LONDON:

Rapper Kanye West has beaten rival 50 Cent in their much-hyped chart battle following the simultaneous release of their new albums.

West’s new album Graduation went straight to number one in the UK charts, outselling 50 Cent’s Curtis, who entered the charts at number two.

The chart battle attracted much media attention after 50 Cent claimed that he would retire from making solo records if West sold more albums than him.

West’s album features a guest appearance by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and samples of music by Elton John, Daft Punk and Steely Dan.