Author Topic: Kanye Bumps Album Up, Single Debuts At No. 3 (Read 383 times)

Meho · « **on:** September 24, 2008, 04:38:51 PM »

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
So much for the Kanye West/50 Cent album showdown in December. Originally due Dec. 16, West's new album "808s & Heartbreak" is now arriving on "November something," according to a West blog post.

"I finished the album and I felt like (moving up the date)," he wrote. "I want yall to hear it as soon as possible." A Def Jam spokesperson was unavailable for comment at deadline.

With 50 Cent's "Before I Self Destruct" due Dec. 9, it was shaping up to be a near repeat of the 2007 battle between he and West at the tail end of the year. That September, both men released new albums on the 11th, with West's "Graduation" outselling 50's "Curtis" 957,000 to 691,000.

West's new single, "Love Lockdown," is proving to be an instant smash. It will debut tomorrow (Sept. 25) at a career-best No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to first-week digital download sales of 213,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

billboard.com