We all remember the epic rap battle of 2007. The rising kid from Chicago and his official Graduation vs. the tried and true New Yorker’s Curtis. Kanye West vs. 50 Cent – hip-hop titans clashed, words were said, threats were made, and in the end, West was the last man standing. It was a modern day Ali-Fraiser.

Alright, so maybe we’re exaggerating. After all, 50 Cent didn’t even go through with his threat to retire if West and Homecoming outsold his Curtis, which of course it did. But at least for a few weeks, the whole rap war of words certainly made for some compelling reading.

And the best part? 50 Cent wants a rematch. This past Saturday during a performance in Albany, New York, the musician born Curtis James Jackson III unveiled plans for his fourth full-length studio album. Reportedly entitled Before I Self Destruct, the effort is scheduled to hit record stores on December 9th, one week prior to West’s 808’s & Heartbreak – a fact 50 is certainly aware of…

“What I want everybody to do right now is take your cell phones out, get your cameras out,” Fif urged the audience at the Times Union Center. “Tonight, Albany, New York, I’m gonna give y’all an exclusive. I’mma perform my first single off my new album, Before I Self Destruct.”

Then, the bass-heavy beat from Kanye West’s new song, “Love Lockdown,” came thundering through the speakers. Was this a miscue by DJ Whoo Kid? bewildered fans in the crowd wondered. Nope! G-Unit knew exactly what they were doing: 50 began singing the song — “I’m not loving you …” — clearly mocking Mr. West.

50 Cent did not detail what he would do, or not do, this time around if he were to lose to West again. Then again, he does have a lot of catching up to do on the publicity side of things (ie., attacking paparazi, going to jail, etc.) so maybe its best 50 doesn’t say anything.

TAGGED AS: 50 Cent, Kanye West