With 957,000 units moved in the first six days of sales, KANYE WEST is the undisputed winner of the West v. Cent, Soundscan clash.

West’s Graduation, his third solo project, ranks 15^thamong greatest sale weeks, since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking in 1991.  

50 Cent’s Curtis moved 691,000 units, no small feat, and is also to be commended. “I am very excited to have participated in one of the biggest album release weeks in the last two years. This marks a great moment for hip-hop music, one that will go down in history,” said Cent.
 

Total sales for West, Cent, and Kenny Chesney, the third runner-up with Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, topped 2.2 million sold and is more than all sales combined on last week’s entire Billboard 200. 

“This is a great day for Kanye West and Roc-A-Fella Records and a fantastic day for hip-hop and artistry,” added Jay-Z, president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings.

This strategy executed by both camps to bolster sales was impeccable. The publicity was achieved, the music was recognized, and most importantly, the numbers reflect that the listening public appreciates the effort put into producing a good product. I, myself, have a love/ hate relationship with hip-hop, but whether you love or hate it, you must respect its reach.   

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