Curtis Blows?

The showdown became the UK's biggest chart battle since Oasis versus Blur after 50 Cent, 32, suggested in an interview that he would scrap his solo career if he lost the race for the top spot.

Both albums were released on the same day and the rapper - real name Curtis Jackson - vowed in an interview. Fiddy announced, "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer write music. I'll write music and work with my other artists. But I won't put out any more solo albums."

Figures due to be released later on Sunday are expected to show that West also sold more than 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, in the United States.

West went straight in at number one in the album chart with his latest offering, Graduation. Chicago rapper West, 30, outsold his New York rival's latest release, "Curtis", which got the number two spot, the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.