One Be Lo

Rotten Apple is the 2006 album by G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks. It will be Banks' sophomore album, which is scheduled to be released September 19. The title of the album is a play on the New York City nickname, "The Big Apple."

The album is scheduled to feature guest appearances from 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, Alicia Keys, Rakim, Scarface, Mobb Deep, and 8 Ball of 8 Ball and MJG. Tentative track production will come from Sha Money XL, Timbaland, Eminem, Havoc, and Chad Beats.

UGO: Is the album done?

Lloyd Banks: It's completed, but I never stop recording until the deadline. You never know what could come up in the last couple days you record. That is how "On Fire" came up — the last week before the deadline.

UGO: If something comes up is that just the topping on the cake?

Lloyd Banks: You never want to close out the opportunity. That is why they give you a deadline. I've been recording for a long time now and I have a lot of records recorded and I don't want to lose one. I never close the doors until I have to.

UGO: With all the tracks, how do you bump one?

Lloyd Banks: That happens, too. If I felt that the record is hotter, I'll substitute. That is exactly what happens. Sometimes, you've been listening to a record so long that you start to feel a new record more than an old one.

UGO: Do you listen to it a lot to get a feel for it or lay the tracks—

Lloyd Banks: --I'm a perfectionist. I listen to them over and over again to make sure they sound the same way after the twentieth time. I've developed an ear of what a good record is. I don't dwell on a hit. When you have one, your blood rushes and when you bump one of those, you know it.

UGO: Talk about being a perfectionist, I don't think a lot of people who aren't fans of hip-hop think of a hip-hop artists as hard workers.

Lloyd Banks: Everyone thinks it's not hard. It's a grind. I stay in the studio. I don't just sit back. I don't want a good project. I want a great project. I miss a lot of special events but, if you do great work and put time into it, it'll show. The aftermath is your success.

UGO: Does it ever happen that you record something after the deadline and drive yourself crazy because it's really hot?

Lloyd Banks: Yeah, that happens sometimes. Not only that - that is why I keep every recording because you never know what might happen. You might not be able to clear a sample, or the date changes and it can go on. Situations can happen. With "I'm So Fly," that was my second single and I couldn't clear the sample and I sent it to Timbaland, and he worked magic and came up with the way the beat sounds today.

UGO: Do you feel like you are getting better?

Lloyd Banks: I absolutely do. I feel like I'm getting better as far as my lyrical capabilities. It takes a while before you know who you are. The comfort zone that Jay-Z is at to know what he can do creatively - that brings character. The longer you are in the studio, the more comfortable you become. At one point, I wasn't comfortable doing all the choruses. It wasn't because I didn't know how to — I was stuck to a formula. We didn't have to because 50 was such a hook monster that he would come up with a hook before you finished your verse. Nowadays, my passion is going to different levels in hip-hop and the next place for me is producing and doing beats. That is the ultimate way to conquer who you are. I feel like artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre have an advantage being able to create their own sound. I have to wait for the sound to come to me.

UGO: Does it make you hungrier seeing 50 Cent's success and the fact that when someone says your name or G-Unit's, that 50's name comes first?

Lloyd Banks: I think, at first, the initial hunger was to be respected as a solo artist, but that was something that 50 told me to gun for. In the beginning, I was comfortable being a part of the crew. We were all individuals, but together. 50 told us that there was too much talent not to have solo careers. I felt like my first album was a success, it sold two million records, but 50 sold eleven million. I want bigger numbers and bigger albums.

UGO: With N.W.A., it was Ice Cube who had the most success in the beginning when he left the group but, at the end of the game it was Dr. Dre who had the most success.

Lloyd Banks: Exactly. Music is like a tornado — it can go somewhere and then somewhere else. Everybody's legacy is different. Some of the legends started with a gold record. That just keeps your hunger alive when there are more steps to take.

UGO: I read that Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick were your idols.

Lloyd Banks: You know what was great? Back in the day, hip-hop was unified because everyone was in the come-up. That is why the down south movement is coming up so big, because they are doing it collectively. When something new starts, everyone is together, but when things start happening individually people don't need anyone anymore. That was how it was early in the day in New York City. Now it isn't like that anymore.

UGO: I think fans would love hip-hop to be like it was back then when people would just show up at shows.

Lloyd Banks: I would too, but nowadays everybody is a star. Even back then, people knew how to play their part. You had Biz Markie. He didn't claim to be the best rapper — he was the best at his thing.

UGO: Who out there has something you wish you had, skill-wise?

Lloyd Banks: Certain people. When I said I looked up to Slick Rick and Big Daddy Kane, it's because I'm not an animated artist. I'm not the type to jump on a table or have a midget on a chain in my video. I see that and see they have character. When I see Busta, he has on a big muscle suit — those are the things I acknowledge and think it's cool. But I wouldn't do that as an artist. I recognize their talent. I'm sure they look at things I do and respect or anyone else in G-Unit. I look for personality.

skunkie

big propz man..

Nas - Illmatic

props on this shit

50=Cent

propz dude.....