And The Best Rap Album of the Year Goes To…..

The battle between today’s hip hop heavyweights are soon approaching with the much anticipated Graduation and Curtis albums being dropped by both Kanye West and 50 Cent respectively. On September 11, 2007, both artists will competing against each other for the title of most albums sold and drawing from Eminem’s school of controversy, 50 Cent has started his own marketing publicity.

“Let’s raise the stakes,” said 50 Cent. “If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I’ll no longer [perform] music. I’ll write music and work with my other artists, but I won’t put out any more solo albums.”

Kanye West’s last album “Late Registration,” has sold 2.8 million to date but 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’?” has sold nearly 8 million.

“They would like to see Kanye West give me a problem,” 50 said, “because I’ve worked myself into a space where I’ve become the favorite. Everybody roots [for] the underdog when he goes against the favorite. ” And I bet this: When Kanye West’s sales come in, he’s gonna have a 70% decrease cause Def Jam is gonna buy records [the first week] to keep him closer to 50 Cent. So watch the first week and then watch the second week. Watch his a - drop off the planet.”

50 Cent also commented on Kanye’s hit single “Stronger,” which is currently sitting at the top of the Top 40 Singles chart for the second week running. “Kanye sucks,” 50 said. “I’m going to be honest, he sounds like a robot, he has a robot record.”

On TV - Battle of The Titans:

Kanye West and 50 cent are set to face off on BET’s “106 & Park” on Tuesday September 11, when both of their albums will hit US stores.

BET is playing up the event like a heavyweight fight, hiring renowned sportscaster Stuart Scott to deliver play-by-play reports and statistics about the rappers, reports the Associated Press.

Both rappers are set to perform on the show 106 & Park, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll go head to head on stage.

Amazon Pre-Orders:

As previously reported, Amazon announced this week that West is out-selling ‘Fiddy’ five to one in pre-orders.

Left out of the fun? Country star Kenny Chesney, whose new album is also being released on Tuesday. The country star has put both rappers on notice that he may emerge as the ultimate victor when the week’s final tally is released. More updates to follow shortly.