Way Back: The Hunger For More (2004)
“Now every now and then, a new kid gotta win
Yeah - but unfortunately for you, I'm him”
- Lloyd Banks on “If You So Gangsta”
In the summer of 2004, nothing was cooler than G-Unit. 50 Cent’s highly anticipated debut Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ went 8x platinum in 2003, and his group’s follow up late that year, Beg For Mercy, eventually sold north of 2 million copies. Naturally, the next move was for each individual member of the crew to get their own solo projects. The first in line, was the witty wordsmith, Lloyd Banks.
While he was born in Maryland, Banks was raised in Queens, New York. He leveraged his features on 50’s first album and his Money In The Bank mixtape series into a considerable amount of hype for his debut album, The Hunger For More.
The album starts with a hard-hitting beat from Mobb Deep’s Havoc on “Ain’t No Click”. Over bells and upbeat drums, Banks and Tony Yayo deliver 48 bars pledging their allegiance to G-Unit. Rumor has it that upon his release from jail, Yayo went directly to the studio to record his verse for the track. He did not disappoint.
The album’s biggest hit was “On Fire”, co-produced by Eminem and with an uncredited 50 Cent on the hook, the song was crafted for success. The song found placement on the 2005 film Fantastic Four’s soundtrack.
In the song’s video we get cameos from all of G-Unit’s roster to that point, including the newly recruited, Game. The end has a snippet of what may be the album’s high point, “Warrior”. It features Banks telling a bit about his background over a sped up McKendree Spring sample:
Uh, You heard right motherfucker
My grandmama daughter ain't raised no sucker
Heart full of pride and a head full of anger
Attitude of a winner infrared for the danger
Lloyd linked up with 50 and Snoop for the smoker’s tribute “I Get High” produced by Hi-Tek. Another banger was the Timbaland-produced “I’m So Fly”. The video features Banks wanted and on the run from federal agents. We get more cameos from the crew, but it’s the slick changes in cars and outfits that make this one memorable. Plus we get some of Lloyd’s slickest punch lines:
Don't confuse me with these suckers
Cause when I spit, You'll hear more "oh's"
Than a skip to my Lou move at the Rucker
Thank God for giving Banks the gift
You think that bandana makes you look gangsta
But all I see is a handkerchief
Nigga, there's no one out the click that freezes
Believe that, cause I ain't scared of shit but Jesus
Look dog, I don't run with the poodles
Difference is, I'm eating in Rome and you eating Roman Noodles
“If You So Gangsta” has some mean bass to accompany Sha Money XL’s grand piano. In the first verse, Banks seems to be detailing the time when he was shot and still walked himself all the way to the hospital.
Gettin' them flashbacks like baby hold on
I never thought I'd sweat so long
And re-enact the scene of my ghetto song
Eyes wanderin' off, breath all gone
Stomach all swoll up, neck all warm
Head still spinnin' off that Seagram and vodka
And you know who shot ya, bitch get the doctor!
“Warrior Part 2” is a decent follow-up to the original with a completely different tone. Produced by Eminem, he comes in with a killer first verse. Nate Dogg laces the hook (sound familiar?), and 50 closes with sixteen strong bars.
The back end of the album isn’t nearly as strong. Avant lends his vocals on “Karma”, the obligatory “song for the ladies”.
Lloyd Banks debut was really solid. He had arguably the best non-50 Cent G-Unit release. He blended good production with his own brand of clever lines and imagery. Throw it back to 2004 this week to celebrate the 15th birthday of this dope album.
