50 Cent said he'd hang up his mic if Kanye West's new album outsold his. He might have spoken too soon.

Critics are raving about West's Graduation - and its already sold 200,000 more units than Fiddy's Curtis since yesterday's same-day release in the US.

The hip-hop egomaniacs were pitted against each other when, last month, Fiddy said on <i>sohh.com: </i>

"If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer (perform) music. I'll write music and work with my other artists but I won't put out any more solo albums."

Associated Press said on the strength of the albums, West could claim a "landslide victory."

"... Graduation still sound like a logical step forward. Yet Curtis sounds like Fiddy is standing in place ... Fiddy's outsized c**ckiness sounds like a comfortable artist repeating himself, afraid to tinker with his winning formulas."

Ryan Dombal, from Pitchfork, gave Fiddy just 4.9 stars out of 10.

"in direct opposition to Kanye's fearless, risk-taking, Graduation, 50's new album is a blatant rehash - a bottom-line sequel that insults the same audience it mildlessly panders to."

Respected sie HiphopDX said: "50 cent may be a superstar, but Curtis is pedestrian."

But critics heaped praise on West's Graduation.

Rolling Stone gave the album 4.5 stars out of five, saying: "This is an album that you first like, then love."

HiphopDX echoed the sentiment.

"Kanye has created another must-have album that will continuously bump on your CD players and mp3's for months to come."