Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” Hits #1 on iTunes

Kanye West likes to be number one.

The Chicago rapper bested 50 Cent in their SoundScan showdown in 2001 and now West has responded to the G-Unit star’s taunts about his latest single, “Love Lockdown.”

“I guarantee this will be 50’s favorite album of mine,” ‘Ye posted on his blog today. “This well be gangster’s album of the year.”

The rapper has reason to gloat.

“Lock Lovedown” hit number one today on iTunes list of Top Songs. ‘Ye announced the news on his blog earlier today. He’s never been shy to compliment himself.

West first premiered the track at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month. He took to the stage and closed out the show with his new song.

The song, he said today, was only written three weeks ago, but the rapper has said it’s one of the best song’s he’s ever written. He’s already released two different versions of the track. One take hit the Web without being mastered before he later leaked a more polished version via his blog.

The video is in production, however, no timetable has been set for its release. The album, 808’s & Heartbreak is tentatively scheduled to be released December 16. It’s West’s fourth album and it comes less than a year after his last album, Graduation.

The album is rumored to consist heavily of AutoTune’d material. Ye’s used the vocal enhancer on a number of his verses lately, most noticeably his guest take on Young Jeezy’s hit, “Put On.”—LaTisha Robbins