September 15, 2007 2:29

Kanye West retains lead over 50 Cent

First week's sales projections are now in

Photo Gallery: Kanye West
Photo: Pa Photos

Kanye West is still in the lead over rival 50 Cent at the end of the first week of the highly publicised sales battle.

In preliminary sales data issued today (September 14), West's 'Graduation' has sold approximately 600,000 copies, with 50 Cent's 'Curtis' shifting around 430,000 copies, according to Billboard.

50 Cent's sales are lagging behind earlier projections: it was originally estimated that West would sell 575,000 to 700,000 copies, while 'Curtis' was expected to move 550,000 units.

Meanwhile, country star Kenny Chesney has not outsold either artist, as many estimated would be the case. Chesney's 'Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates' has sold approximately only 232,000 copies.

The data was issued by SoundScan, who tracked sales at leading mass merchants throughout the US until close of business yesterday (September 13).

Final sales figures will be published on Wednesday (September 19).

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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