - Dailymotion Share Your Videos ^1 day of it. Look for the rest. They all funny as hell.

all 50 did on that show was make beef with everyone else who's big rite now...o_O

i guess some things ppl will never change

[Transcendent]

Originally Posted by shigity not saying that 50's album is inferior to kanye's though.

yeah it is...