Both 50 Cent's "Curtis" and Kanye West's "Graduation" leaked onto the Internets yesterday afternoon and there is now plenty of speculation about who is going to win the Sept. 11 sales showdown between the rappers.Here's what I find thoroughly charming: People actually think that the quality of the albums will determine the sales winner. Isn't that cute?
It's like the people who believe that the best politician wins the election or that the awards shows like the Grammys and Oscars aren't popularity contests. Yeah, dudes, Santa Claus is still coming, I'm sure. He's just really, really late.
The only way quality would've mattered in this case is if "Curtis" was a true brick, which it isn't. In fact, it's far better than "The Massacre." Is "Graduation" a better album? Of course. Will it get more Grammy nominations? Definitely. But will it sell more in a condensed 7-day period? That's unlikely.
It lacks the must-get-now track, like 50's "I Get Money," or, more ominously, Kenny Chesney's "Don't Blink," which is the highest-debuting song ever on the country charts, following "Never Wanted Nothing More," which hit No. 1 on the country charts in only 7 weeks, a split-second in slower-moving country radio time.
By the way, there are a couple of loopholes to watch for regarding The Bet (not that Fitty will likely need them). The most obvious one is that he will roll over Kanye in the rest of the world. Another one to consider is that because of yesterday's leaks, 50 and/or Kanye could move up the release of their CDs to Sept. 7, making The Bet moot. Just a thought.
MORE 50 CENT VS. KANYE: 50 Cent will not lose The Bet