50 Cent Claims That He’s Sold More Albums Than Jay-Z Based On These Statistics

Despite having a lower net worth, did 50 Cent really sell more albums than Jay-Z during his peak?

However, statistics communicate a different truth when the album sales across the entirety of their careers are compared. Yet and still, 50 Cent believes he has sold more albums internationally than Jay-Z at one point or another in his career. On top of that, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson also believes that he has more popular hit singles than Mr. Carter. Let’s see what statistics 50 Cent uses to support these claims.

Did 50 Cent Really Sell More Albums Than Jay-Z?

Jay-z has always been focused on the business aspect of his music career, but it didn’t stop younger and hungrier rappers like 50 Cent from taking shots at him. The impact Jay-Z has had on the hip-hop music industry is irrefutable, but 50 Cent seems to believe that his impact was greater, and it’s evident through the difference in sales from their best-selling albums.

During a 2010 Power 105.1 interview with DJ Clue and The Breakfast Club host, DJ Envy, 50 Cent stated that his album sales over a span of four years made up Jay-Z’s entire career. These are some pretty bold statements to make, considering the fact that Jay-Z’s total album sales internationally reach over 140 million, while 50 Cent has sold just over 30 million albums, according to HipHop DX. However, what the “Candy Shop” rapper was referring to was a comparison of sales of their best-selling albums. He said this in the interview, “I mean the largest-selling album he’s had internationally sold 430,000 copies – ‘Hard Knock Life’. I sold 5 million twice… So when we leave here we know who’s who.”

To be exact, Jay-Z’s “Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life”, which was released in 1998, sold over 6 million albums in the U.S. alone, and 6,200,000 internationally. But it still doesn’t out-perform 50 Cent’s largest-selling album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin'”, which sold 9 million units in the U.S. and 12 million internationally. So, when it comes to the best-selling albums of their career, 50 Cent reigns victorious.

How Many Albums Has Jay-Z Sold Internationally Compared To 50 Cent?

When 50 Cent made his album sales in comparison to Jay-Z’s, he didn’t take into account the fact that they were both still in the prime of their careers. Since the release of Hard Knock Life Vol. 2 in 1998, Jay-Z has gone on to release ten more studio albums, bringing his total number of studio albums he’s released to thirteen. And every one of those albums has sold over 1 million units in the U.S., except for his last album, “4:44”, which was released in 2017, and sold roughly 400,000 copies worldwide.

As of 2023, the 54-year-old Jay-Z has set a new record with 10 multi-platinum albums, and has sold over 45 million units worldwide. According to Beats, Rhymes, and Lists, these are some of his best-selling albums of all time:

Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life – 5.4 million units
The Black Album – 3.5 million units
Vol. 3… The Life and Times of S. Carter – 3.093 million units
The Blueprint – 2.7 million units
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia – 2.5 million units
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse – 2.1 million units
The Blueprint 3 – 1.9 million units
Reasonable Doubt – 1.5 million units

With such dizzying heights of success, it’s no wonder why he’s also married to one of the most successful female artists in the world. Considering these album sales, we see how 50 Cent pales in comparison with his total international album sales reaching just over 30 million. That figure seems logical, given the fact that he has only released five studio albums. In addition, he has also produced ten mixtapes, two video albums, four compilation albums, and seventy-six singles, according to The Reading Order. While Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has won the battle against Jay-Z over who has the largest-selling album, he definitely lost the war when it comes to who has sold the highest number of albums internationally.

Does Jay-Z Have More No. 1 Hit Singles Than 50 Cent?

One of the areas 50 Cent believes he has the advantage over Jay-Z is in the number of chart-topping singles he has released over the years, which are still relevant today. He believes that he has had more of an impact than Jay-Z because his songs are still requested in clubs across the world. But could this be true? Let’s take a look at the number of No. 1 hits 50 Cent has under his belt, according to Billboard:

In Da Club – Peaked at No. 1 for 12 weeks
P.I.M.P. – Peaked at No. 1 for 2 weeks
Candy Shop – Peaked at No. 1 for 6 weeks
Just A Lil Bit – Peaked at No. 1 for 9 weeks
Magic Stick – Peaked at No. 1 for 5 weeks
21 Questions – Peaked at No. 1 for 7 weeks
Hate It Or Love It – Peaked at No. 1 for 4 weeks

Jay-Z has also had a few songs that ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, some fans, including 50 Cent himself, don’t believe that these songs evoke the same timeless effect as many of 50’s hits. Some of Jigga’s hottest singles, according to Billboard, include:

Umbrella – Peaked at No. 1 for 7 weeks
Empire State of Mind – Peaked at No. 1 for 5 weeks
Crazy in Love – Peaked at No. 1 for 8 weeks
Heartbreaker – Peaked at No. 1 for 2 weeks

Was 50 Cent Ever Richer Than Jay-Z?

While only one of them may be bold enough to admit it, Jay-Z and 50 Cent have been in a silent competition for years. Both rap musicians have made a lasting impact on the hip-hop culture, and have become extremely wealthy from their endeavors, both within and outside the entertainment business.

As of right now, Jay-Z is unequivocally the richer artist, with an impressive net worth that runs laps around most other music entertainers. But at one point, 50 Cent took the throne as the richest rap artist in the industry.

According to Business Insider, at the pinnacle of his career in 2008, 50 Cent topped the Forbes list of hip-hop’s richest stars, the same list which Jay-Z headed the previous year. The article revealed that Jay-Z had signed a 10-year $150 million deal with Live Nation concert promotions, in addition to releasing the American Gangster album that went Platinum. But 50 Cent took the top-earning spot when he banked $100 million on his deal with Vitamin Water alone.

Not forgetting to mention the success of his G-Unit clothing line, G-Unit record label, book deals, and other business ventures he had his hands on. At one point, Jackson was worth a whopping $470 million but suffered major losses due to lawsuits and frivolous spending.