Lloyd Banks partners with 50 Cent in G-Unit's hit CD 'T.O.S.'

Lloyd Banks partners with 50 Cent in G-Unit's hit CD 'T.O.S.'

Rapper Lloyd Banks’ career has been built on his childhood friendship with superstar 50 Cent and rapper Tony Yayo, his neighbors in the Southside neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens — but he also has plenty of roots in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Banks, whose father was African-American and his mom Boricua, was raised by his maternal grandparents.

“I have family in Ponce,” says Banks, 26. “It’s a shame that my grandfather passed and I wasn’t able to be there with him.”

Banks first visited Puerto Rico when he was starting to make a name for himself in 2002 to attend the Power Summit, a four-day hip hop and mix show conference held there every fall.

“But every time I go back there, that just adds even more meaning to it because of the fact that this is where [my grandfather] grew up. This is where he’s from,” Banks said.

Banks was signed by 50 Cent to his G-Unit Records in early 2003, around the same time the latter released the smash hit “Get Rich or Die Trying.”

The group had previously built a loyal street following with self-release mix tapes. Their debut album “Beg for Mercy” went double platinum.

Today, under the leadership of 50 Cent, G-Unit has sold over 18 million albums worldwide through solo projects and group ventures, including Banks’ 2004 platinum commercial debut, “The Hunger for More.”

That same year, Banks won the Mix Tape award for “Artist of the Year.”

Earlier this month, G-Unit’s second effort, “T.O.S. (Terminate on Sight),” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. This week it’s at No. 24.

“It’s been five years and, like last time, this one’s definitely aggressive,” says Banks.

Banks says the album’s tempo caters to their core fan base with gritty, street-friendly lyrics and music.

“It has a mix tape feel to it. It’s for the streets,” he says.

Yayo, who was in prison for gun possession during the production of “Beg for Mercy,” is back, while former G-Unit member Memphis rapper Young Buck has fallen out of grace and is featured only on a few songs.

“Everything is coming back full circle now,” says Banks. “As a group, we’re stronger than ever. Now it’s time to come back to the beginning, the same three-man formula we had that actually got us the record deal.”

“T.O.S.” sets off with “Straight Outta Southside,” a tribute number to police shooting victim and Southside resident Sean Bell.

“There’s no way we couldn’t have put out our version and pay our respects,” says Banks. “I’m [ALSO]from Southside. We still swing through there. I was just over there a couple of days ago.

“We actually got the chance to sit down with his family,” he adds. “We have the G-Unity Foundation working with the Sean Bell Foundation to raise money for the family. That’s how that record was inspired.”

source:dailynews