Lloyd Banks- The Hunger For More 17 Years Later
What It Do? Welcome back to my page
One word to describe the PLK (Punchline King) Lloyd Banks, Lyrical. For those who are too young to remember. G-Unit Records took over for a few years and mixtapes were more like gems. Lloyd Banks (Born Christopher Lloyd) grew up in South Side Queens along with childhood friends. 50 Cent and Tony Yayo, who grown with the game rapping over industry instrumentals to create a street buzz. According to MTV News (2004), “Lloyd Banks also held it down for 50 Cent’s musical family- “The Boy Wonder” won Artist on a Mixtape”, (Reid, 2004). On the night where all DJ’s are recognized, Lloyd Banks won best Artist on a Mixtape. This stood out because when you win an award like that, your automatically got the streets approval for DJ’s to spin your records.
On June 29, 2004, Lloyd Banks drops the Hunger For More, his debut from G-Unit Records. In my opinion, he was one of the elite artist to compete with anyone outside of New York. As we dig track by track, I will elaborate on each track and tell how the songs each influence the album. Albums are supposed to be composed and organized to live up to the album title. These songs relate to the album tititle as each song talks about the meaning of Hunger For More.
Ain’t No Click Feat. Tony Yayo
In the intro, Yayo screams “Tony’s Home” so the streets of NY had a problem. Lloyd Banks drops clever bars as he say’s “ And I ain’t stopping/ Only jake or Jacob can freeze me”, (Lloyd Banks, 2004), This is Punchline Kings intro to the industry.
Playboy
DJ Whoo Kid hosting the song gives the mixtape feel that came to life.
Warrior
Lloyd Banks proves he’s a warrior
On Fire Feat. 50 Cent
A cool little club banger, the piano’s though
I Get High Feat. 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg
A great song to smoke too. Whats a weed song without Snoop Dogg on it. Save this for your 420 playlist
I’m So Fly
Timbaland produced and with Lloyd Banks rapping about lavish fashion.
Work Magic Feat. Young Buck
Banks and Buck put the mixtape vibe on this song. All that’s missing is DJ Whoo Kid making his drops.
If Ya so Gangsta
A hilarious hook mocking those who claim to be gangster. Production on here is amazing and with Lloyd Banks spitting grime lines like “ I ain’t from Atlanta but I A-Town Stomp Ya”, (Lloyd Banks, 2004).
Warrior Part 2 Feat. Eminem, 50 Cent, and Nate Dogg
This is actually my favorite song on the album because I love the features. Doo Rag Eminem was untouchable. Nate Dogg singing the hook, Banks hold his own and 50 Cent ends the song well.
Karma Feat. Avant
Lloyd Banks made this song about the females in hip-hop to listen to. What I mean by that, Banks made this song for the females to make the ladies love Punchline King.
When The Chips Are Down Feat. The Game
This song back in 2004 had me thinking The Game was 2Pac but if you listen, it makes sense. The game answers questions about where LA been, it almost died in the same car Suge got grazed in. Pay attention, The Game was telling his story.
Till The End Feat. Nate Dogg
A deep memoir about Banks questioning everybody’s loyalty. Another great story telling by Punchline King.
Die One Day
Every one gonna die one day is what Banks is trying to preach. I felt Banks got his inner New York on preaching his knowledge.
South Side Story
A dope vivid story telling about Queens and the environment around him. Banks raps about how New York.
Overall
Not saying this is the most influential or inspirational New York rapper to drop a project but The Boy Wonder finally made his mark with The Hunger For More. Complex rhymes along with advanced story telling showed the world why Banks won Mixtape Artist of the Year in 2004. After Get Rich or Die Trying and the G-Unit Debut, Beg For Mercy; The album made another notch for the record labels discography. Understand G-Unit Records was dominant in the rap game for quite some time and Lloyd Banks, The Hunger For More is an example of how 50’s soldiers do when it is solo time. I will say this album was well put together!
Live from The Stove Top,
Andrew Kenekham AKA Druski Dru
Reference
Lloyd Banks.(2004). Ain’t No Click Feat. Tony Yayo Retrieved from Genius.com/Lloyd-Banks-Ain’t-No-Click-Lyrics
Reid, S.(2004) Lloyd Banks, Whoo Kid, Big Mike, win at mixtape awards. Retrieved from MTV.Com/News/1484338/Lloyd-Banks-Whoo-Kid-Big-Mike-Win-at-mixtape-awards/
