Lloyd banks ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Ruff Ryders vs. G-Unit: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 9, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Roc-A-Fella vs. G-Unit: The Greatest Rap Crew Competition

In recognition of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, BET Digital, in partnership with Ambrosia For Heads, is celebrating the culture by hosting a bracket-style competition that allows you to determine Hip-Hop’s greatest crew. Rather than having “experts” tell you who is the greatest of all-time, this is your opportunity to collectively make that... Read more

May 1, 2023 Greatest Rap Crew

Method Man & Lloyd Banks Partner On A New Song That’s Razor Sharp

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

March 26, 2023 Audio

Cormega Explains Why The Realness 2 Is A True Sequel To The Original

Upon its mid-2001 arrival, Cormega's The Realness lived up to its title. After years of waiting his turn, the MC asserted himself to step forth with a body of work that combined a passion for wisdom-drenched lyricism with a survivor's tale of life in New York City streets and the Rap industry. The independently... Read more

September 20, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Lloyd Banks Freestyles Over A Classic Dr. Dre Beat & Crushes It

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... Read more

August 11, 2022 Video

Russ Releases A Late Contender For Rap Album Of The Year

In many years for music, some of the best albums arrive towards the end of the calendar. For Ambrosia For Heads readers, 2020's best-of list included late-year albums from Statik Selektah, Nana, 2 Chainz, and Your Old Droog. 2019's AFH tally involved three November titles from Griselda, Gang Starr, and... Read more

December 8, 2021 Audio

Lloyd Banks & Benny The Butcher Release A G(riselda) Unit Collabo

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

June 4, 2021 Audio

Though Nas Has His Back, Dave East Shows He Can Prosper On His Own (Video)

Dave East presented fans with his Paranoia 2 mixtape at the top of the year. It contains 15 tracks and features from T.I., Lloyd Banks, Tory Lanez, and others. Aside from the Harlem native's knack for ear-catching bars is his ability to release a steady stream of videos off of... Read more

May 17, 2018 Video

Lloyd Banks Assists As Conway Campaigns To Prove That He’s The Grimiest, Ever (Audio)

That highly distinctive deep-atmosphere, kept so twitchy and tense, that defines the Griselda Records sound is on full display in “Bullet Club” – the first single taken from Conway The Machine’s upcoming G.O.A.T. The track sees him paired up with G-Unit MC Lloyd Banks and fellow Griselda affiliate Benny. DOOM &... Read more

September 9, 2017 Audio

Lloyd Banks’ Single Shows That His Punchlines Are Still Money (Audio)

G-Unit’s own Lloyd Banks has been “On Fire,” as of late. Last week, the self-proclaimed Punch Line King (aka P.L.K.) caught the game off guard, spitting a scorching freestyle aimed at some of today’s funny-style MCs for Funkmaster Flex on HOT 97. This week, the Queens, New York MC capitalized... Read more

July 20, 2017 Audio

Lloyd Banks Rips Today’s Funny Dressing MCs In 1 Of The Year’s Best Freestyles (Video)

There’s something about the rolling bass, accented piano stabs and knockin’ boom bap drums of the beat for Nas' classic “N.Y. State of Mind” that brings out the best in MCs. In rare form, fellow Queens, New York representative Lloyd Banks stopped by HOT 97 to kick it with Funkmaster... Read more

July 14, 2017 Video

Lloyd Banks’ “The Last Of A Dope Era Dying” Is Symbolic Of So Many Changes (Audio)

Perhaps second to only the "Hip-Hop as a woman" metaphor, MCs have long employed the parallels of rapping with hustling. The very first song on Outkast's debut album ("Myintrotoletuknow") said it plainly. DJ Premier scratched that Andre 3000 line on Jay Z's more expanded "Rap Game / Crack Game" three... Read more

December 3, 2016 Audio

Trick Or Treat: Lloyd Banks Has Some Ear Candy In A Sweet New Mixtape (Audio)

Just over one month since releasing the All Or Nothin': Live It Up EP, Lloyd Banks returns with more free music. The Queens, New York veteran punctuated Halloween (October 31) with his Halloween Havoc 3: Four Days Of Fury mixtape. 50 Cent's longtime right hand stands on his own two... Read more

October 31, 2016 Audio

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

After signing to Eminem's Shady Records in 2000, fellow Detroit native Obie Trice (real name, no gimmicks) dropped his debut album Cheers, three years later. Production from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Mr. Porter and others made it a heavy hitter, as did guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, D12, 50 Cent,... Read more

September 29, 2016 Do Remember

Lloyd Banks Releases A Hot New Mixtape ft Joe Budden, Prodigy & More (Audio Stream)

Last week, Lloyd Banks released "Reap What You Sow," the lead single from his latest project and one of the strongest lyrical barrages of his career. Prior to the song's release, the Queens, New York MC tweeted of the new EP arriving today (September 26), "time to show these fools... Read more

September 26, 2016 Audio

Lloyd Banks Is Releasing A New Mixtape This Week. Here’s The 1st Single (Audio)

Lloyd Banks hasn't released a studio album since 2010's H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More 2), but the Queens, New York MC has been far from quiet. In addition to a handful of mixtapes he's dropped in the last six years, he spent much of 2015 delivering a series of... Read more

September 20, 2016 Audio

This Is How We Do: 50 Cent & The Game End Their Beef (Video)

One of the longest standing feuds in Hip-Hop has been between 50 Cent and The Game. The onetime mentor and protege team (along with Dr. Dre) responsible for the success of The Documentary has been at odds for the nearly a dozen years since. In late February of 2005, tensions... Read more

August 2, 2016 Video

Game & Lloyd Banks End Their Beef. 50 Cent Has Questions

This week, two critical members of the early 2000s G-Unit group reunited. Game and Lloyd Banks were photographed together in Dubai—with Game's caption "still." Lloyd, who is still in the group alongside 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, and Kidd Kidd, had reportedly not been photographed with his former band-mate... Read more

February 19, 2016 Fresh

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of April 2015 in One Playlist (Audio)

The month of April 2015 in Hip-Hop brought some welcomed surprises. A slew of artists released high quality freestyles over classic 90s beats, including Fabolous, Jadakiss, Styles P and Lloyd Banks, to name a few. Raekwon laid the groundwork for his F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art) album, with releases featuring... Read more

May 5, 2015 Audio

Lloyd Banks Perfectly Matches The Pharcyde’s Flow on His Passin’ Me By Freestyle (Audio)

Lloyd Banks has released some of the best freestyles of the month, but he's outdone himself with the latest. Banks picks The Pharcyde's seminal "Passin' Me By" track, produced by J-Swift, and perfectly mimics the flows and cadences of multiple members of the group. As the G-Unit member tailors his... Read more

April 24, 2015 Audio

Lloyd Banks Drops a Killer Freestyle on a Vintage Dr. Dre Beat (Audio)

Of the many 90s Hip-Hop freestyles over the last few weeks, Lloyd Banks has released some of the best. After tackling classics by Black Moon and Raekwon, Banks sets his sights to the Left Coast and unleashes a powerhouse verse over the "Serial Killa" track Dr. Dre produced for Snoop... Read more

April 19, 2015 Audio

Lloyd Banks Sounds Like He Was Built to Flow on This Raekwon Classic (Audio)

Lloyd Banks is on a mission with these takeovers of classic 90s Hip-Hop beats. After rocking out over Black Moon's "How Many MCs" earlier in the week, Banks serves up some icy cold lyrics over the "Criminology" beat RZA concocted for Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx second single. Banks,... Read more

April 10, 2015 Audio

How Many MC’s Could Freestyle Over This Black Moon Classic As Well As Lloyd Banks? (Audio)

G-Unit has been quite active throughout the last month. With their second EP, The Beast Is G-Unit and a number of freestyles from Kidd Kidd during his promotion for XXL's 10th spot in the 2015 Freshmen class, the Unit has been hard at work. While Tony Yayo recorded his own freestyle... Read more

April 7, 2015 Audio

G-Unit With The Roots? Why Hasn’t This Happened Before? (Video)

For the last 15 years—and pretty much always—G-Unit and The Roots have been across the room from each other in Hip-Hop. While 50 Cent and Questlove are two of the more outspoken voices in the genre, the Philadelphia Grammy Award-winning band and the Queens, New York multi-platinum collective are really... Read more

March 26, 2015 Video

50 Cent Says Suge Knight Was Going to Kill Dr. Dre. G-Unit Gets Real with The Breakfast Club (Video)

Today (March 3), G-Unit's Beast Is G-Unit EP released. 50 Cent's crew's second EP in as many years is sure to move the charts around. The best promotion though, is a quality interview with Fif, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks—the core of the Unit since the Columbia Records days. The... Read more

March 3, 2015 Video

G-Unit Still Makes Ski Mask Music. Press Play and Duck (Audio)

Next Tuesday (March 3), G-Unit will release their second EP in as many years. The Beast Is G-Unit is a six-track short player from the quintet. "Boy Boy" is one of the center pieces from the work, boasting a song produced by Seattle, Washington's Jake One (De La Soul, Freeway,... Read more

February 27, 2015 Audio

Eminem & DJ Whoo Kid Have Released an Epic 66-Song Mixtape of Shady Classics (Mixtape)

Eminem is pulling out all the stops for the 15th anniversary celebration of Shady Records. In the span of two weeks, he released an instant classic 18-minute cypher featuring himself, Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf, and he's released some absolute killer records. He has an anniversary album coming soon and, as we... Read more

November 22, 2014 Mixes

G-Unit Sounds Straight Outta 2002 On This EP Bonus Cut (Audio)

G-Unit's The Beauty Of Independence is living up to its title in the physical packaging. For Best Buy buyers of the 2014 EP, consumers get "Ease Up." The non-EP song bonus exclusive sounds like it's out of that No Mercy, No Fear or In God's Plan era of the Gorilla Unit.... Read more

November 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Lloyd Banks Is Out To Shine On A G-Unit Bonus Record (Audio)

If you cop The Beauty Of Independence at Best Buy, you'll get a bonus song on the EP. "Big Body Benz" might seem like a throwaway car song, but listen closer. A point of illustration for ambition, sturdiness, and resilience the record is one of the places where Lloyd Banks... Read more

November 8, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit Jack Troy Ave for His (Musical) Money (Audio)

The track for Troy Ave's "All About the Money" BANGS. So much so, G-Unit (minus 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks) had to jack him for the beat and put their own spin on it. Check out "All About the Drug Money." Also, you can catch part 2 of their extended... Read more

October 10, 2014 Audio, Video

G-Unit is Real and Uncut in This Extended Interview (Video)

XXL conducted an interview with G-Unit in 50 Cent's home in Connecticut. They chose the location because in 2008, it was there that the Unit was together for the last time before an extended, acrimonious and well-documented split. In this interview, 50, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck and Kidd... Read more

October 8, 2014 Video

Finding the GOAT: Talib Kweli vs. Lloyd Banks…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

September 26, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

50 Cent & Snoop Dogg GET REAL About Rap Crews & Money, With G-Unit Sitting There (Video)

For all the reality TV shows, the Snoop Lion campaign, and the family-friendlier Snoop, there's still reminders of what Heads heard on "Deep Cover" 23 years ago. One of the platforms for this side of Snoop is the GGN. Interviewing all five members of G-Unit, Snoop begins in true G-fashion,... Read more

September 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

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

It appears as though G-Unit is on a bit of a freestyle tour. After some East Coast stops last week, the veteran, onetime platinum crew stopped through with the L.A. Leakers. While 50 Cent opted out, Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Kidd Kidd flexed their vocal muscles over... Read more

September 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit With A Live Band? Watch ‘Em. Plus, Check Out A 13-Minute Freestyle (Videos)

Following the G-Unit group's first retail release since 2008 (The Beauty Of Independence), the quintet is hard at work. For "Watch Me," the Queens-to-Nashville-to-New Orleans troop hits a warehouse to join a live building. The group continues to charm cameras, delivering bars with precision: If that's not enough, the clique... Read more

September 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

G-Unit Surprise Releases 6 New Songs In The Beauty Of Independence (EP Stream)

Ten years ago, 50 Cent and G-Unit were a fixture of events like the MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammy Awards, Eminem's "Free Yayo" shirts and all. These days, nobody from the G-Unit (or Shady, or Aftermath) camp seemed to be at the Los Angeles Forum for the 2014... Read more

August 25, 2014 Fresh

We All Know G-Unit Is Back & They’re On The Come Up Once Again (Video)

Take a step inside the lavish laps of luxury that is the home of G-Unit captain 50 Cent for the group's latest video, "Come Up." The Unit boast some of the paper chasing bars of a hustler that the group is known for, a la "Stunt 101," on a single... Read more

August 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

50 Cent & G-Unit Are Outstanding, On A Feel-Great Gap Band Instrumental (Audio)

After tackling some contemporary production from DJ Mustard, Hit-Boy, and Mike MiLL Made It, 50 Cent and G-Unit wanted to take a page from Raekwon's recent book. The quintet (with Kidd Kidd now square in the mix) hopped on a Gap Band "Outstanding" instrumental, and popped bottles in lyrical form,... Read more

July 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit Borrows YG’s DJ Mustard-Produced Hit Beat (Audio)

G-Unit's jackin'-for-beats continues into the holiday weekend. 50 Cent and his cohorts, which now seems to permanently include Kidd Kidd, hop on YG's Drake-assisted My Krazy Life hit, "Who Do You Love?" Keeping the DJ Mustard-produced-song's structure in tact, the quintet brags it up like the old days, and make... Read more

July 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit Is Movin’ That Dope, Putting Out Music Like It’s The Early 2000s (Audio)

If you're a Young Buck Head, you'll love G-Unit's latest mixtape track. Hopping on Future's "Move That Dope" instrumental (produced by Mike WiLL Made It), Buck sounds like he did 10 years ago, with a crisp vocal delivery, syncopated flow, and most of all, a strong dose of Cashville confidence.... Read more

July 1, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit Rocks To DJ Mustard, Over Jeremih’s Snap-Inspired Hit (Audio)

No song seems safe. G-Unit's mixtape-style takeover continues, as 50 Cent, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, and Kidd Kidd raid Jeremih (who's been down with Fif for years), for his "Don't Tell 'Em" chorus and DJ Mustard beat. Clearly aimed at bulking up a club record, the song interpolates... Read more

June 27, 2014 Audio, Fresh

50 Cent Hints Toward A G-Unit Mixtape In Near Future, Opens Up About Reunion (Video)

50 Cent talks about his new love interest in film, Tatted Up Holly (3:00), his new fighting regimen (6:00), his new movie with Lionsgate, BMF (Black Mafia Family) (12:00), and the rough release date for a brand new G-Unit album (17:50), as well as a mixtape. The Animal Ambition artist... Read more

June 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

It’s Not Just Studio & Stage, G-Unit Is Back With A Proper 4-Man Visual (Video)

Simple, but effective. G-Unit's first four-man video in over six years comes to the light. Just like 50 Cent's Animal Ambition roll-out, the clique goes back to the first song they cut since the Summer Jam stage. Called "Nah, I'm Talking About," the mixtape-style track on a Hit-Boy beat has... Read more

June 17, 2014 Fresh, Video

50 Cent & G-Unit Rip Their Next Joint Over A Vintage Wu-Tang Clan Deep Cut (Audio)

As they motion towards a reported third studio album, G-Unit is incredibly active. The reunited lineup of 50 Cent, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks has hopped on instrumentals from Hit-Boy, Trey Songz, and Drake in the last two weeks. Now, the Hip-Hop heads (remember that Fif's favorite rapper... Read more

June 16, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Newly Reunited G-Unit is Wasting No Time. Here’s Another New Track (Audio)

Since publicly reuniting a little over a week ago at Hot 97's Summer Jam, G-Unit has wasted no time releasing new music. After releasing 3 songs last week, here's another track. This time, they take a spin on Trey Songz's Ordinary Ni**a. Check it out. Related: G-Unit’s Engine Just Started... Read more

June 10, 2014 Audio

G-Unit’s Engine Just Started And They’re Already Gunning From 0 To 100 (Audio)

As if their performance at Summer Jam, an all new track, and subsequent reunion announcement wasn't enough for fans of 50 Cent and G-Unit, don't worry, your day just got better. With an exclusive release on ThatsEnuff.com, the squad takes over the recently released Drake single, "0-100," and provides that... Read more

June 3, 2014 Audio, Fresh

G-Unit’s Reunion May Go Beyond The Summer Jam Stage, With New Album News

It's been six years since G-Unit put out their second and last studio album T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight), and just two days ago, The Unit surprised everybody with their performance at this year's Hot 97 Summer Jam. To add to the hype and less than 24 hours after they graced... Read more

June 3, 2014 Fresh

G-Unit Releases Their First Song With Young Buck Since 2008 On A Hit-Boy Beat (Audio)

Strategy much? Less than 24 hours after the 2014 Summer Jam onstage reunion, G-Unit entrusts DJ Enuff with their first song (in three years as G-Unit / in six years, with Young Buck). Buck Marley kicks things off with a verse on the quartet's snatching of Hit-Boy's "Know What I'm... Read more

June 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

As Predicted, The Mid-2000s G-Unit Reunites As 50 Cent & Young Buck Make Peace

After months of speculation, 50 Cent's co-headlining Summer Jam set yesterday (June 1) included a career benchmark. The Queens, New York superstar reunited with his multi-platinum G-Unit group at East Rutherford, New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. The group's most famous, Beg For Mercy lineup of 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo,... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh

A Reunited G-Unit Group At Summer Jam? Young Buck Tells DJ Whoo Kid His Thoughts… (Audio)

50 Cent is gearing up for Animal Ambition next month. Although a Game reunion/armistice still appears premature, many Heads speculated that perhaps Fif will shake his hometown with a G-Unit (post-2005, anyway) reunion on the Summer Jam stage. HOT 97's annual concert-spectacular has become the venue for Hip-Hop to do things... Read more

May 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh