West, 50 Cent albums go head-to-head

Rappers Kanye West and 50 Cent have both released new records this week - going head-to-head in competition on the US album chart.

West's Graduation and rival offering Curtis have also both come out in the UK, but music industry attention is on the States where both are hugely popular.

Both parties have been civil in the run-up to the battle, exchanging good-natured comments, and experts have suggested the date clash will help sales for both.

Jonathan Cohen, albums reviews editor at Billboard magazine, explained: "It's really pretty transparent. It's a manufactured feud between the two of them, a manufactured competition.

"That being said, anything that will spur sales is a good thing from the music industry's perspective because sales are down dramatically this year."

West recently said he was not too bothered about the outcome: "As far as numbers go, he's not going up against a small fry. But my whole thing is to make albums that impact on people. This is my career-defining album, and it has some of the best songs I've ever written."