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New album from 50 Cent to hit stores early
Interscope Records, in an effort to stop the bleeding caused by illicit online-sharing of 50 Cent 's new album, will release the album five days ahead of schedule.
Originally set for release on Feb. 11, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" will be available in stores on Thursday, Feb. 6, according to Interscope imprint Shady Records' website. (Record labels normally release new albums on Tuesday of each week.)
The label is also attempting to combat online piracy by releasing a downloadable version of the album on Tuesday (Feb. 4), Billboard reports. The album's individual tracks will reportedly be sold as downloads for 99 cents each.
Additionally, in what has become a widely adopted record-label tactic as of late, the label is encouraging fans to buy "Get Rich of Die Tryin'" instead of downloading it for free through unauthorized sources by including a bonus DVD with the first 500,000 copies.
Earlier this year, the label used a similar tactic with rap phenomenon Eminem's "The Eminem Show." That album, originally due to hit stores on June 4, was set loose on May 28, and the first two million copies were packaged with a bonus DVD.
Helping to pave the way for the release of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" is the album's first single, "In Da Club," which is currently the No. 1 entry on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks chart.
