Unless you’ve been living in a cave (with those extremely unfunny Geico cavemen), you probably heard the news that accompanies 50 Cent’s new album. Fiddy has claimed that if he is undersold by Kanye West’s imminent release, he will never again record a solo album (cue gunshot sound effects). On top of that, the hosts of BET’s ‘106 and Park’ challenged 50 Cent to a debate with Kanye West on the day both of their albums are released.

How will they debate whose album is better? Are they going to compare the decibels of the bass, or how many times they use the words ‘money’ or ‘Louis Vuitton?’ You have probably already figured out that this is just a marketing ploy in an effort to bolster both CD sales and the rapidly sinking record industry. Record sales have dropped 30 percent this year alone and only three out of the top 20 albums were hip-hop. What better way to get people interested in buying than a little drama between two egotistical juggernauts.

Hip-hop has taken a huge step back. All these recent songs that have come out are all thumping bass and catchy hooks. Don’t get me wrong, it makes for a great night of grinding at a club, but I won’t remember them a couple of years from now. Someone needs to step up and start rapping about real issues like modern day racism (as it does exist), the U.S. executive branch’s constant screw-ups, the neglect of the poor and the answer to the most difficult question: what are we going to do about Iraq?

What happened to the lyrics that made you actually feel the anger and despair of the rapper? What happened to creative wordplay? What happened to hip-hop? ‘Juicy’ and ‘Changes’ are songs that have been around for a decade. I doubt Soulja Boy’s ‘Crank Dat’ will make it to Thanksgiving. Although, I must admit I did the superman dance in an attempt to connect with the incoming freshmen. I’ll say they were so impressed, they covered their eyes and started scattering in all different directions.

Both 50 Cent’s Curtis and Kanye West’s Graduation drop Sept. 11. Instead of remembering the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, people will be tuning into BET at 6 p.m. to watch a debate between a man full of bullet holes and a man who thinks coming from Chicago is something to brag about. Kanye West’s self-proclaimed hype of his album might be worthy, but 50 Cent’s two quarters are not worth my dollar.