How do music artists today battle continuously-dropping album sales? The answer is quite simple: They get together, mastermind a feud and release their highly-anticipated albums on the same exact day.
Throw in a threat to retire if one artist outsells the other, and the world goes into frenzy.
Hip-hop titans Kanye West and 50 Cent, in a stroke of business brilliance, released their albums ” Graduation” and “Curtis” respctively, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007. 50 Cent even said that he would retire if West outsold him in the first week of their album releases.
Both stars also appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, on BET’s 106 and Park and MTV’s Video Music Awards, adding sparks to their media feud.
According to Billboard estimates, West is predicted to sell between 575,000 and 700,000 copies in his first week. On the otherhand, 50 Cent may reach 550,000.
Both artists, however, have hurdles to overcome before the sales are finalized.
“I don’t think it’s helped 50 that many of these pre-release singles that have come out have fizzled on the charts right away,” Jonathan Cohen, Billboard’s senior editor, told the Associated Press. “There were street date changes.
“It has not been a good run-up to this record for him,” he said.
As for West’s “media tantrums,” Cohen said, “These tantrums [West] goes on, these outlandish comments he makes, they don’t really hurt him. If anything, they’ve got more people interested in what he’s all about.”
But sales results are coming in, and it looks as if 50 Cent faces an early retirement. As of Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, West’s “Graduation” has sold around 600,000 copies while 50 Cent’s “Curtis” has only sold 430,000 copies.
Many Fairfield students who were interviewed were not surprised with the results.
Asked why she liked West more than 50 Cent, Jessica Fortilus ’11 said, “There’s more content in Kanye’s music. He writes about stuff that is more important than material stuff.”
“Kanye is better,” said Devin Johnson ’10. “I think 50’s wack.”
Danielle Pettway ’11 agreed.
“Definitely Kanye West ’cause you can actually call his music music,” she said. “50’s is just talk, that’s all he is.”
“A few years ago I would say I like 50 more, but after listening to both new albums I would say Kanye’s the better lyricist,” said Edwin Muniz ’11.
Muniz added, “Kanye actually talks about a cause. He talks about something real.”
“Kanye’s music is geared toward both males and females. I don’t know too many girls who listen to 50,” said Sean Donovan ’11.
Fairfield students had similar opinions on why they thought Kanye is a better music artist.
“I just think everyone’s heard 50’s songs before they came out,” said Johnson.
“50’s a generic rapper. He’s always talking about cars, girls, sex,” said Fortilus. “I mean, talk about something meaningful.”
“He’s [50 cent] always trying to go after somebody to start something,” said Pettaway. “He’s a hype. He likes the attention.”
Donovan added, “50 just talks about shooting things.”
Although the final sales data won’t be finalized until Sept. 18, many fans forsee West’s hip-hop victory.
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