Lloyd Banks promises "Cold Corner 2" is coming soon, talks New Album

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Last year, Lloyd Banks helped to lead a minor G-Unit comeback, first with "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley," and later with his long-awaited album, H.F.M. 2. During his time away from the game, Lloyd Banks returned to the mixtape scene. Following the success of his album, he returned to making mixtapes.

Throughout the summer of 2011, Lloyd Banks promised fans his next mixtape, Cold Corners 2. But, when he realized he would not be able to release it on schedule, Banks decided to cancel it. His reason for cancelling the mixtape was because he did not want to push it back, the way albums get delayed.

However, Lloyd Banks is now done with the mixtape and it will be released in the next few weeks. Aside from completing the mixtape, Banks has also recorded twenty new tracks. Lloyd Banks says those tracks will make up his fourth studio album. Done with his contract at EMI Records, Lloyd Banks finds himself, again, looking for a new label.

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DJ Pauly D talks G-Unit Records deal

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

50 Cent has signed several artists to his G-Unit label this year. Last year, he established a new distribution deal with EMI Records. Through this new arrangement, the label released Lloyd Banks' H.F.M. 2.

Following the new deal, 50 Cent signed Shawty Lo and his entire D4L camp to G-Unit. Lil' Kim announced she was considering signing to G-Unit, too. 50 Cent denied this, but did announce the official signing of DJ Pauly D.

Recently, DJ Pauly D opened up about signing with the resurgent G-Unit Records. Best-known for his role in the popular MTV reality series, "Jersey Shore," Pauly D will also have his own headphone line under G-Unit.

DJ Pauly D admitted he looked up to 50 Cent for some time, so he jumped at the chance to get signed to his label. Now, a part of G-Unit Records, DJ Pauly D is ready to help make club hits for G-Unit.

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Sha Money XL talks Lloyd Banks and EMI Records

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Sha Money XL ran the day-to-day operations for G-Unit Records from 2003 until his 2008 departure. Following his stint with G-Unit, Sha Money was hired by Def Jam. When his former label was searching for a new home, Sha tried to convince 50 Cent to move G-Unit over to Def Jam Records.

Despite coming very close, 50 Cent ultimately decided he would move G-Unit Records to EMI Records. The first release under the new partnership was Lloyd Banks' H.F.M. 2 album. While the album has been met with moderate reviews, record sales have been disappointing.

Banks' former manager, Sha Money XL, feels as if he could have done a much better job for Lloyd Banks. After hearing the album, he agreed it was a great piece of work. Because the album was so good, Sha Money XL said he could have done more for the promotion of the album, especially because he is with Def Jam. But, Sha Money XL feels EMI Records did Lloyd Banks wrong.

As good of an artist as Lloyd Banks is, his new label did little to nothing to properly market him.

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50 Cent disses Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Over the course of his career, 50 Cent has built a persona as a jokester and a bully. For 50, he has had no issues calling out the biggest celebrities and even members of his own crew. G-Unit had become a major force by 2005 and Game was the biggest star, outside of 50, himself.

But, as Game became more and more distant, 50 Cent called him out and the feud started. After being disrespected one time too many, 50 Cent announced Game was no longer a part of G-Unit. In the time since then, 50 Cent has also had issues with G-Unit's other addition, Young Buck.

By 2009, G-Unit had hit rock bottom. 50 Cent's album was a complete flop and Interscope Records had stopped promoting his music. Lloyd Banks took it upon himself to record a number of hits, which became his H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More) album. The hits from that album helped G-Unit rebuild its fan base.

Tony Yayo has remained one of the most-loyal members of the G-Unit label. Still, this did not stop 50 Cent from recording a new song, in which he says "fuck Banks, fuck Yayo, fuck the group." The song was released yesterday, April Fool's Day and 50 Cent is a known prankster. However, 50 Cent is also known for calling out the members of G-Unit when they do not act the way 50 Cent feels they should act.

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Lloyd Banks wants a Hangover

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Currently, Lloyd Banks is promoting the latest single from his comeback album, Hunger for More 2 (H.F.M.). The album has helped revive G-Unit Records. Most importantly, it has helped establish Lloyd Banks in the mainstream without the help of 50 Cent.

Following four successful singles, Banks is preparing for the release of his fifth single, "So Forgetful." Teaming up, again, with Ryan Leslie, the song touches the topic of getting drunk and waking up hungover. Lloyd Banks said the song was inspired by the 2009 comedy film, The Hangover.

Lloyd Banks feels it is good to wake up with a hangover, every now and again. The G-Unit rapper said every person needs at least one experience of a hangover. Personally, Banks thinks it is good therapy to wake up one morning wondering where you are and how you got there. While he usually does not drink, when he does, Lloyd Banks looks forward to the hangover.

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Lloyd Banks credits Raekwon in his Change in Style

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Ever since his 2006 return to the mixtape scene, Lloyd Banks has been credited as the punchline king. This title had been held by Fabolous for many years. But, Lloyd Banks easily took this from him.

Some rappers are not impressed by punchlines. Legends, such as the late Notorious B.I.G., relied heavily on telling a story in their raps. Raekwon is also a major storyteller rapper and after hearing him, Lloyd Banks deicded to change up.

Lloyd Banks decided it was time for him to give up the title as punchline king for a little while. Rae's verse on "Last Train to Scotland" served as Banks' inspiration. It was then when he knew H.F.M. 2 had to be a deep album.

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Album Review: Lloyd Banks - "H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More)"

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Four long years have passed since the last time a new album came from Lloyd Banks. Following a weak effort in 2006 with Rotten Apple, Banks had to prove himself. It was after his album release that the G-Unit movement began to fall off.

Because the Banks release signaled the end of a big moneymaker, Interscope Records never gave him a solid release date. Last year, Lloyd Banks had enough and left the label. After leaving Interscope, he returned to the mixtape scene.

Long before G-Unit made it into the mainstream, they dominated the New York mixtape scene. As a soldier for G-Unit, Lloyd Banks was one of the most popular mixtape rappers in the years before G-Unit exploded onto the charts. In need of a boost, he returned to his grind and built a following.

Early this year, Lloyd Banks recorded the mixtape single, "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley." While the song was catchy, no one expected it to become the hit it has become. The song was so popular that 50 Cent decided to have Lloyd Banks release an album. 50 Cent used the popularity of this song to market G-Unit to a new label. Throughout the summer, there were rumors of the label heading to Def Jam, but in the end, EMI agreed to distribute the next few releases from G-Unit Records.

With a solid record deal behind him, Lloyd Banks recorded an album to support his hit single. The feeling he had when he went in the studio was hunger. Six years ago, Lloyd Banks was so excited as he put together his debut album and he simply wanted more. Despite being a veteran in the game, Banks still wanted more and to take things back. This was the reason he ended up naming his album The Hunger for More 2. Not only was it a return to his rawness, but it was a return to the hunger he did not have on Rotten Apple.

As more songs were released from the album, anticipiation built for the new release. Lloyd Banks promised he would not let the fans down with this album. Banks felt as if he really had to come through for his fans because he has been overshadowed by Kanye West and Nicki Minaj. In an effort to push the creativity, he decided to feature West on the album. Unlike his other two albums, H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More) is star-studded with appearances from Ryan Leslie and Juelz Santana.

Lloyd Banks hoped to prove he could handle himself with other heavy-hitters by collaborating with so many artists. What time Banks was heard on the album, he held his own, but the album comes off as more of a compilation because more of other artists are heard instead of Lloyd Banks, himself. But, every artist on this album came with their best, including Banks. Because of this, the album is still very good, but it appears more as a compilation instead of a solo release.

The album was filled with verses from other artists, but Lloyd Banks held fans down, even after being overshadowed on his "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley" by Juelz Santana. The Hunger for More 2 is definitely a good album and worth the listen.

Hip Hop Vibe's Rating: 6/10

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