One Be Lo

Monday - August 28, 2006

Although he's sold more than two million records, Lloyd Banks is not resting on his laurels or his association to the G-Unit head of state. His hunger for individuality, while remaining loyal to the root of his beginnings, is why he's been able to remain a factor in the world of hip-hop. There is a lot riding on the success of Banks' sophomore album, Rotten Apple. 50 Cent's fame has carried him to levels of success the G-Unit crew could only imagine, yet the lack of sales from his artists has left much to be desired.

With the exception of Young Buck, Lloyd Banks has proven to be the only other artist of the crew with the "it" factor to make it happen. Creative minded in his own right, Lloyd Banks' ability to put pen to pad while collaborating with the G-Unit General over a Marshall Mathers' special is not to be mocked. Banks' love for the ladies gave us an early sneak peak of what would've been the highly anticipated Rotten Apple, when portion of his album was leaked to the Internet. Not to be out done, he reached into his catalog of a 100-plus recordings and with the weaponry and veteran skills of Rakim and Scarface, Lloyd Banks is ready to silence the critics, who think he lacks the skill to stand on his own.

Currently promoting the forthcoming release of Rotten Apple, Lloyd Banks shared with BallerStatus.com how he's avoided the beef and why he wants nothing more than for his fans to allow him to grow and come along for the ride.

BallerStatus.com: How long have you been rapping?

Lloyd Banks: Since about the beginning of 2002. I actually didn't get into the recording booth until I was like 18, so it hasn't been that long. I've played with the idea of music for a long time, but professionally, it hasn't been that long.

BallerStatus.com: Would you say rapping is something you've always wanted to do?

Lloyd Banks: Yes. To be honest with you, it was one of the things, but I did a few things. I played basketball for a long period of time, but my grades didn't match up [laughing] -- can't go to the NBA without the grades. The music actually started off being something I was doing in school when I was supposed to be doing my work and then it became a habit. But the crazy thing about it is, I was good at shorthand or like those people in court, I could write down things real fast and I always had an answer. It was not always the right answer, but I was good at taking in the things around me so I would have an answer. The more I kept at it, the better I got. The only class I probably did pass was English. From that experience, I started putting words together and started rapping. But, I never wanted to come out premature or wanted to be heard when I was 15, 16. I knew at 21 I wasn't going to be going through the same things. I could've signed a record deal along time ago, but I didn't want to sell myself short.

BallerStatus.com: 50 Cent has reached another level of success than you all and though he has brought you all along for the ride, there are still those of you in G-Unit -- like Young Buck -- who still relate to the cat that's out there huggin' the block. Why do you think that is?

Lloyd Banks: They see the grind. 50 is on a different level from where we are, so we have those things that keep us grounded. But at the same time, if he wasn't so successful, we wouldn't have the drive or goals to shoot for. 50's success makes me know there are more goals to achieve. It's been a good thing to be an underdog in your own crew; we give each other inspiration. If you look at our crew, none of our record sales match each others'. They're all over or under by a certain amount of numbers. I just stay grounded. I lived in my neighborhood a long time before I got a record deal, so it's going to be hard to forget what just was not even four years ago.

BallerStatus.com: Your struggles maybe similar to 50 Cent's is, but your experiences and your stories are unique to you. How do you come out from under his shadow and stand on your own ten as Lloyd Banks?

Lloyd Banks: It's a two-way street because sometimes it keeps you the underdog when they link our successes together. I mean, I sold over two million records with my first album and for a New York artist, that hasn't been done in a long time since 50. And it seems that gets overlooked. The public sees it all as a G-Unit movement because it was more than just music: it was sneakers, clothes, movies. All of that is attached to it. As a solo artist, I still have a lot more to prove and I understand that. I have a lot more music in me; I just need people to slow down a little bit and come back down to reality. I was 21-years-old with one album out. I have at least four or five more albums in me easily. That is what I'm trying to focus on, really getting my spot in hip-hop. I feel like I got a really good start and I want to finish it off the same way.

BallerStatus.com: Explain not having the opportunity to perfect your stage presence because of the 50's success.

Lloyd Banks: I didn't start off in smaller venues, I started out in front of thousands of people and like I said, it can be seen as good or bad because I didn't have any preparation. I had to jump right on to the crowd 50 Cent attracted, so I never had an open-mic session or did a Freestyle Friday. I went straight to the majors and it was like you catch up or get left. The first time I performed was in Puerto Rico in front of like 5,500 people; that was my first time leaving the state, going that far and I was just high off of that. From that moment of being out there and being on stage, I knew this was it for me and I had to catch up or get left behind.

BallerStatus.com: I know that 50 Cent is your man and you hold him down, but somehow or another, your name has stayed clear of the controversy. How have you done that?

Lloyd Banks: I just didn't get caught up in it. Supporting him in what's going on -- negative or positive -- didn't mean I had to be caught in the middle. I will say this to you, don't get used to it. It's only because of the fame. If you have a cold you're in the paper. The bigger your name gets, the more the controversy is going to surround you. At the same time, I made it, so my music spoke for itself and it kept me separate.

A lot of that stuff that went on was because people weren't in a good space and they wanted to take shots or go back and forth. Some of it could've been avoided and some of it couldn't. Like when it came to the legal stuff. The fact of the matter is this: when you come from an environment where trouble is all around you, things tend to follow you. When you come from where we come from, it can get crazy. I'm out about a $150,000 in lawyers fees from little things like me and my boys getting into trouble and sh-- like that.

You have to remember who you are now and when you want to go back to the neighborhood, you just can't go back in the same way and it's a catch twenty-two. Having to move a certain way and snap your finger and remember, you're an entertainer now. After dealing with all that sh--, the music comes easy. You can go into the studio and make an album in a month. I have to say this again, it's the staying grounded and staying humble that works in my favor.

BallerStatus.com: What is the difference between Hunger For More and Rotten Apple?

Lloyd Banks: The name difference is simply growth in who I am as an artist. There is not a day that goes by that something is not added to what I do. That would probably be the biggest difference. I wrote this album (Rotten Apple) dealing with all the things we talked about early on. I wouldn't say I had a lot of anger, but I had a lot of drive because people had so much to say and they were casting doubt about whether I would do good or saying I'll only do good because of 50. I was dealing with a lot of that while on the road and a lot of the album was made on the tour bus. And whenever we would stop in certain cities -- during the Rock the Mic tour with Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes and all them -- I actually had to put my album to the side so I could also complete my contributions to the Beg For Mercy album. Another difference was my ability to be a perfectionist. I have a studio in my home, so I could hear songs over and over and record until I got it right or maybe heard a feature that should be on a song. I write all my own music, even the R&B choruses you may hear. I've always been a good writer.

BallerStatus.com: What about creative control? Is 50 really hands on or do you have say in the creative process?

Lloyd Banks: I have complete control. I don't have an A&R and I am not babysat. I learned from the beginning how to pick a hot song. I don't have the advantage say Eminem, Havoc or even Dre have, but maybe one day I will learn how to get in there and push the buttons myself. With my control, I control the whole pace of my records and when I make my beat **********, whether it be from a known or unknown producer, I dictate the sound, not the other way around. 50 knows I know what I'm doing, though some artists would like to pick their own songs, they don't know how.

BallerStatus.com: The world is watching, you really have to come out the gate hard with this one because your labelmates weren't able to transfer their ties to 50 into record sales. Do you feel an added pressure to put G-Unit on your back?

Lloyd Banks: Of course. If it weren't hard sometime,s it wouldn't feel so good when you actually get over those hurdles. It's déjà vu. It's nothing new, it's the same thing I heard during the preparation for my first album and I accept the challenge. I accept it because I know I am bringing good music. We just came out from a year of people going at each other with stuff like I'll kidnap your daughter or I'll blow up your house or people wanting to hear who had the best jokes. Once all the back and forth stops, people will remember why they like what I brought to the table from jump street.

BallerStatus.com: The climate in hip-hop has changed a lot and people are looking back on some of the days when songs had more substance and artists made us aware of the struggle. Can we expect some of that from this new album?

Lloyd Banks: I'm growing everyday, so my message is going to change a little. But at the same time, when you say growing, that means there are still things that you have to get through. I don't want to put out one particular message and re-nig on it. All I ask is that my fans grow with me. I'm not going to be all on TV and making statements about the President and then do something else. To be straight up, we got problems with the police and the government is not too happy with G-Unit, so for me, it would be smart and stupid. If you are going to stand for something, you have to stand for it 24-7, you can't just speak your mind to sell records. If it was that serious, then I would do it, but I enjoy making music and I'm trying to have fun with the music. I enjoy performing in front of crowds, touring the world, so I don't want to lose the fun in it. Yes, it's about the struggle, but it's also about having fun in spite of the struggle. The story of the struggle is what got us living right, right now. Again, I ask my fans to grow with me and keep their expectations realistic.

BallerStatus.com: The songs on Rotten Apple, are they the ones that were leaked?

Lloyd Banks: The songs that were leaked were songs I recorded after Hunger For More was released. Even after that album came out, I didn't stop recording and even though this album is complete, I'm still recording working toward my third album.

BallerStatus.com: Tell me about Rotten Apple, what are the people getting?

Lloyd Banks: This album, Rotten Apple is all new material. It's just crazy. Production from some well-known producers and some I apologize not knowing the names of, but when the album drops, they'll get their shine. I'd rather break a big time producer than them break me because that will give people more sh-- to talk about me not holding my own. I do have Eminem on the album once again; he produced the first single, "Hands Up." I have Havoc, Timbaland, Ron Browz on production. Those are some of the familiar faces on the album.

BallerStatus.com: What about the features?

Lloyd Banks: Of course I have the crew on it and after my crew gets on it, there's not too much room for anyone else to get on it. I did get Rakim on this album, which was the biggest feature to me. But, I also have Scarface, 8-Ball and Musiq Soulchild. I try to stay away from a whole lot of features because people don't pay $16.99 for an album full of features.

BallerStatus.com: What is the one misconception about you, you want to clear up?

Lloyd Banks: That I'm not happy. This industry is designed to build you up and break you down and when that happens, you have to find another success and that is what I've done despite everything. People thinking I want to go off and do my own thing, this is my own thing. It was G-Unit before all of this other stuff. We were all in the neighborhood together. Before the money, we had each other. For me to go off and separate would be discrediting myself. I'm the co-founder of G-Unit Records and it is just as much my crew as it its 50 or Yayo's. I'm good financially and for me to go off would be stupid.

BallerStatus.com: When does the album drop?

Lloyd Banks: October 10th.


Source:

anseny

propz is this new ?

Jay Day

propz, yeah I think it's new

demagunit

propz.........

BWS4LIFE/GUNOT

propz.......................

Supa-Fly_Slick

propzz mayne

Hakaroodi

propz man.. good read wanted 2 hear more about rotten apple though.. and yo wha the fuck is goin on with Alicia Keys.. she not on this album then or wah..??

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criff

OCTOBER 10 is the date!! And all you game fans that will come soon and hate, Read this interview and see the realness and matureness in it. Then compare it to an Game interview and you see the difference between a real dude and a fake.

EdG810

major props......well so is Rakim a feature or a sample??? and his already workin on a 3rd album damn..........

Ts.Krusteff

okay...props

Europe Guy

propz man...

!!+P+H+N+X+!!

props, good read

MojiGFX...

propz on the news.

Fabuless

wait for the hate on banks now lmao

S.P.I Cripin

that was a good read, props

-K.P-

agree with that

Thug 911

good read <

theproblem1989

propz men good read

|6|1|5| .

Props Good Read!!!

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HighRolla

propz on the info

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osamabenladen

props .

Young C

props.......

RussianBanger

wow, still no hate? haha this might turn out good:D

C.Smith

propz on the interview

NayoInc

Propz mane...Good Read...