Music Sales : 50 Cent Debut, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin',' Reaches 8x Platinum

Hard to believe it's been almost a decade since 50 Cent's groundbreaking 2003 debut, 'Get Rich or Die Tryin',' was released. Over the last eight years, 50's business ventures have launched him into several new industries, including the tech world, sports beverages and film business, keeping his pockets heavy with change and very musch alive. Yet, atop all this, his Grammy-nominated debut continues to break ground.

Released exactly eight years ago next week, the album, which changed the game for New York club rap, boasting a slew of hits and three no.1 singles, has reached a hip-hop milestone, breaking eight million units sold in the United States.

Only two other rappers have passed this mark, 50's partner/mentor Eminem, who did so with two albums -- 'The Marshall Mathers LP,' (10,341,000) and the 'Eminem Show,' (9,928,000) -- and Nelly's 'Country Grammar,' (8,489,000).

Though 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' did not break a milion sales first week, it debuted at no.1, where it stayed for six weeks, and sold over six million copies before the year's end, powered by singles like 'Wanksta,' 'Many Men,' '21 Questions,' 'P.I.M.P.' and 50's dancefloor smash 'In Da Club.'

Music : Nicki Minaj Outshines Kanye West in Album Sales

After only 10 weeks on the charts, Nicki Minaj has passed Kanye West in total album sales.

Following her impressive appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' last week, the Young Money rapper's debut 'Pink Friday,' climbed six spots on Billboard's Top 200, reaching no. 3, with total sales of 989,300, 38,500 in the last week.

Both Nicki's 'Pink Friday' and Kanye's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' were released on November 19, 2010, but Kanye debuted at no. 1, besting Nicki by over 120,000 units, with first week sales of 497,000 to her 376,000. However, Nicki's album was, as promised, a slow burner. While Nicki's star rose, Kanye's fell; his album dropped three places to no. 19 this week, selling only 18,800 units, with overall sales of 980,900. But no hard feelings, right? The two emcees join forces in West's forthcoming music video for 'Monster,' which features a guest verse from Minaj.

While 'Pink Friday' shows no sign of slowing down, another of the year's best-sellers, Eminem's 'Recovery,' holds steady at no. 16, with total sales of 3,510,500, a staggering amount in the current music economy.

Entertainment : Estimated Album Sales CHART DATE: 1/24/2010

other notables in the Top 50

Rihanna - Loud: 25,769

Pink - Greatest Hits So Far: 21,676

Kanye West - MBDTF: 20,429

Eminem - Recovery: 18,781

Kid Rock - Born Free: 17,647

R. Kelly - Love Letter: 17,431

BEP - Beginning: 14,803

Ke$ha - Cannibal: 14,320

Jamie Foxx - Best Nigh of My Life: 14,293

T.I. - No Mercy: 13,294

Lil' Wayne: IANAHB; 12,147

Cee Lo Green - Lady Killer: 10,718

Keyshia Cole - Calling All Hearts: 9,112

Keri Hilson - No Boys Allowed: 8,853

Universal Music and Sony releasing singles same day they hit the radio, will anyone buy them?

The humble single has been given a new shot at life, an extension to the lease on its breathing machine, a little more food in its tube. Universal Music and Sony have begun a new policy called "On Air, On Sale" that makes music singles available the same day they hit the airwaves, in theory stemming the tide of piracy by making music available legally more quickly. Of course, the number of people actually listening to those radio stations is also dwindling, and whether or not people really want to buy singles vs. entire albums these days remains to be seen.