Kanye West and 50 Cent have generated a lot of news talking about their album duel on Tuesday, when West’s “Graduation” and Fif’s “Curtis” face off in record stores. There’s been very little talk, however, about what we can expect from those albums. Here’s RedEye’s take on the ultimate rap battle.
COVER
Kanye West: Funny … we saw flying teddy bears the day we graduated college too.
50 Cent: “My brain hurts after writing songs that sound just like my past hits. Does it get easier, Ja Rule?”
GUEST STARS
Kanye West: Chris Martin of Coldplay, Mos Def, T-Pain, Lil Wayne and soulsemi-knowns Dwele and Connie Mitchell.
50 Cent: Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Akon, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, the Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole Scherzinger and old pals Eminem and Dr. Dre.
BIG BOAST
Kanye West: As the album begins, he calls himself “Mr. Fresh, Mr. by his self he’s so impressed.”
50 Cent: On “I Get Money,” he shows his ego is still inflatable by declaring “I run New York!”
SELF-DOUBT
Kanye West: On “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” West watches his behavior as a celebrity: “I feel the pressure, under more scrutiny/And what I do? Act more stupidly.”
50 Cent: Um, no self-doubt here. Fif’s as cocky and self-assured as ever.
UNFAIR DIS
Kanye West: On “Homecoming,” he chides Chicago for not being proud enough of his success. Apparently he didn’t see the streamers we put up in the office.
50 Cent: In “Fully Loaded Clip,” he mocks high-profile couples: “While Jay and Beyonce was mwah-mwah, kissing, I was cooking 1,000 grams in my kitchen/While Nas was telling Kelis, ‘I love you, boo,’ I was shining my nine, you know how I do.” Bold for a guy who’s rumored to be dating Ciara.
