50 Cent reflects on 2007 album war with Kanye West with XXL

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

What 50 Cent was to 2003 was what Kanye West was to 2004. More artistic, however, Kanye West received much more praise than 50 Cent. Early in their careers, 50 Cent and Kanye West remained separate. Later, however, 50 Cent and Kanye West would begin to engage in a heated rivalry, which ended in 2009.

Starting in 2005, 50 Cent began providing commentary on nearly every move Kanye West would make. When Kanye West called out George W. Bush over his neglect to the New Orleans victims of the horrible Hurricane Katrina, 50 Cent said Kanye got his outspoken nature from him. Kanye West soon agreed to this comment.

In 2007, 50 Cent and Kanye West prepared to release their third studio albums. Experiencing several delays, both albums were scheduled for September 11 releases. Immediately turning it into a competition, 50 Cent said there was no way he would lose to Kanye West. If Kanye West sold more copies than him, 50 Cent promised to retire from rap.

50 Cent would eventually, narrowly, lose to Kanye West in the United States, but had stronger international sales. Because of this, 50 Cent did not retire, but remained in the headlines over this. Five years after this defeat, 50 Cent reflected on the competition with XXL.

Read 50 Cent’s statement below:

“At the time, I had a stronger feel for the streets [than Kanye], prior to that competition and trying to compete with each other,” he said. “That was just to build energy because Kanye [and I]…we didn’t have no beef at all. You can’t stand that close to someone and take pictures for the cover of Rolling Stone with having beef.

“That was something that we created,” he added. “Obviously, it riled the fans up in every way and the results are always bigger sales than usual. Both of the numbers were bigger than what they would have been [without the competition]. It was just great marketing.”