 | Tracklist:
1. Ain't No Click
2. Playboy
3. Warrior
4. On Fire
5. I Get High
6. I'm So Fly
7. Work Magic
8. If You So Gangsta
9. Warrior Part 2
10. Karma
11. When The Chips Are Down
12, Til The End
13. Die One Day
14. South Side Story
15. Just Another Day
16. Take A Good Look
Release Date: 2004 | |
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On 2 Lists
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| Summary: Lloyd Banks follows the mold of “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” to perfection |
1 of 1 thought this review was well written
With the success of 50 Cent, it was only a matter of time before his buddies released albums. First was G-Unit’s very average Beg for Mercy, shortly after, Lloyd Banks’ The Hunger for More followed. Both these albums try to follow the formula used by 50: hardcore, thuggish rhymes with bouncy club beats and radio friendly songs. 50 made it seem easy with his mega selling debut so he is the executive producer on The Hunger for More and the rest of G-Unit, as well as Eminem contribute to Banks’ debut.
While not having 50 Cent’s charisma or catchy hooks, Lloyd Banks is a very capable lyricist and his first single, the Eminem produced ‘On Fire’ may not be 50’s ‘In da Club’ but it’s really not that far behind. Following in the same vein as ‘On Fire’ is the bouncy Timbaland produced ‘I’m So Fly’ with clever punch lines like “They boyfriend’s a scrub like Brillo 'cause Banks is cooler than the other side of the pillow.” Of course having an all-star cast of artists pitching in on your debut album doesn’t hurt like on ‘Warrior Part 2’ with verses by Eminem and 50 Cent as well as an outstanding chorus by the late, great Nate Dogg. Even with all the big names contributing on The Hunger for More, Banks manages to hold his own and doesn’t get outshined by these heavy hitters.
While the first ten tracks (culminating with the awful, poppy ‘Karma’) seem more geared toward mainstream radio, it’s the last four tracks where Banks truly shines. Game makes an appearance on ‘When The Chips Are Down’ with a memorable chorus “The paint is peeling, when the chips are down, you gotta lose all feeling, your head goes round and round.” ‘Til The End’ is a vivid, bone chilling story of life in the hood where “You know it's possible that you won't make it back in your bed,” the slow, keyboard-heavy Eminem beat creates a haunting mood that accentuates the themes Banks talks about. If ‘On Fire’ is Banks’ equivalent of ‘In da Club’, then album closer ‘Southside Story’ is his version of 50’s ‘Many Men’. The Diaz Brothers, although known more for their Reggaeton-style production, provide an exceptional beat, using an awe-inspiring Barry White string sample. Far from glorifying the thug life, ‘Southside Story’ talks about the horrors that go on in the streets of New York.
Banks says on ‘Die One Day’, “It's fucked up when you're only facial expression is a frown”, and he doesn’t exactly ooze personality, he may not have the charisma of 50 Cent but he can paint vivid pictures with his words. 50 Cent fell out of favor with most people very quickly, he along with G-Unit was shunned by the majority of hip-hop fans who proceeded to dismiss all releases by any of their members. If you automatically assume that Banks only released an album because he was affiliated with the biggest hip-hop star at the time, you would be mistaken, that may be the reason he got as much airplay but he proves that he is deserving of this opportunity. Most albums are very frontloaded, having their best songs at the beginning, The Hunger for More has the more popular, catchy songs in the first half of the album; it pulls you in this way and Banks closes it out in spectacular fashion.
Recommended tracks:
Southside Story
Til the End
On Fire
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
very underrated album, some truly great moments on here
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Lloyd was always the only good G-Unit member.
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yo' on fie-ya
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I'm not much for rap, but "On Fire" is such a great song. And "I'm So Fly" is so damn catchy.
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I forgot this dude existed, used to love his singles if I remember correctly
Digging: fun. - Aim and Ignite
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
fuck yes somb this is hugely underrated
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | | Album Rating: 3
Yeah this album isn't bad at all. I really like "When the Chips Are Down"
Digging: The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station Digging: The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station | | |
In way of G-Unit albums, this is second to Get Rich or Die Tryin', followed by Game's The Documentary.
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
I actually like all three of those about equally, just depends on my mood
but yeah those are far and away the three best G-Unit albums
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kinda surprised this dude gets more love than young buck now.
Digging: Jukebox the Ghost - Everything Under the Sun Digging: Jukebox the Ghost - Everything Under the Sun
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Nice Somb! Really good review, really good album.
Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake | | |
"try to do me harm soldier, ill put you in a black bag like grass out the lawnmower"
Bank's had some good mixtape stuff before this. 50's Guess Whos Back has some of G Units best songs.
Digging: Pygmy Lush - Old Friends
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"Lloyd was always the only good G-Unit member."
123
Digging: Porter Robinson - Spitfire Digging: Porter Robinson - Spitfire
| | | Album Rating: 4
kinda surprised this dude gets more love than young buck now
Young Buck was and is really wack, Banks has always been much better
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Banks was just a better lyricist, Buck had the better records they're both ass now though
Digging: Infidel?/Castro! - Bioentropic Damage Fractal
| | | Album Rating: 4
Buck had the better records
really? what's his best?
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always sorta dismissed this guy because never dug the G-Unit stuff, but actually like what ive heard so far.
South Side Story is so good
| | | Album Rating: 4
ohmigodthisisamazing
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Used to have a real copy of this a long time ago. Relistening to Til The End and I think i might have to download it
Digging: Eluveitie - Helvetios Digging: Eluveitie - Helvetios | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
do it
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