Kanye vs. 50 Cent
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Interscope | Rocafella
Kanye West vs. 50 Cent
Both Kanye West and 50 Cent are known for their controversies as much as for their music. Now, they're going up against each other to see who sells more when they each release new albums this fall. So we did our own MC Battle. Let's see who comes out on top in our ring.
More of Kanye and 50 Cent:
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Interscope | Rocafella
Round One
Street Cred
It may be passé to us, but a lot of hip-hop stars still care about street cred. 50 grew up in Queens and started dealing crack after his mom was murdered, only to get shot nine times later on. Kanye's from a middle-class family in Chi-town, and dropped out of college to pursue music.
Winner: 50 CentMore Hip-Hop:
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Getty Images | Zuma Press
Round Two
The Mentors
Kanye West broke out by producing tracks on Jay-Z's record 'The Blueprint,' and was later added to the Roc-A-Fella family. While 50 Cent was initially mentored by legend Jam Master Jay, it was Eminem and Dr. Dre who put him in the spotlight and made him what he is now. This is tough, so ...
Winner: TieMore Jay-Z and his GF RED:
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Rocafella | Interscope
Round Three
First Albums
Kanye and 50 Cent both had tough times being taken seriously as rappers, but got off to good starts. Kanye's debut record, 'The College Dropout,' hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and grabbed Grammys in '05 for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song. 50's 'Get Rich or Die Tryin,' meanwhile, didn't win him a Grammy, but got more awards -- and buzz -- than we can list.
Winner: 50 CentMore Hip-Hop:
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Jim Cooper, AP (2)
Round Four
Their Record Labels
During the surge of 50 Cent's initial popularity, Interscope gave him his own label, G-Unit, to which he signed artists like Lloyd Banks and Young Buck. Kanye West had his own imprint, GOOD Records. But while GOOD released Grammy-nominated albums from John Legend and Common (two of our faves), Sony BMG later dropped it.
Winner: 50 Cent -
Getty Images | AP
Round Five
Politics
Kanye's known among music fans for his big mouth. But it was when he excoriated Pres. Bush on national TV for his inaction following Hurricane Katrina that his mouth became known across the country. Soon after, 50 spoke up in favor of Bush, but later questioned the president's compassion. We just want them to decide what they're talking about.
Winner: KanyeMore Celeb Faceoffs on RED:
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Universal | Getty Images
Round Six
'Late Registration' vs. 'The Massacre' Sophomore albums are usually let-downs -- but not for these two. Kanye West's 'Late Registration' earned him eight Grammy nominations and the first two singles sold more than 860,000 units in the first week. 50 Cent's 'Massacre,' though, sold 1.14 million copies in the first four days alone and he broke a record by having three songs on in the charts' top five in the same week.
Winner: TieMore Hip-Hop on RED:
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AOL Music | Paramount
Round Seven
Outside Ventures
While 50 Cent's starring role in the semi-autobiographical film 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' was a clear step towards being a double threat, that's not all: He's got outside projects galore, plus his own firm, G-Unit Films. Kanye, on the other hand, produces hits for just about everyone in the music biz, plus promises a new TV series. Kanye's producing skills trump 50's acting:
Winner: KanyeMore Double Threats on RED:
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Getty Images (2)
Round Eight
Personal Lives
In August '07, Kanye West's on the cover of Bazaar Magazine with his gorgeous fiancé, designer Alexis Phifer. 50 Cent, on the other hand, has a son with a former girlfriend. He credits his son, Marquise, with changing his outlook on life and helping shape his priorities.
Winner: 50 CentMore Celebrity Faceoffs:
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WireImage.com | AP
Round Nine
Other Feuds
These two are loose cannons. 50's already had well-known beefs with Ja Rule and The Game. Kanye has thrown tantrums on stage and is in a lawsuit with famed stunt biker Evil Kneivel, whose likeness he imitates in the 'Touch the Sky' video. Wearing a onepiece shiny suit takes guts, plus he's a little crazy.
Winner: KanyeMore Celebrity Drama:
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WireImage.com | AP
Round Ten
Kanye vs. 50 Cent
With respective histories of throwing down, it's really no wonder that now Kanye West's and 50 Cent are competing against each other. Fiddy upped the ante, telling SOHH.com: "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer write music. I'll write music and work with my other artists, but I won't put out any more solo albums." Right. Just like Jay-Z 'retired.' And nice third person, there, 50.
Winner: Kanye WestMore Celeb Faceoffs:
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Getty Images (2)
The Winner!
Wow ... Kanye West is scrawny compared to his nemesis, but he held his own 'til the end and just squeaked by. The artists can battle all they want -- but we know who our champ is now. Who do you think should have won? Vote on the next page.
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Who do you think won the fight? Vote now!
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