Chart battle loser 50 Cent pulls out of music awards
Rapper 50 Cent has pulled out of the MOBOs and other European dates a day after he was beaten to the top of the chart by rival Kanye West.
The star had vowed to retire as a solo artist if West outsold him.
He was due to play the MOBOs and the Vodafone Live Music Awards this Wednesday, followed by a performance for MTV in German on Friday.
Scroll down for more...
Winner: Rapper Kanye West beat rival 50 Cent after his new album Graduation went straight to number one in its first week.
But his spokesman told MTV News: "50 Cent is very sad to confirm that due to a last minute, unforeseen and unanticipated change in his schedule, he will have to postpone his European promotion trip from September 18-25."
West went straight in at number one in the album chart with his latest offering, Graduation. Chicago rapper West, 30, outsold his New York rival's latest release, "Curtis", which got the number two spot, the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.
Both albums were released on the same day and the rapper - real name Curtis Jackson - vowed in an interview: "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer write music.
"I'll write music and work with my other artists, but I won't put out any more solo albums."
Scroll down for more...
Loser: 50 Cent went on record to say he would quit recording music if West sold more albums than he did
The showdown became the UK's biggest chart battle since Oasis versus Blur after 50 Cent, 32, suggested in an interview that he would scrap his solo career if he lost the race for the top spot.
Fiddy announced: "I'll write music and work with my other artists. But I won't put out any more solo albums."
Figures due to be released later on Sunday are expected to show that West also sold more than 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, in the United States.
West's third album "Graduation" features a guest appearance by Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin and samples of music by Elton John, Daft Punk and Steely Dan.
In a little-changed UK singles chart, West's hit "Stronger" was a non-mover at number three, while reggae-rap artist Sean Kingston held on to the top spot.
All smiles: For Kanye at least - while loser 50 Cent grits his teeth
