US rapper 50 Cent has said he plans to release two new albums before the end of the year – a move which echoes fellow rapper Eminem.

His first album 'Before I Self Destruct', which was originally due out in December, will be released in June, followed by an as-yet-untitled second studio effort later in 2009.

In an interview with MTV, the rapper denied that he had copied Eminem, who will release the first of two new albums, 'Relapse', in May.

"What they don't know ... the new announcement is that I'm dropping two albums," he said.

"I've had an opportunity to record since I thought I was releasing an album in December. But the portion of my record that I recorded with Dr. Dre was incomplete, because there was no opportunity to mix it.

“The only song that was mixed that I worked on with Dr. Dre is 'I Get It In' - that one is out now.

“It's cool, but I need the rest of them to be mixed before I can present my project to the public."

'Before I Self Destruct' was originally delayed last year so Dr Dre could finish Eminem's new album.

'Relapse', Eminem's first studio album since 2004's 'Encore', features two song collaborations with 50 Cent.

(by Jason Gregory)