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G-Unit Continued from Murder Dog Vol 15 #2 Lloyd Banks How does “T.O.S.” compare to the previous G-Unit record? Lloyd Banks: It is similar, but at that time it was me, Buck, and 50; Yayo was incarcerated. We were moving around as a three-man group. When Buck came into the group it didn’t replace what we had, but it was a good transition. It was good to be able to look to my left and look to my right knowing that somebody had my back at all times. It’s kind of like we are going into the same situation all over again. We have dealt with success and there is nothing but success for us in the future. With this album a lot of people think that there is pressure behind it, but it’s easier because we have known each other for so long and we know how to make the material that make people fall in love with us. The people want that gutter and they want that feeling that they had in 2003. What is the main difference between working with a group and doing a solo? Lloyd Banks: Working with the group is always the best, because me personally I was always considered a lyricist. At that time you just had to have a fire verse and people was fuckin’ with you. If you look at us we all have completely distinctive attitudes and characteristics. I was recording my solo project the same time I was recording “Beg For Mercy”. The only difference is that it’s all about you. When you’re on your own I had my own entourage and I financed my own situation. It’s hard when you are on your own. People think that just because you are with 50 Cent it’s just suppose to fall into your lap, but in 2004 I had did over 300 shows without 50.That experience helped me! What’s it like having Young Buck being a featured artist on the album instead of being an actual member of the group? Lloyd Banks: It’s not something that I planned or something that I looked forward to. It’s a situation, and everybody handles their situation different. There was a point where I was doing interviews for the “Rotten Apple” album and people asked me if I had showed resistance, and I hadn’t because I was still touring off of the first album at that time. It wasn’t time until I was going back to radio and I was going to these stations that embraced me and 50, and all of a sudden I started to feel the resistance. I went through that phase but I understand. I looked at it like everybody has their time and they are going to love G-Unit again. That’s what this game is about. It’s about reinventing yourself. I can speak about the Buck situation, I look at it with different views. He said some stuff that made us uncomfortable. Now it’s to the point to where it’s not even me. Because with Game, I hate that nigga and I don’t give a fuck what he do. I have been around Buck for the last five or six years. I look at the situation and am like, “Fuck!” Five or six years is supposed to be enough to really know a muthafucka. That is like my brother! It gets to the point to where you are like, “How Much?” Then it becomes something that you just push to the side. When I decided to put on a G-Unit shirt I knew exactly what I was stepping into. I’m with Fifty 100%. I roll with the punches and when it’s good it is good and when it’s bad it is bad also. You can’t put it together better than that. People don’t understand that but when you come from the street that is how it is suppose to be. What about another Banks solo? Lloyd Banks: Most definitely! It’s like déjà vu because when we were working on the “Beg For Mercy” album I was on the “Rock The Mic Tour” and recording for the group album and my solo. I’m just comfortable that it’s a familiar setting for me working on another G-Unit album and being back with the crew working again. I never really stop recording. The only time I stopped recording was when I was going through some personal situations like with the passing of my father. My album came out October 10th and he passed two weeks prior to the release of my album. After that my mother had two heart attacks within two weeks. There was a lot going on and I shut down because shit was too much for me. I felt like if I was in the public something would happen, because I didn’t know how to channel my anger. If someone would’ve ask me about Game or Fat Joe I might’ve smacked them. I knew I was not able to be in the mix because I didn’t have my mind at that time. People might look at it as a mistake, but it was not something that I planned. When my homies get killed I’m not saying it is easier on the heart, but we are out there with the awareness that it could happen any day. If you are walking around with your homie and you have your pistol you know that one day someone else can have their pistol too. It all took a toll on me! How are you doing now? Lloyd Banks: Now it’s back to music and my mind is clear and I am ready to create again. Are you all still in the recording process? Lloyd Banks: We are never done recording until the actual deadline. It’s funny you said that, because when I was recording my album they pushed it back two days because I was waiting to get Yayo on my album. He got released two days before the deadline. When that deadline hits that’s when you start recording, because you never know. Sometimes your best records come after you finished recording all of those records for that album. That’s what happened with all the records that didn’t make it for “Get Rich Or Die Tryin”. We record at a fairly fast pace. We worked with Timbaland, Swiss, and Polo Da Don. I think this is the most important record in Hip Hop. Besides this record, I think the most important album was 50’s “Get Rich” because that is the album that opened up the doors. Do you think “T.O.S” will really open up the doors again? Lloyd Banks: Most definitely! It’s funny because the material that people come to love and want to hear now is like our first nature. This subject material that they love is what we got. I know what they want to hear but you can’t fault artists for wanting to try new things. As an artist I respect other artists. I think this record here is for the actual fans. There was a point when Gangsta music was dominating and then dance, but now they want to hear something aggressive again. If you had a bad day what would you want to listen thru to give you energy or just get you through the day. Some old school Geto Boys or Spice-1! Lloyd Banks: Yeah! There was a time when Spice-1 was it. It isn’t about the shoot ’em up bang bang shit; it’s about reality! Lloyd Banks: It
is about reality! This lifestyle right here is what I put my all into and I
stick by this. It’s like when you buy a bag of potato chips and you open up the
bag and half of them are gone. It’s the same thing with the music. They want
the truth! They want what they paid for! Lloyd Banks: No they don’t, but they want to know! That’s why the records about what you want to do always work because you say, “I want to have a 600, I want to have a nice house.” And they want to have that too. It gets to the point to where it goes from that to, “I have a big house, I have this and that!” It is the Rocky Balboa situation. The underdog becomes the top dog! Lloyd Banks: We are the underdog all over again and I’m comfortable with that. This is a god given gift and I’m going to show it!
Tony Yayo What up Yayo! Tony Yayo: It is a pleasure to be on the cover of Murder Dog Magazine! What can you tell me about the new album, “T.O.S.”? What is going to make the readers want to go and snatch it up? Tony Yayo: You got Tony Yayo. A lot of people didn’t get to hear a lot of my music because I was incarcerated and I was not on “Beg For Mercy”. Then you got Lloyd Banks the lyrical assassin, and you got 50 the General. After that you got Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and Polo Da Don. Everything is cool with Swizz? Tony Yayo: Oh yeah, me and Swizz talked and we are cool. I had a chance to chop it up with him in Miami and I had the chance to chop it up with Cassidy. It sounds like a different album! Tony Yayo: People will be surprised. I’m hungry because I don’t think people got a chance to hear much from me. Buck kind of took my spot on “Beg For Mercy” while I was gone, so I was happy for this album to come out. You are going to hear a lot from me on this album. This is like a reintroduction for me. We got a whole bunch of joints. I got a whole bunch of records sitting in my computer and so does Banks, and 50. How does the group feel now that it is just the three of you? Tony Yayo: It seems like the old G-Unit now. We got Young Buck on about three or four songs. Unfortunately he is not in G-Unit no more. You sound kind of sad about the way things came down. Tony Yayo: It is sad. At this point you have to make smart decisions. You have to be a business man. It’s not too bad because he is still on G-Unit Records. I guess he wanted to go venture off and do his music with his group and his clothing line. With me, I’m straight. I’m G-Unit until I die and can’t nobody get into my head, but they got into Buck’s head. Sometimes I think Buck lets people make bad decisions for him, but with me I don’t have time for that. The only thing that irritates me about Buck is when he goes around and makes false statements and says stupid stuff to the media. I don’t know about his royalties but my royalties are fine. I don’t know if that is true because I haven’t spoke with Buck in awhile. I think having a business mind is cool, but I wonder where the loyalty is at When you see Game and Buck and other people that don’t like Fifty, but look at what we did as a whole for Hip Hop. With me I’m a gangsta and nobody can get inside my head and say, “Fifty has more money than you, and Banks is more lyrical than you.” I’m good with what I got. When you worry about what the next man got then you are “PDR” and that’s a professional dick rider. I’m not with that! I’m good. I wake up to marble and granite, and my kids got food on the table. What is there to really complain about? A lot of artists don’t get to touch Hawaii, Amsterdam, or Japan. What is there to complain about? A lot of times I think that Buck just wants to be Fifty, but Buck has gotta be Buck just like Yayo is going to be Yayo. I know in my mind I’m not going to sell as much as Fifty or Eminem. You have to think before you talk; that’s what my father taught me. Do you think Buck will ever be in the group again in the future? Tony Yayo: Fifty is a businessman. When you look at the business, did Jay-Z call Beanie Sigel or Freeway? When he dropped them he didn’t even give them a phone call. If Buck wants to be a good boss you have to learn from a good boss. I’m G-Unit until I die and if you got a problem with G-Unit then you got a problem with me. That’s like with Game, how Fifty wrote seven songs for him and look what he turned around and did. When did you realize you had what it took to be a rapper? Tony Yayo: At the age of sixteen I could say I thought I was nice. What is your opinion of the state of Rap music today? Tony Yayo: It’s time for something new again. No disrespect to the Soulja Boys, but we are bringing something new to the table. I respect anyone who is getting money though. What are your expectations for this album? Tony Yayo: My expectations is for us to control the Rap game completely. G-Unit has got hits. Go get the album June 24th it is bangin’. There is real shit on the album.
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