Budden looking at Akademiks like proud father for that whole 1st minute.

Kanye West v. 50 Cent was such a monumental moment for hip hop as a culture and its trajectory commercially. It was one hell of a selling pitch to the public and it was the one of the purest challenges in hip hop. Certified Kanye as a hip hop legend and almost a passing of a torch from 50, as well as signaling the end of the reign of gangsta/thug hip hop. AND they were both great albums!! 'What a time'...

2007: Kanye - Wearing Polo Cudi - Working at Bape J. Cole - Graduating from St. John's Soulja Boy - Relevant Akademiks - Making beats Joe - Dissing label Nadeska - 36 years old

50 was untouchable, then Kanye created arguably top 10 best rap album of all time . The quality Kanye gave the fans was mind blowing!!!

"If they hating let em hate and watch the money pile up."

'HOW QUICKLY THEY FORGET'... there are so many people who either forget or don't know due to their age just how MASSIVE and dominant 50 Cent was. Came out the gate with a classic in 'GRODT', followed it up with a SMASH in 'The Massacre'. LEGEND. There has NEVER been an artist outside of MAYBE Drake to have such a buzz around their debut and then not only deliver but SURPASS expectations

The day Kanye West killed Gangster Rap, or at least made it more niche. Besides maybe ScHoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar, most of the popular rappers today aren't super hood. Kanye really opened the door for people like Big Sean, Drake, J. Cole, Childish Gambino, Logic, Wale, and Chance The Rapper. Even Ak's man Vic Mensa once said that Kanye choked the lane on Gangster Rap.

Kanye's Graduation is an album that can appeal to a bigger audience than 50's & he had timeless classics on there like Can't Tell Me Nothing, Flashing Lights, Big Brother, Good Life just to name a few whatever Label influence may have been involved behind the scenes that album is still better

Graduation is a classic as well.

"I KNOW IM THE MOST INFLUENTIAL THAT TIMES COVER WAS JUST CONFIRMATION THIS GENERATIONS CLOSEST THING TO EINSTEIN DONT WORRY ABOUT ME IM FINE I CAN SEE A THOUSAND YEARS FROM NOW IN REAL LIFE SKATE ON A PARADIGM AND SHIFT IT WHEN I FEEL LIKE"- Yeezus

It got us through the ringtone rap era

Lol people think 50 was arrogant but now we got Kanye

50 never dropped SKI dummies

Kanye won the first week sales in the US. However, 50 outsold Ye world wide in fw sales. Which was also the reason why 50 did not retire, like he said he would, if he lost the battle. Great moment for hip hop nonetheless! 🙌🏾🤴🏾🤴🏾

Ahh yes, the 50 vs Kanye "beef". When Kanye moved up his album release to the same day as 50's Curtis. This was amazing at the time, 50 was leading the "bling bling/gangsta rap" movement, while Kanye was pushing the "conscious rap" movement (This was Kanye at his prime for those that don't know.) It ended the "Gangsta rap" in mainstream hiphop forever. Thus began the "Jerking" movement which lasted like a year, then came the trap and then the shit we have now (I may be wrong.) But yeah, this competition between these two was legendary.

Joe look like kill moves from everybody hates chris

Ayo Technology was one of the BIGGEST records of 2007.

Regardless of whether or not 50 outsold Ye the change of guard in hip hop and the industry period was reaching a boiling point. This was going to happen with or without this matchup. Hip hop NEEDED it too in order to evolve and become the dominate genre it is today. Artist like Missy, Ye, Lauryn, Pharrell, Outkast etc etc had already laid the groundwork for that shift. Jay-Z was ahead of the curve on that front. Already had work with Pharrell, Ye and others causing the shift. 'Retired' and poised to come back to rap as a breath of fresh air to the public due to all the monotony goin on in music

50 v Kanye was really monumental, and showed how there was gonna be a big change in where hip hop was going. Gangsta rap was no longer the cool after that, and Kanye managed to connect more to fans. Grad had better singles connected than 50's. He only had I Get Money & Ayo Technology, while Kanye had Stronger, Good Life and Can't Tell Me Nothing which connected way more

I remember this. 50 Cent is who made people really start looking at album sale numbers. Then years later the challenged to Kanye on "album sales" happened and 50 lost convincingly. It would've been worse had 50 not dropped "I Get Money" It helped one and hurt one. Even now, Kanye music still garners attention and 50 cents? Not so much

Me > every rapper

How Joe gonna act like chingy wasn't his main competition lolol

I love the topics y'all come up with cuz me and my cousin always going back and forth bout most of them

Joe is right, we really gonna act like labels don't buy albums? Kanye dropped an amazing album, better than Curtis by todays standards, but back then Kanye was only going to win in his dreams. However Joe is right again, when he says 50 Cent's arrogance was his ultimate downfall. This man wasn't just bullying and beefing with every rapper in the game, he was openly insulting Jimmy Iovine and was just overall so polarizing that a lot of people wanted him to lose.

This episode seems to feature Ak as a confused adolescent teen coming into adulthood seeking advice from Old Man Joe, who clearly made sense but was to blunt for blur Ak to fathom. Ak went home that night confused as ever.

50 had two of the greatest back to back records ever. 50's hype and BUZZ is still unmatched in 2017. It's not even close

This something that isnt talked about enough this was an iconic moment for hip hop

Im usually rocking with Joe but Ak was on point with the perception. Ayo Technology and those other songs weren't popping like Cant Tell Me Nothing and Stronger. However, I believe Joe that 50 was set up. Eminem was out of the loop because Proof died so 50 didnt have Em to back him up. If Em was on his game, 50 wouldve had the muscle. But lo and behold......

I remember going to Target to pick up both of these albums. I remember listening to Graduation and thinking; Holy Shit!! This is a good LP not as good as Late Registration, but a great follow up none the less. I remember listening to Curtis and I just thought to myself that 50 didn't have anything else to talk about. 50 was done. A lot of people credit 2005 for a game changer in Hip-Hop, but fail to realize that this matchup led the way for guys like Future, Drake, and Kid Cudi to rise to prominence.

The reason kanye won is because graduation was a hit especially amongst white people and compared to 50 kanye was a much more brand friendly black guy at the time. He performed stronger at the super bowl for christ's sake.

Joe was so proud listening to Akademiks break down the Kanye vs 50 era lmaoo

As someone born in 1990 I really enjoyed this, these conversations definitely happened in high school computers labs across the country

Good convo guys finally

50 Cent sold more. World Music Awards, Curtis won world's best selling rap album. Period.

Joe lookin like spongebob when he got the suds

50 Cent was the biggest sensation in rap history.

All of the songs that ak is saying "didn't connect" definitely did. 50 and Kanye were the most talked about artists around that time and that conversation lasted for so long. Stop discrediting artists just for the argument. Joe is right for once. This was a business scheme that went great for Universal. 50 and Kanye sold this feud so well that it sold out seats in their fanbase.

joe is on to something

Joe is 💯 percent right here

worldwide 50 sold more..

I don't see why ppl say 50 fell off. He makes the same exact music. That just tells me most music fans just go with the wave cause he was hot and never really listened to his music. I still bump 50 till this day. Plus he brought us Top 5 DOA: Banks. (If you dont listen to their music, how can you argue not?)

For the 1st time i agree with Joe the music industry didn't want 50cent Type of artist coz 50cent wasn't going to play nice & dj akademiks wrong coz ayo technology worked & I also feel it was a set up coz they had jay z on 106park with kanye yet it was said that neither Eminem nor jay was supposed to be there but some how jay showed up

exxcellent discussion

These are topics I like to hear Joe talk about, because he was there in the mix.

I respect Joe Budden's knowledge here...and sidebar...TI v TIP came out too...AND WAS DOPE...the TI got caught up w the guns out of nowhere

Akademiks has a shallow view on these topics cause his experience is like ours meanwhile Joe was back stage with everything/everyone

"Straight To The Bank" & "I get money" released June 29 & 30th, 2007 respectively and then "Ayo Technology" 8/31/2007. Then rounded it off on 12/31/2007 with "I'll Still Kill".....Akademiks just talks to talk. I hated 50 at that time but I get money was a banger in the clubs!!

50 changed the 2000s Ye changed the 2010s

I think the whole thing was a transition to the new phase of rap music. It was a confirmation that the sound changed and gangsta rap had appealed to a smaller audience. Not quite a conspiracy against 50 to bring about his demise.

If 50 won that match up against Kanye I feel we wouldn't have mumble rap now.From arrogant 50 to a calm and cool Kanye and then from Kanye to this VERY COOL Drake then to now the VERY VERY cool yatchy , uzi etc...If 50 dominated more then we probably wouldn't have mumble rap now.

50 made kanye and most rap heads dont even know that. when i saw 50 challenge kanye i said no way hell win in sales. but people hated 50 for being cocky and kanye did. also that was kanye best album ever so everyone started fucking with him. he became a household name and he owes a lot of that to 50

50 didn't drop Street king immortal number 1...number 2 everyone always skips to before I self destruct and animal ambition and gloss over projects like "War Angel LP" or "The Big 10", which were both dope 50 projects after "Curtis"! Yes I realize 50 put them out as "mixtapes", but they were basically albums. They were all original full bodies of work

Joe Budden is right when he said "[50 cent] started telling us about it in album titles" ..."Before I self destruct" lol hahaha

Joe spitting facts about 50

This is the very one time joe almost said everything perfect .. that ayo technology shit was just something to put on the radio

Budden confidence makes his argument seem stronger but it's definitely not.

Definitely made some good points. Never thought of this on a larger scale and how it effected the game. New perspective but i feel like it doesn't hold that much weight.

I remember that moment like it was yesterday September 11 2007

I must say they talk about things in music that my homies and I talk about in crib smoking! Covering all subjects. I be surprised about the subjects they cover

Let's not forget that Wayne in 2007 was scorching hot in the streets. And Universal was ready to make Wayne the golden child of the label. After the Ye and 50 face off, Wayne took over for 3 summers

Very, very interesting, especially joe buddens argument. Would love to see more of this debate around this discussion.

I still listen to 50.

50's beefs with Cam, Game and the LOX didn't help around this time either. His core was somewhat divided too which may have impacted his sales.

Can I get a fifty vs ye collab called America's most hated?

Shit was Hella hype. 50 needed that

FINALLY SOMEONE IS HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. IT REALLY FUCKING DID.

50 first single for curtis was that "Amusement Park" shit that was basically "Candy shop" all over again. Next was "straight to the bank" didn't perform well as just wasnt really good. "I get money" was huge but the remix really juiced it. "Ayo technology" was the last single b4 the album dropped and was just ok. Kanye had only 2 singles "Cant Tell Me nothing" (and the remix wit Jeezy on it) and "Stronger" and did his numbers. 50 didnt have a record nowhere near as big as "Stronger". Furthermore Joe trippin if he think 50 didnt mastermind the whole "competition". Beef/competition was part of his marketing strategy his whole career. Everything he did was geared around bullying or tryna make someone else look inferior to push himself up and sell his records. Ja Rule for GRODT Fat Joe The Lox for Massacre Kanye for Curtis Rick Ross BISD

Red looks good on Nadeska! 😍

After that feud hip-hop was never the same again. That feud was sort of 50 cent end of power in music and the style of Artist like Kanye West leaped , that’s why you don’t have just gangsta rap selling like it use to . It opened doors for artist like Kid Cudi , Drake , Wiz, Etc,Etc

HOLY shit ill still kill that song was fucking IS fucking flames. One of the best street songs fif ever put out.

Joe right about some stuff and actually taught me some shit but i remember everyone at least around me saying 50 wasn't bout to win that shit

Smoking mirrors was the best way to put it what's going in and what's people think is happening

To be honest Kanye was already on the road to becoming a major star and 50 was a fading a little, Kanyes second album LR sold 860,000 first week, 50s second album the massacre sold 1.1 million its first week, okay when they both dropped their third albums respectively the same day Kanye sold 957,000 his first week and 50 sold 691,000 , Kanye sold slightly more than his second and 50 even tho still great numbers drop off alot, 50 needed this for sales Kanye didnt

50 vs kanye was creativity vs gangsta rap creativity won now its the GAYcentric takeova

SUMMER TIME.. O7 Best Times 😴💜

Joe budden 👀looking at ak like he’s starting to fall in love with akademiks

LMFAO 'We didn't know a Drake was coming'

I will never forget that!! Kanye took that big time, I fw both of em still

What's BDS?

Curtis is dope looking back

I feel like Everyday Struggle is really reaching for topics these days. Which is ironic because DJ Akademiks is still hitting up the most recent stories every hour on the hour.

"Ayo tech" and "Stronger" both produced by Timberland

50 cent was the shit But Graduation was so dope it blew Curtis out of the water. Senior year of HS and that album was monumental

Kanye won because Kanye had a mass appeal with his music. Dropping songs like Cant Tell me Nothing, Stronger, Good Life, and Homecoming. Thats 4 homeruns in a row…..50s Straight to the bank, I get money, Ayo Technology, I still kill….1 homer, 2 ok songs, I don't even remember what I Still Kill sounds like. Kanye won. And because of this he killed the gangsta hood tough guy persona that most rappers had. It was perfectly fine to be clean cut and had gone to college. That along with his grammy performances launched his career into A-list superstardom.

Akademiks is used to artist nowadays not needing the "push" from labels so he doesn't understand the influence they (the labels) once had on the publics perception. Joe speaking facts on this one..

Joe budden on the money with this one about 50 cent and the music.💯💯💵💵

Anyone who disagrees with Joe honestly doesn't really know their hip-hop

Hearing ak make his opinions cause my head to hurt

50s album got leaked so it had to be pushed back 50s album was suppose to come out in June but due to the leak they pushed it back to September

“ You want me to laptop it “ “ Yeah you can definitely laptop it “

I said this same exact thing.thats crazy

(Beavis n Butthead voice) Dj Akademiks had a moment. Lmfao

Universal loved this battle lol

not to mention 50 cent said he was pissed that kanye didnt fight back and this was a set up as well

ayo worked i still kill worked dat mary j record worked

50's arrogance > kanye's arrogance

Budden doesn't want it with 50

I remember this. I remember both songs that each guy was releasing and I thought it was obvious that Kanye was going to win.

the wheels on the range go chop chop chop

Joe said Ak aint qualified. LOL but real spit, i think they both right.