Lloyd Banks

Lloyd Banks 20 Songs Into His Next Album

15 Sep 2011 16:48:14 EDT

'I completed my situation with EMI and going right back to the drawing board,' G-Unit MC tells 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Lloyd Banks still hungers for more. Last year, the G-Unit rapper dropped his third album, The Hunger For More 2, and during Wednesday's "RapFix Live" one-year anniversary show, Banks revealed to host Sway that he is well into the recording process for his next album.

Whether it will come out on EMI, where he released his last LP, is uncertain.

"I'm in between situations now. I completed my situation with EMI and going right back to the drawing board," LB said. "I've been working constantly to just make music for my mixtape series and, at the same time, for my next album. I'm about 18 to 20 records into my next album already."

Actually, Banks was just being modest. While he is getting ready to release his Cold Corner 2 mixtape in the coming weeks, he told Sway that he has quite a few tapes already completed.

"I got a couple of mixtapes done. Actually, I had the Cold Corner done for a second, but I just put it off because I could," he said nonchalantly. "I needed more time to work on everything else. I didn't want to keep on givin' 'em a date, givin' 'em a date and pushin' it back like it's an album."

Banks is quite confident about the tape: "It's a mixtape at the end of the day, but it will be the best mixtape that comes out, hands down, this year."

With all the tracks he has already recorded, fans can surely expect a handful of collaborations. Banks didn't reveal any upcoming features, but when a fan tweeted a question, asking if the Queens, New York, spitter would partner up with onetime G-Unit foe Nas, Banks couldn't say for sure but didn't rule it out. "I don't know," he said. "I'd be down for it, though. Nas is a legend."

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Lloyd Banks, Maino, Jim Jones Pop Champagne On 'RapFix' Anniversary

14 Sep 2011 22:31:58 EDT

Consequence, Outlawz, more join host Sway for all-star celebration of premier hip-hop show's first year in the game.
By Rob Markman

It's a party, it's a par-tay! On Wednesday (September 14), "RapFix Live" celebrated its one-year anniversary in all-star fashion. Maino, Lloyd Banks, Diplomats capo Jim Jones, Consequence, the Outlawz and Reek Da Villian all made their way onto the "RFL" couch to toast to MTV News' premier hip-hop show.

Reek set things off with a spirited "RapFix"-themed freestyle, making way for the show's first guest, Maino, who chopped it up with Sway about his favorite show moments. The hard-nosed Brooklyn rapper recounted some of his more memorable ones, including Ja Rule appearing just before he turned himself in for his jail bid, and Nicki Minaj's and Lil Kim's separate appearances.

G-Unit's Lloyd Banks came in to rep for Queens, New York, and clued Sway in on his upcoming mixtape Cold Corner 2. Banks also revealed that after dropping his H.F.M.2 (Hunger For More 2) last year, he has satisfied his contractual commitment to EMI, making him a G-Unit free agent once again.

When he first appeared on "RapFix Live" back in May, Consequence made headlines, going into detail about his falling-out with former friend Kanye West. This time, the Queens MC turned the tables and revealed that he has since spoken to 'Ye and the feud is over. After a heated email exchange between the two, 'Quence claimed that West eventually told the ex-G.O.O.D. Music artist that he "loves" him. That wasn't all: Cons TV also brought his newborn son, Caiden, onto the set and introduced him to the viewing audience.

Although scheduled guests Juelz Santana and Freekey Zekey missed their flight to New York City, Jim Jones represented for his Diplomats crew and talked about their reunion. He assured fans that the long-awaited Diplomatic Immunity 3 is coming, as is his Fly Boys collaboration album with Cam'ron.

The "RapFix Live" anniversary show also paid homage to the late Tupac Shakur. September 13, marked the 15-year anniversary of the death of the fiery rapper, and his protégés the Outlawz — E.D.I. Mean, Noble and Fatal — came through to honor the fallen hip-hop hero.

Together with Sway and 'Pac devotee Jim Jones, the group watched some classic 'Pac footage from the 1996 MTV VMAs and weighed in on his legacy. The group also humbled "RFL" host Sway when they told him of the love Shakur had for him.

For the grand finale, Sway brought out a few of the show's Get in the Game alumni — Feev, Sean Rose, the Boy Illinois, Gerald Walker and the Incomparable Shakespeare — to spit in a freestyle cipher. Banks, Maino, Jim Jones and Consequence popped champagne and looked on as DJs Love Dinero and Superstar Jay spun the beats as the new generation of artists spit the rhymes. But before the curtain closed, it was Cons who took the show out, performing his latest single "Mr. RapFix."

Bring on year two!

Share your favorite moments from the "RapFix Live" one-year anniversary show in the comments section!

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12 Sep 2011 13:40:42 EDT

Maino, the Outlawz also join host Sway on the red couch for one-year anniversary live stream Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
By Rob Markman

What a year! From the ascent of Wiz Khalifa to the rise of Rick Ross' Maybach Music empire; from Lil Wayne's 2010 prison release to T.I.'s latest incarceration; from the tragic death of Nate Dogg to the murder of M-Bone; not to mention the release of the highly anticipated Watch the Throne and Tha Carter IV, "RapFix Live" has been the number one source of all things hip-hop.

After 12 months of hard work, MTV News will celebrate on the "RapFix Live" one-year anniversary show, set to kick off Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. Lloyd Banks, Maino, Trina and the Outlawz will join host Sway in taking a look back at the past year in hip-hop. In this special celebratory broadcast, "RapFix" will also relive the show's greatest moments. Who could forget when Rick Ross graced the "RFL" couch for the very first time, or when Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose professed their love for each other in front of our cameras?

After announcing their reunion, the Diplomats appeared on "RapFix Live" in January — but without Juelz Santana. While the Dipset, covering for their boy, told us Elz had suffered an allergic reaction, we later learned that the Harlem spitter had his studio raided by police. Santana stopped by himself in June to set the record straight.

Cam'ron and crew weren't the only rap supergroup to stop by "RFL," though. Before releasing their Bad Meets Evil EP, Royce Da 5'9" and Eminem invited Sway out to Detroit for a special sit-down. Fans also tuned in, in record numbers, when Consequence swung through the MTV Newsroom and aired out his grievances with onetime label boss and friend Kanye West. Yes, there have been some memorable moments on "RapFix Live" and a wide range of guests, including Lil' Kim, Nicki Minaj, Game, Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule and J. Cole.

But the exclusive interviews aren't the only thing that fans tune in to see on "RapFix Live." At the end of every broadcast, the show's guest isn't allowed to leave until he or she kicks a freestyle rhyme. Pusha T, Fat Joe, Beanie Sigel, Nicki, Reek Da Villain and Fabolous have all blessed the show with their bars.

The ridiculous rhymes and the standout moments — we're celebrating it all on Wednesday's one-year anniversary show! Fans can also vote on their favorite "RapFix Live" freestyles and "RapFix Live" moments on our blog. Be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive.

Catch Lloyd Banks, Maino, Trina and the Outlawz on the "RapFix Live" one-year anniversary show on Wednesday, September 14, at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com!

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50 Cent Shoots Down Lloyd Banks Label Rumors

13 Jul 2011 20:37:40 EDT

'They're like $80 million in the hole,' Fif jokes to MTV News about Def Jam.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by James Smith

When 50 Cent signed G-Unit artists Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo over to EMI, the plan was to set up his longtime Queens, New York, cohorts as artists who could work independently, without his help.

Fif told MTV News that Banks' The Hunger for More 2, which was released last November, was the project that set the trend. "Banks' project is the beginning of them flying solo, flying without my assistance so much," 50 said on the Atlanta set of Tony Yayo's upcoming "Haters" video.

In the past, Fif lent his guidance as well as his voice to his artists' albums. Back in 2004, the G-Unit General appeared alongside Banks on "On Fire," the first single from the Punch Line King's platinum debut. He did the same with Yayo's first single, "So Seductive," the following year. "Like on all their other albums and singles, I was featured on their projects to help bring attention to it and get 'em off into the right space," he said. "This go-around is, like, for them to go away from me and do it on their own. They're setting up shop on their own on this project."

It's been reported that Banks' and Yayo's EMI deal is structured much like an indie. Even though EMI is a major distributor, G-Unit has taken the reins when it comes to positioning both rappers in the marketplace. Even though 50 has championed G-Unit's independence, speculation has swirled about whether Banks would sign to Def Jam where former G-Unit president Sha Money XL now resides as the Senior VP of A&R.

50, without saying it directly, shot down the notion of a Def Jam deal, citing the label's supposed-financial woes. Recently, the legendary rap label has gone through a bit of restructuring with former head honcho L.A. Reid leaving and Barry Weiss stepping in as chairman and CEO. Regardless, Fif doesn't seem too optimistic for a future at the label.

"Well, Def Jam, I'm not even sure what that system — that system is not in a good space right now. They're like $80 million in the hole," he said, before laughing, "Don't tell them I told you."

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Lloyd Banks' 'So Forgetful' Video Inspired By 'Hangover'

30 Mar 2011 18:18:18 EDT

Ryan Leslie says G-Unit rapper's song is based on 'personal experience.'
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Ade Mangum

G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks wants to bring listeners into the world of a rap star with his new video for "So Forgetful." MTV News caught up with the Queens MC on the set of the visual for the Ryan Leslie-produced track from his third album, H.F.M. 2 (Hunger for More 2), which was released late last year on G-Unit Records.

"The way we put the record together was kind of how the video is playing out," Banks said about the song's inception. "I stopped by the studio, [Leslie] was working on a few sounds, and he plays everything, from the drums to the keys. So, he basically started, and I just started writing the verses, and it came to life."

Leslie, a multitalented R&B artist, does double duty on "So Forgetful," producing the synth-heavy track and singing its hook. Leslie believes Banks' genuine perspective on the song — he raps about bagging models and forgetting how they met — makes it one of the album's better tracks.

"What's awesome about this record is that it's a real personal experience," Leslie said. "Brothers be on the road all the time, and we go to different cities, and it's hard to keep track of all the cities and everyone that we meet. Real rap is the best rap. The fact that he was drawing from personal experience to put this record together, I think that's what makes it ... a super strong one."

Banks added that the song's groove, and a certain Zach Galifianakis-starring movie, played an integral part in its creation too. "I believe in that when you building an album, every song should have a different mood," he said. "When I heard the certain notes that was played, it just brought me into the nightlife. It sound like something that I could enjoy, the fellas can enjoy as well as the ladies.

"Actually, I thought [of] the concept of movie ['The] Hangover.' I thought that was pretty dope how they had went away for the weekend and so many things happen and that was kind of like the metaphor. I was bringing them into the life of a rap star or an R&B star — what it would be like. Sometimes, you literally wake up and forgot how you got there."

Are you excited to see the "So Forgetful" video? Tell us below!

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Lloyd Banks Has Plans For Recently Freed Prodigy

10 Mar 2011 22:02:18 EST

Rapper says he and Mobb Deep vet 'gonna get something done.'
By D.L. Chandler, with reporting by Sway Calloway

G-Unit foot solider Lloyd Banks is enjoying quite the resurgence in his nearly decade-long career.

The "Beamer, Benz or Bentley" rapper sat down with MTV News in Las Vegas to talk about the public reception of his H.F.M. 2 (Hunger for More 2) album, longevity in the rap game and collaborating with recently freed rap veteran Prodigy, of Mobb Deep fame.

Regarding his latest album, Banks said, "I feel like the reception matches the first one. For me, it's gonna have a little more extra meaning to it," he continued, "because I remember you come in as a brand-new artist, you feel like it's gonna be that way forever."

"I was just watching Snoop perform," he added. "In my mind, I'm like, 'Damn, it's going two decades into the game,' and I've been in the game approaching a decade now with putting out music. It's kind of expected for you to do good, then 10 years later when you do good, it's a whole 'nother feeling."

The self-proclaimed Punch Line King announced a special track he has in mind for his former G-Unit teammate Prodigy. "I haven't spoken to him yet," Banks said. "We gonna get something done."

Banks added that he has, however, been in contact with the gruff-voiced rapper's longtime producer and comrade the Alchemist and promised that the pair will work together. He mentioned that he already has a record in mind for the collaboration, which would include another artist. "I had the crazy record, [but] I'm not gonna say the other feature, but hopefully I get a good one," he teased.

Who would you like to hear collaborate with Lloyd Banks? Tell us below!

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Lloyd Banks Reveals Fate Of 'Blue Fridays' Series

23 Nov 2010 16:39:51 EST

Hunger for More 2 MC tells MTV News he's going to 'keep supplying the street,' but tracks 'might not drop on Friday.'
By

Lloyd Banks just dropped his The Hunger for More 2 album on Monday, but the Queens MC says he has no plans to quit releasing free music.

MTV News spoke to G-Unit's Boy Wonder about the fate of his weekly Blue Fridays series, and he told us he has to keep feeding the streets.

"As far as the Blue Fridays go, I'm gonna keep going up until the last Friday," Banks said. "So maybe Black Friday, I'll stop there, but that's just that phase. I'll go into a whole new series — I don't want to name anything yet — I'm definitely going to keep putting out content, it just might not drop on Friday."

Banks kicked off Blue Fridays in October to help build anticipation for HFM2, the rapper's first album since signing with G-Unit/EMI.

Hunger for More 2 finds the Punch Line King backed by a heavyweight guest list of beatmakers (Ryan Leslie, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League) and features (Raekwon, Pusha T, Styles P). But while the album is now on sale, Banks is primed to ramp up his freebie deliveries.

"I think I've spoiled people to the point that they expect more than just one song," Banks said. "Maybe I'll start dropping two songs a day; I'm definitely not gonna go back to the point where I stop supplying the street. I think that was part of the reason for the resistance, is that people know you're capable of doing it. It's like showing your trainer you can do 100 push-ups and then try to do 50 tomorrow."

(No pun intended, of course.)

Are you excited for Banks to start up another series? What do you think of HFM2 Tell us in the comments!

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50 Cent Calls Lloyd Banks' LP 'His Independence Day'

19 Nov 2010 12:53:59 EST

'I consciously stayed away from the record so people would identify with his talent,' Fif says of The Hunger for More 2.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Matt Elias

Three years ago, 50 Cent and Kanye West went toe-to-toe in a SoundScan battle over who would sell more albums during the first week of release.

West's Graduation proved to be the winner, but on November 22, when the Chicago rapper releases My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, another member of 50's crew will have a project next to Ye's on the shelves: Lloyd Banks' The Hunger for More 2.

This time, however, there's no billing of a Roc/G-Unit rematch of any sorts — 50 is content to let Banks live on his own.

"This is his Independence Day," 50 told MTV News. "Not just selling his CD independently, because he's operating on my pocket, so it's not the traditional independent budget. But just him being on his own. I consciously stayed away from the record more to create a strong distance, so people would identify with his talent on this actual project. And the timing was amazing, 'cause Kanye has been watching him."

The G-Unit boss was referring to West's Twitter message over the summer stating that Banks was among the most underrated MCs in hip-hop. Banks and West subsequently collaborated on a pair of tracks, West's "Christian Dior Denim Flow" and Banks' "Start It Up."

The latter appears on Banks' album, while West's number was a part of his G.O.O.D. Friday music series.

Banks recently insisted there was never any tension between 50 Cent and West, revealing future collaborations between the two are on deck.

Fif, for his part, teased a remix to Banks' "Start It Up" featuring the G.O.O.D. Friday crew.

"There's another version," he said of the track that already features Swizz Beatz, Ryan Leslie and Fabolous. "You'll get to hear us collaborate more."

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Lloyd Banks Weighs In On Game's Attempted Reunion With 50 Cent

12 Nov 2010 13:54:55 EST

'I can't honestly take that situation seriously,' G-Unit MC tells 'RapFix Live.'
By Paul Cantor, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Lloyd Banks joined Sway on Thursday for his second visit to "RapFix Live," and during their chat, Banks was asked by a fan about 50 Cent's upcoming album.

"It only takes one record to build a masterpiece," Banks said. "When I heard 'What Up Gangsta,' I knew it was enough to build [50 Cent's first LP, Get Rich or Die Tryin'] around that. We come from the same vein. You know most of it's gonna be aggressive, and then the creative flow gonna come out on different times, different records. I just got off the phone with him before I got here. And he was like, 'It only takes one record. I think I made it last night.' I'm excited to hear it."

Banks was also asked about Game's recent attempts to reconnect with 50 Cent. The Compton MC had been tweeting incessantly at 50 Cent earlier in the day, trying to get Fif to reply.

Game tweeted, "@50cent All it take is "ONE PHONE CALL" ! U call me, I call BUCK, tell Banks holla at Yayo & dat puts HIP HOP @ OUR MERCY ! #UknowUcdisN---A."

50 Cent tweeted back, "what are you guys talking about i dont talk to game i have had no communication whit him in years."

Banks dismissed any chance of a reunion, saying the strategy behind G-Unit's sudden re-emergence has little to do with the crew itself, but more so the individual moves of the artists in the camp. In that respect, there would be no reason to reunite with Game, because he's not doing enough on his own.

"I can't honestly take that situation seriously," Banks said. "This time coming around, it was more about us as individual artists building up our brand to eventually come together to form the monster they know as G-Unit the crew. Not to form the crew G-Unit to better our career as solo artists. We did that dance already. 50's first album led into the G-Unit album, which led into my album. Now it's time to pay 50 back. It's time for me to make it easy on him. Not go to 50 to make it easy on us."

Do you want 50 Cent and Game to make up? Let us know in the comments!

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11 Nov 2010 21:54:50 EST

G-Unit MC tells 'RapFix Live' that the duo never had 'any kind of tension in a personal way.'
By Paul Cantor, with reporting by Sway Calloway

By now, it's no secret that Kanye West is a big fan of Lloyd Banks and vice versa. Their mutual admiration might be odd, considering that G-Unit General 50 Cent and 'Ye were embroiled in a rivalry of sorts back in 2007, when their respective LPs, Graduation and Curtis went head-to-head in a release-date showdown. Fif has continued to throw jabs at Kanye over the years, calling his music "safe."

Still, that hasn't stopped the two from working together on 50's upcoming LP. Earlier Thursday (November 11), when Lloyd Banks chopped it up with Sway on "RapFix Live," he said he hadn't heard any new music but confirmed the two are definitely collaborating.

"I know that's gonna happen," he said. "It's sweeter when there's something to wait for. If it happens immediately, there's nothing to wait for. Better late than never."

Banks claimed that the reason 50 is able to work with Kanye now is because their beef was never that deep in the first place.

"If you notice, like, 50 says it all the time: They never would have been able to stand and do the Rolling Stone cover and things like that if there were any kind of tension in a personal way," he said. "This is a competitive sport. It's a vocal sport. So things are documented and you hold onto it. You gotta ask yourself: What did they say before the hype happened? As we grow older, man, you feel kinda stupid sitting next to somebody, you end up in the same venue five years later, knowing that you dissed me, I dissed you because we all had the rapper thing going on."

To hear Banks tell it, one of the reasons why he hasn't heard 50's work with Kanye thus far is because the G-Unit members typically work on their respective LPs separately then play them for each other when they're nearing completion.

"All three albums [50's] never really been there through the recording process," he said. "We're excited to hear it when it's done. I love when 50 comes to my house and he can play me 14 records straight. Then I get a chance to be a fan at the same time. 50's the same way. He respects what I do to the point where he'll just come in at the tail end of the album, where I might have 14 songs done and I'll play it for him, and he can hear it mixed down and mastered and say, 'I like this one.' "

Banks said 50 has the ability to identify which songs of his will be the best ones to release as singles.

"He's always picked the sweet spot, like, 'That's my joint,' " he said. "When I brought him 'Beamer Benz or Bentley,' it was already mixed and mastered. I wanted him to hear it like that. You know what he said? 'Push the button. Get on the phone with iTunes, let's get it linked up, push the button tomorrow.' He financed the situation all the way through."

What do you think a Kanye/50 collabo would sound like? Let us know in the comments!

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