After years of crushing the streets with mixtapes, G-Unit released its major label debut in late 2003. Beg For Mercy was a commanding display from 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck. At the time, Tony Yayo was still locked up, though his image appeared projected on the artwork of the G-Unit/Interscope album which reached #2 on the charts on its way to double platinum.

Fresh off of working closely with Fif’ on Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ earlier that year, Dr. Dre supplied several songs on the LP, including single “Poppin’ Them Things” and “G’D Up,” (both were made with Scott Storch). Heads never got to hear more of that chemistry between Lambo Lloyd and D-R-E. However, on his latest freestyle appearance on Funkmaster Flex’s HOT 97 show, the  self-proclaimed Punchline King gets to work over some 30-year-old Dre G-Funk that still sounds brand new.

Redman, Lloyd Banks, Jadakiss & Obie Trice Set Up A New Standard For Collabos (Audio)

On Freestyle #187, Lloyd catches a body over the “B*tches Ain’t Sh*t” instrumental (co-produced with Colin Wolfe). The Southside Queens, New Yorker begins: “For the haters, for whatever it’s worth, I wish ’em well / Was sick when Kobe died, laughed when Oprah fell.” Moments later, he calls himself, “one of the most underrated that you’ve ever seen.”

Rapping about bleak subject matter, Lloyd spits: “Steppin’ over old friends in 40-below Timbs / 50-man entourages with no grins / Everything but a rocket-launcher, the road’s grim / Matching firearms, I’m gonna reload twins / Human sacrifices, let me hold 10,” ahead of “Flex, the only time I miss a step is when I skip one / Grind now, and celebrate when the flip’s done / Cool with it, as long as the outcome is income / I’m the sh*t son, the H.N.I.C.-and then some.” Banks rocks back and forth to the beat, while staring ahead with a deadpan as he kicks the bars. It is Flex who reacts with animation. At one point, Lloyd Banks tells Flex, “Before the next ni**a come up here cappin’, let me screen ’em first.” Clearly, the MC feels superior to the competition, and aims to leave his name in cement—another thing he references in the lyrics. After the rhymes close, Flex holds Lloyd to that claim. This follows a standout summertime 2017 Banks freestyle on Flex’s show.

4 Out Of 5 G-Unit Members Freestyle On One Of Dr. Dre’s Finest Beats (Audio)

Last month, Banks released The Course of the Inevitable 2. The album, a follow-up to 2021’s acclaimed effort, features appearances by Jadakiss, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Vado, Dave East, and Tony Yayo.

#BonusBeat: Ambrosia For Heads‘ recently offered a comprehensive recap of Funk Flex’s apparent war of words with Conway The Machine and Pete Rock as part of our What’s The Headline podcast: