Kanye Prevails in Battle of the Hip-Hop Stars

It's still early, but Graduation is outselling 50 Cent's Curtis

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2007 10:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – In the much-hyped battled between two music titans, early sales indicate hip-hop fans are going West. Kanye West’s latest album, Graduation, has been outselling rival 50 Cent’s Curtis—by 2 to 1 at one Hollywood store, the LA Times reports—since the two went on sale yesterday. Fitty, 32, famously threatened to retire if West’s album sales bested his.

On Amazon.com, West doubled 50 Cent’s sales. But in previous years, when the two didn’t go head-to-head, Fitty’s sale numbers have been higher. One industry analyst says West’s pop-rap jives appeal to more people, explaining his “base seems to be a little broader than 50’s.” Still, music sales are down, and hip-hop has been the hardest hit, dropping over 20%.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

50 Cent, right, and Kanye West present an award at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Associated Press)

50 Cent, right, and Kanye West face off before they present an award at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Hotel and Casino on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Associated Press)

Park" on Tuesday, Sept. 11,2007 when both their heavily anticipated albums hit the stores.(AP Photo/Brian Kersey) (Associated Press)

Rapper 50 Cent performs "Amusement Park" at the BET Awards on June 26, 2007, in Los Angeles. He believes his new album will outsell Kanye West's upcoming disc, and he's betting his solo career on it.... (Associated Press)

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Kanye Prevails in Battle of the Hip-Hop Stars