Remember the infamous battle between rappers 50 Cent and Kanye West last year?
The one where 50 Cent made a bet on his career, and swore he would retire if his album Curtis didn’t outsell Kanye’s Graduation (both were released the same week)? 50 Cent ended up losing the bet, and no he didn’t retire. But the rappers are already gearing up for round two before the year is out.
The rematch of the century won’t take place at Caesars Place in Vegas, or on pay per view, but will rather once again be fought out in record stores this December.
That’s when the two arch-rivals will again release new albums within weeks of each other, just as they did in September of 2007. Kanye West’s 808’s and Heartbreak has been confirmed for a December 16 release date on Def Jam. Meanwhile, 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct hits record stores a week earlier on December 9 via Interscope.
Kanye West has already previewed his album’s first single, “Love Lockdown,” on the recently televised MTV Video Music Awards, and the single is doing brisk business as a download at Apple’s iTunes Music Store. 50 Cent has likewise been performing a new song, “Burn” at recent concert appearances.
All bets aside, the fate of the record industry could well rest on both albums, never mind the rappers own respective careers. Music sales have been down for 2008, due in no small part to the lack of superstar releases this year. Record labels are counting on a turnaround during the traditionally busy Christmas buying season.
Albums by Metallica, AC/DC, and the Killers are expected to lead the charge, while it is hoped that Kanye, 50 Cent, and a rumored new Eminem release will close out the year on a high note. A new U2 album originally set for November has now been pushed back to next spring.
