I remember when people here just last year said that a Katy vs. Gaga first week battle would get a lot of attention. Then the "Roar" vs. "Applause" thing happened, and Kendrick Lamar's verse on "Control" got more Google searches.
50 Cent was undoubtedly the reason Ja Rule faded away, so many people thought he had that same power over Kanye. 50 Cent had already hit his peak a few years earlier. Kanye still had room to grow.