What's beef?
But whys, wheres and whatever-whatevers aren't what the business is. We all know it's about who, ultimately, takes home the title. Now that's hip hop.
So here's the evidence - a timeline of the beef and a few songs to stream. After weighing the evidence, we want to know: who will emerge the victor? You tell us.
July 13: 50's album Curtis is moved from its original September 4th release date, to September 11th. His single, "I Get Money," debuts on Hot 97.
July 19: Kanye decides to drop Graduation on September 11th instead of September 18th, causing him to go head-to-head with 50 and spurring on the rivalry.
August 9: 50 is said to erupt at the G-Unit office after the song and video for "Ayo Technology" leak. He reportedly throws his cell phone through a window and rips out a plasma TV.
August 10: 50 Cent says he'll quit rapping if Kanye's Graduation outsells Curtis.
August 17: Kanye taunts 50 on a British talk show, "The Friday Night Project," saying, "Please, 50, don't retire once my album sells and beats your album."
August 22: 50 and Kanye, along with Jay-Z, Diddy, and T.I., make hip hop history by performing together at the Screamfest '07 show in New York.
August 28: Kanye holds the Graduation listening party at Manhattan's New World Stages. The session includes a light show, with silent films playing as a backdrop to each song.
August 30: Graduation is mysteriously leaked online. Later that same day, Curtis leaks. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton suggests that 50 leaked his own album to avoid going head to head with Kanye on September 11.
Stream 50's "I'll Still Kill"
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Comments
1.
lindsay says:
CHRIS BROWN IS SEXY
October 12, 2007 at 12:53 pm
2.
tansion says:
i do not believe in competition but i believe in talent.50 and west still my best hardcore reappers.long live hip pop.
October 2, 2007 at 11:34 pm
3.
don pormore says:
the two r my home bouyz and wat we gonn do if its like this and like that.ehhhhhh kanye and ohhhhh 50 i luv ya'll.dont do it .da don pormore-still like a soldier.
October 1, 2007 at 10:21 am
4.
Christopher Okot says:
50 still remains best
September 30, 2007 at 2:29 am
5.
G-unit4life says:
FO FITTY
i raise my hands for the man while i stand watchin fitty rack in grand after grand...f**k knaye..i bet hes gay..he got nuthn on fitty, fitty runs dis game...this unknown kanye rapper..hes lame
so get up on your feet while all of kanyes music leaks.....like i said...get up out yo seets and word out to 50 and swiss beats ;)
September 24, 2007 at 12:43 pm
6.
tex says:
Ahhh anybody who likes 50 are ones who are still leaving in the fake world of wannabe ganstas man..rap about something different like ye or tupac... Mm use to do it but he converted to the other dumb rappers
September 20, 2007 at 1:53 pm
7.
mike says:
tro fort!!!
September 19, 2007 at 10:26 am
8.
EzE says:
Geoff why would u write your real name? I could search your name up and find out where you live, find out what school you go to and beat the crap out of you....by the way....go jackrabbits.........................
September 17, 2007 at 11:35 pm
9.
shorty says:
50 U MA BABY AND I DONT CARE WAT KANYE WEST SAY HE AINT NOBODY U KNOW U BETTER THAN HIS LITTLE STINKIE AZZ
September 17, 2007 at 10:40 am
10.
SLY says:
HAHAHAH, 50CENT IS GOING NO WHERE, BECOS WE ALL KNOW'S THAT KANYE WEST IS THE DON, THE HARD CORE RAPER EVER KNOW IN THE HISTORY OF HIP HOP. GO CHICK THE VOTE, 50 CENT 33% WHY KANYE WEST 67%.HAHAHA.......PA 50 I GOING TO ADVICE YOU, YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHOUT AND GO TO THE ZOO TO PLAY WITH OTHER GORILARS LIKE YOU. LOVE GOES TO MY GEES, 2PAC,SNOOP.N.W.A,ICE CUBE AND E-EAZY E, AND MY LOVE THE GAME. WE PIMP PIMP WEST SIDE TILL D.I.E.
September 15, 2007 at 3:26 pm
11.
Neza says:
lmao @ Giggs, by 50's CD because 50 sells water. Wow, that has to be the most ridiculous statement I have read in awhile. What possible reason could you have for promoting 50's CD just because he sells vitawater, that has nothing at all to do with musical talent. Unless 50 is going to infuse his gangsta techniques he used in the boardroom with the suits into his lyrics.
" yeah Imma G, I got my lawyer to my left accountant to my right snacks in the meeting washed it down with Sprite."
September 14, 2007 at 5:26 pm
12.
anonymous says:
yo giggs it ain't about the $$ fool its about the Music that y ppl like you buy shit like 50's for the $$
September 14, 2007 at 4:07 pm
13.
TDB says:
I personally don't believe sales have any relation to who is the better MC. There are plenty of slept on underground cats that can rip with the best of 'em. You could argue that both 50 and Ye have a large fanbase of dumbass youngins that dont know shit from shit. Regardless of skill and talent, its all big business and marketing these days...
That said, big yaself 'Ye for having the balls to challenge "King 50" [please don't kid yourself Curtis]... I think a lot of heads are sick and tired of 50 and G-U-Not [and the whack hip-pop these days]. For a so-called 'concious rapper' to challenge the so-called 'thug' is intriguing. I personally think Ye is infinitely more creative and talented both as an MC AND producer. If the latest sales stats are any indicator I am not alone...
As of 9-14 12:50pm, Billboard data indicates "Graduation" leads with 781,000 units, followed by "Curtis" with 603,000.
50 who?
September 14, 2007 at 2:02 pm
14.
nicole says:
WELL IT WAS A GOOD PUBLICITY STUNT BUT WE ALL KNOW KANYE GON LEAVE 50 IN THA DUST.
September 14, 2007 at 9:32 am
15.
Rocker Fellow says:
I've listened to 50's track: Ayo technology and it's out of this world. Long story shot: Kanye aint got shit on 50!
September 14, 2007 at 2:25 am
16.
Jói says:
Now...This is just wierd..we know that 50's rapp i like realy hardcore but doe's that sell ? kanye's is real..2pac wuz the realest in the hiphop game whos 2 judge ?well i'm not saying whos better..only tell me who winns..THUGLIFE!!-Icelandic Hiphop-!!
September 13, 2007 at 4:39 pm
17.
giggs says:
name 1 dude u no who gets money off of water???????????????um 50..y caz hes duh man everybdy needs to go get "CURTIS" instead of waitin 4 kanye to get hiz money rite
September 13, 2007 at 11:55 am
18.
giggs says:
50 dosent need 2 worry about kanye..50 the richest man in duh indusry..its no competiton
September 13, 2007 at 11:47 am
19.
50 says:
50 is def. better then kanye....please
September 13, 2007 at 9:46 am
20.
Jugglin' T says:
Before I comment I must say the comment by 50 Million Cents was the illest. On the debate, I'm def with Kanye. He's the better of the two no matter what the record sales say.
September 13, 2007 at 7:21 am
21.
gjhjhfhjhb says:
xgdfgsvxkcjx
September 13, 2007 at 3:32 am
22.
50 million cents says:
by album sales: 50's on fire. kanye's on ash
by skills: 50's hard to the core, kanye's melodic
by hip hop: 50's in the business. kanye's in the history
September 13, 2007 at 1:05 am
23.
Diana says:
50= more records sold
Kanye= critical acclaim
September 12, 2007 at 11:23 pm
24.
Diana says:
I dont know whos album will win but if I had to choose I'd say most likely 50's. But I can guarantee that Kanye album is gonna be better.
Its damn near fact that Kanye is more about quality where as 50 just wanna sell records. He'd sell his damn soul to be on top. Kanye will sacrifice his career just to make a statement i.e. him not showin' up to TRL. That would've been good publicity for him but he felt wronged so he wasn't havin' it.
September 12, 2007 at 11:21 pm
25.
illlstilll says:
I'm not a huge Kanye fan, but I love how he almost always tries to get a message across. I downloaded 50's new album, heard it once all the way through, then deleted it. Uneventful, unoriginal, same old crap on every track. I've never like 50 cause he never puts anything into his verses, he's only talking. Anyone can talk ontop of a sick beat that someone else made.
September 12, 2007 at 10:29 pm
26.
kriskris says:
nigga i got both cd's and kanye's shit is raw that nigga is lyrical and the beats iz crazy so yall hateas talkin bout dont buy his album just so he dont get paid need 2 calm that shit down.
50cents cd is strait i mean its a couple songs on there that are different and was real the rest iz just like his last album
top 3.on 50'cd is fire,ill still kill and follow my lead
top 3.on kanye's is big brother,good life,and the intro
September 12, 2007 at 9:48 pm
27.
Shante says:
Kanye album sounds a lot better than 50. If you are into guns, killing, and getting shot, than maybe 50 cd would be the better one. Kanye rapping skills have improved on this one and this is the better one.
September 12, 2007 at 9:06 pm
28.
Zack says:
team 50 all the way. Kanye is an instigator. Hes insecure about something. Kanye, youi wanna come out of the closet?
September 12, 2007 at 9:01 pm
29.
KANYE SUCKS says:
KANYE SUCKS! KANYE SUCKS! KANYE SUCKS! KANYE SUCKS!
lol
September 12, 2007 at 8:37 pm
30.
GGGGG-UNIT! says:
50 CENT IS THE BEST! HIS CD IS BETTER THAN KANYE'S, DONT BUY KANYE! BOOTLEG HIS STUFF SO HE DONT MAKE MONEY :)
September 12, 2007 at 8:36 pm
31.
BPTREALESTNON says:
THESE VIDEO CHANNELS NEED TO PLAY MORE VIDEO STOP PUTTIN ON WACK SHOW ALREADY PUT THAT ON A DIFF CHANNEL .WE NEED MORE VIDEOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
September 12, 2007 at 8:34 pm
32.
50 RULES FUCK KANYE says:
I dont like Kanye, i dont like his music, i dont like the way he talks shit abuot 50 when he would get destroyed by him in a real beef, and 50 is going to outsell him, no doubt about that, because everywhere 50 is sold out and Kanye still has like 10 on the shelf.
September 12, 2007 at 8:34 pm
33.
Acc says:
50 might sing about b**ches liquor etc, but hes still a better rapper. Kanye is a damn good producer, but his rapping just isnt that good, and he depends on good production and guest rappers for good songs. 50 is more raw, and though his productions still damn good (why wouldnt it be when youre a f*cking millionaire?), his rappings still the illest.
That said, kanye will sell more because at this point he has more mainstream appeal (most notably from white suburban kids).
My opinion? 50's rappings better but there's only a few songs on there i'd actually lsiten to. 50 could have owned ye, but f*cked up his chance.
September 12, 2007 at 1:08 pm
34.
Cheryl says:
Sorry, it should say "50 will win only if people don't want to listen to intellectual music." The youngins' who still want to hear about liquor and b*&ches will download the music for free anyway. Wise up Fifty.
September 12, 2007 at 12:54 pm
35.
Cheryl says:
50 will will only, and I quote him "people don't want to listen to intellectual sh*&. 50 is still "b**chin and ho'in. He needs to grow up in his music. Kanye is a trip, but the OG hip hop fans are grown-ups with degrees, careers and children...the intellectuals.
September 12, 2007 at 12:50 pm
36.
Ahmed A.k.A medo-black says:
Waz beef? why? 50. Dosn't need to beef kanye, cuz will know dat kanye album we sell most and 50 will have to retire, cuz this wat kany said(Please, 50, don't retire once my album sells and beats your album). f**k 50 if you like go to hell if kanye sell morethan yurz. wanna holla to my hommi in cali Campton. WEST SIDE TILL WE, D.I.E. And to all Pac and Game fans. Much love i love black in any planet. AFRICA USA UNITED KINGDOM. MOST WESTSIDE HOOD HOMII LOVE YAH ALL. MEDO BLACK HOLLA @CHU . Holla me back here is my email id: medo_westside@yahoo.ca. my # +44 702 401 2454. Peace 1
September 12, 2007 at 6:39 am
37.
onelove says:
honestly hip hop is dead and non of this truley matters. It's all just over exagerated buildup that piles both sides MONEY.. by us caring their winning..... ;) god bless america!
September 12, 2007 at 5:06 am
38.
andyoudontstop says:
Should be interesting to see who will come out on top. But, you have to admit the marketing machines were working overtime to make sure both artists stayed fresh in everyones minds for the Sept. 11th album releases.
September 11, 2007 at 10:34 pm
39.
BIGmoney says:
got my preorder of graduation first from itunes. went to buy graduation and curtis at stores. graduation didnt ship...they arent sending it out till next week. came home got preorder of curtis. hope that doesnt matter cause kanye deserves to win he has the better album by far. btw what happened to eminem? his verse on peep show has to be one of the worst ever... i would rather listen to a bay bay than his verse
September 11, 2007 at 9:48 pm
40.
Claire says:
Its all about Ye....HOT SHIT!!!
September 11, 2007 at 4:21 pm
41.
Professor P says:
Love em both but 50's album is a bit weak. Only a handful of decent songs. I give this battle to the mainstream. . . KANYE WEST
September 11, 2007 at 2:19 pm
42.
S Weezy says:
If you wanna listen to music about guns, gettin shot and b*thces...get 50's cd. But if you want REAL music, with REAL beats and REAL lyrics....get Kanye's cd. It's FIRE!!!! 50 needs to go ahead and get his retirement ready because he's WACK! Holler.
September 11, 2007 at 1:51 pm
43.
Hardeep says:
50 is king of hip hop and he will win.
September 11, 2007 at 1:06 pm
44.
Reecie says:
Kanye Has this in the bag without a doubt...Cop Graduation for G.O.O.D. Music...For the real Hip Hop fans...it's Kanye Day at Honorable Media http://hmblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/share-your-experiencea-follow-up-to-our-vow/
September 11, 2007 at 11:51 am
45.
Geoffrey "Chapin" Corzo says:
50 Cent Has This Competition Like Nothing. After He Outsells Kanye West He Will Have The Crown Of
Hip-Hop In His Hands.
LOL
September 11, 2007 at 11:37 am