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Kanye vs. 50 - Who wins?

Written by Art Michalski

Tuesday, 11 September 2007

Today is a day of reckoning in the hip-hop world. I don’t know if this is Book of Revelations material, but the battle for hip-hop supremacy will hit a climatic point as the third albums from Kanye West and 50 Cent arrive in stores today.
When we last left these artists, one was being hailed as a revolutionary and the other was seen as a marketing machine with falling street cred. Today, all credibility issues and future record sales are on the line as West’s Graduation album and 50’s Curtis album will undoubtedly be #1 and #2 their first week out on the charts.
There has also been many things said between the two combatants, with West complimenting 50 on his album, and 50 responding illogically that he would “never make another solo record again” if West’s new album topped his sales.
Its now time to put up or shut up, and at MyCityBuzz, we tell you why Kanye and 50 will and will not win this battle for rap dominance. Here is our take on this battle:

Kanye West
New Album: Graduation
Sales of Last Record: Late Registration - 3 million copies (2005)
Why Kanye Will Win: West’s first single, “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” didn’t really go anywhere on the charts. But his chart luck changed by hooking up with French techno mavens Daft Punk to help out with the new single “Stronger.” The new single has reached #6 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart and is continuing to rise in digital single sales. The buzz is growing for the record among more educated hip-hop fans, and ones that will buy records. Guests include Chris Martin from Coldplay and Mos Def. Plus, a cameo on “Entourage” will only score him points with hipsters everywhere.
Why Kanye Won’t Win: Kanye thew a temper tantrum backstage at the MTV Music Video Awards show the other night, vowing never to return again to MTV after he lost in all five categories that he was nominated for. Considering the influence that MTV has on artist's success, that's not a smart declaration by West. Also, there is a chance that “Stronger” could be a massive digital single and not translate to big album sales and the album could fail to live up to Late Registration.
Opening Week Sales Prediction: 450,000 copies.

50 Cent
New Album: Curtis
Sales Of Last Record: The Massacre - 5.1 million copies (2005)
Why 50 Will Win: 50 Cent may not attract the more educated hip-hop fans, but he seems to have more of a grip on the younger crowd. The guy has had hit single after hit single since the massive debut “In The Club” to “P.I.M.P.” to “Candy Shop.” Let’s face it, the guy can grab the avid fan and have them dancing in the club (no pun intended). Plus, new single “Ayo Technology” is rising into the Top 15 on the Billboard Singles charts and having Justin Timberlake on the track doesn’t hurt things. His next single is with Robin Thicke, who is definitely on a hot streak right now.
Why 50 Won’t Win: Unfortunately, there is a lot not going right for Fiddy. The mass marketing of everything from watches to Vitamin Water destroyed a lot of street cred. Plus, before the “Ayo” single, his two previous singles flopped miserably on radio and sales wise. With his movie underachieving and detractors growing, the once king of the streets seems tame and kid-friendly. That’s not so gangsta.
Opening Week Sales Prediction: 520,000 copies.

That’s right, I do predict that Fiddy’s album will top Kanye’s album in the first week. I have a skeptical feeling how those numbers will hold throughout the next several months. But I do believe that Kanye West’s album will be far superior lyrically and sonically than 50’s cameo-laden album.
Part of me wants to see Kanye whoop him so 50 never makes another record again. But part of me wants to see 50 skip this album and regain his edge that he has almost completely lost.
But no matter what happens, both of these records will be better than the High School Musical 2 soundtrack.

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