Kanye, 50 Cent release CDs on same day

Kanye West versus 50 Cent. It's the hip-hop fight of the fittest for the hottest album. On the cover of his album, 50 Cent is hunched over in shadows with his hands on his head and his eyes starring out with a cynical glare.

Kanye's cover has a colorful scene of a teddy bear being shot out of a spaceship with his animal friends waving goodbye from the top of the vessel.

50 Cent dresses gangster, Kanye prep. 50 Cent is from the streets and Kanye from the suburb. So anyone could see these two artists have little in common other than the Sept. 11 release of their new CDs.

With 50 Cent releasing "Curtis," and Kanye "Graduation," the third album for both rappers, a rivalry has broken out against the two artists to claim the hip-hop throne.

"Let's raise the stakes," 50 Cent told MSNCBC. "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on Sept. 11, I'll no longer write music."

He later said he would still write and make music with other artists, but he would not have another solo album. In an attempt to justify his bet, he claimed West has never come close to his own albums in sales in the past. But in 2005, 50 Cent's "The Massacre" sold 1.14 million albums, while West opened "Late Registration" with a close 860,000.

Because they chose the release date of Sept. 11, the rappers have been

arguing back and forth. But, according to recent CD sales statistics, "Graduation" has a comfortable lead with 781,000 copies sold, with "Curtis" following at 603,000.

So, it appears that Mr. Cent should be getting his goodbye speech ready.

This beef between the two artists seems more like a marketing ploy than a true rivalry, and 50 Cent is eating it up.

50 Cent has perfected entertainment, inside and around his albums. His voice and his lyrics are hypnotic and unique, forcing all ears to draw in on the music and bob their heads. Being a fan of his older music, I walked away from "Curtis" disappointed. The album didn't have that definitive song that dominates the radio and billboards. And it doesn't offer tunes like "Candy Shop" and "In Da Club" that you might sing in the shower.

Kanye West's "Graduation" is a hip-hop persona-breaker. His music is anything but gangster, but every bit creative.

Where 50 Cent lacked with lyrics that only talked about violence, sex and the streets. West's music is intelligent and uses witty phrases amidst rhymes that are sometimes strange but other times beautiful. Despite West's famous arrogance that is laced all throughout this album, I can't deny him credit for being different and rapping, not about murder, drugs, or obscene amounts of money, but issues that people actually care about. In this fight for top hip-hop artist, Kanye West wins this round.