G-Unit Records

G-Unit Records
G-Unit logo.jpg
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 2003
Founder 50 Cent
Sha Money XL
Distributing label Interscope Records (U.S.)
Polydor Records (outside U.S.)
Genre Hip hop
Country of origin United States
Official website www.G-UnitSoldier.com

G-Unit Records is an American record label specializing in hip hop music. It was founded by 50 Cent and his manager, Sha Money XL in 2003. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.

Contents

History

2003–2005

Due to the success of 50 Cent's debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', he was granted his own record label. This was when G-Unit Records was created.[1] G-Unit, then consisting of Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and Young Buck, was signed to the label as a group as well as solo artists.

2003 saw the release of G-Unit's commercial debut, Beg For Mercy, which sold 377,000 copies in its first week of release.[2] It has now sold over 2.7 million units in the U.S.[3] and 6 million copies worldwide.[4] It has been certified 2× platinum by the RIAA.[5]

After the well publicized departure of The Game in early 2005,[6] Spider Loc was signed to the label.[7] As a result of the problems that 50 Cent encountered with The Game, he was not sure whether or not to sign any new artists to his "family", which was how he perceived G-Unit as a group and record label. However, later that year, the opportunity to sign Mobb Deep[8] and M.O.P.[9] came up.

2006–Present

In 2006, G-Unit Records signed Young Hot Rod.[10] In the same year, in conjunction with Mobb Deep's Infamous Records, they signed both Nyce and 40 Glocc. In 2007, Mazaradi Fox was also added to the label.[11]

In 2008, amidst rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit between 50 Cent and Young Buck, 50 Cent officially kicked Young Buck out of the group, though assuring that he was still signed with the label.[12] Numerous slander songs then arose on the internet from both camps, with Young Buck being included on a track with former rival The Game. 50 Cent then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling out; 50 Cent was owed money by the Southern rapper. Young Buck later stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak.[13] The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each other, while the feud seems to be settling down as of late 2008, with Young Buck stating he's been working on his latest album, which to still be released under the G-Unit label.[14]

Roster

Artists

Act Year signed # Albums released under G-Unit
G-Unit 2003 2
Lloyd Banks 2003 2
Tony Yayo 2003 1
Young Buck 2003 2
Mobb Deep 2005 1
Spider Loc 2005 -
M.O.P. 2005 -
Young Hot Rod 2006 -
Nyce 2006 -
40 Glocc 2006 -
Mazaradi Fox 2007 -

DJs and producers

Joint venture artists

Former artists

Act Year signed # Albums released under G-Unit
The Game[15] 2004 1
Olivia[16] 2005 -

Discography

Past releases

Album information
G-Unit – Beg for Mercy
  • Released: November 14, 2003
  • Chart position: 3 U.S.[17]
  • U.S. sales: 2.7 million +[3]
  • Worldwide sales: 6 million +[4]
  • RIAA certification: 2× Platinum[5]
  • Singles: "Stunt 101", "Poppin' Them Thangs", "My Buddy", "Wanna Get to Know You", "Smile"
Lloyd Banks – The Hunger for More
  • Released: June 29, 2004
  • Chart positions: 1 U.S.[18]
  • Worldwide sales: 2 million[19]
  • RIAA certification: Platinum[20]
  • Singles: "On Fire", "I'm So Fly", "Karma"
Young Buck – Straight Outta Cashville
  • Released: August 24, 2004
  • Chart position: 3 U.S.[21]
  • U.S. sales: 1.1 million[22]
  • Worldwide sales: 2.3 million[23][24]
  • RIAA certification: Platinum[25]
  • Singles: "Let Me In", "Shorty Wanna Ride", "Look at Me Now"
The Game – The Documentary
  • Released: January 18, 2005
  • Chart position: 1 U.S.[26]
  • U.S. sales: 2.5 million[27]
  • Worldwide sales: 5.2 million[28]
  • RIAA certification: 2× platinum[29]
  • Singles: "Westside Story", "How We Do", "Hate It or Love It", "Dreams", "Put You on the Game"
Tony Yayo – Thoughts of a Predicate Felon
  • Released: August 30, 2005
  • Chart position: 2 U.S.[30]
  • Worldwide sales: 950,000[31]
  • Singles: "So Seductive", "Curious", "I Know You Don't Love Me"
Get Rich or Die Tryin' soundtrack
  • Released: November 8 2005
  • Chart position: 2 U.S.[32]
  • Worldwide sales: 3 million[33]
  • RIAA certification: Platinum[34]
  • Singles: "Hustler's Ambition", "Window Shopper", "I'll Whip Ya Head Boy", "Best Friend", "Have a Party"
Mobb Deep – Blood Money
  • Released: May 2, 2006
  • Chart position: 3 U.S.[35]
  • U.S. sales: 275,000 (As of June 13, 2007)[36][37]
  • Singles: "Have a Party", "The Infamous", "Put 'Em In Their Place", "Give It To Me"
Lloyd Banks – Rotten Apple
  • Released: October 10, 2006
  • Chart position: 3 U.S.[38]
  • U.S. sales: 341,000 (As of June 13, 2007)[36][37]
  • CRIA certification: Gold[39]
  • Singles: "The Cake", "Hands Up", "Help"
Lil Scrappy – Bred 2 Die Born 2 Live
  • Released: December 5, 2006
  • Chart position: 24 U.S.[40]
  • Singles: "Money in the Bank", "Gangsta Gangsta", "Oh Yeah (Work)", "Livin' in the Projects"
Young Buck – Buck the World
  • Released: March 27, 2007
  • Chart position: 3 U.S.[41]
  • U.S. sales: 400,000[36][42]
  • Singles: "I Know You Want Me", "Get Buck", "U Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
Freeway – Free at Last
  • Released: November 20, 2007
  • Chart position: 42 U.S.[43]
  • U.S. sales: 36,000[44]
  • Singles: "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires", "Lights Get Low"
G-Unit – T.O.S. (Terminate on Sight)
  • Released: July 1, 2008
  • Chart position: 4 U.S.[45]
  • U.S. sales: 185,000[46][47]
  • Singles: "I Like The Way She Do It", "Rider Pt. 2", "Close to Me"

Upcoming releases

Unreleased albums

Affiliated labels

Further information: Universal Music Group

References

  1. ↑ G-Unit biography. Allmusic. Accessed July 16, 2007.
  2. ↑ Katie Hasty. (July 9, 2008). Lil Wayne Back On Top Of The Billboard 200. BillBoard. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Crosley, Hillary (April 24, 2008). G-Unit, The Game Push Back New Albums. Billboard. Accessed May 10, 2008.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 New York Post, Return of the Rap Pack. NYPost. Accessed June 30, 2008.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 RIAA. RIAA Searchable Database - "G-Unit". RIAA. Accessed May 10, 2008.
  6. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (February 28, 2005). 50 Drops Game From G-Unit; Shots Fired at Radio Station. MTV. Accessed July 29, 2007.
  7. ↑ Spider Loc Bio. SpiderLoc.com. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  8. ↑ Lauren Gitlin (February 15, 2005) Mobb Deep Get Hand Out From 50 Cent. Roling Stone.com Accessed November 29, 2008.
  9. ↑ Ahsmi Rawlins (February 21, 2007) M.O.P. Signs on To Push Sizzurp, Plans G-Unit Debut LP [[XXL (magazine)|XXL. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  10. ↑ Al Capone (October 17, 2007). Hot Rod Talks G Unit, Industry Beefs, Album, Mixtape, & More. DefSounds. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  11. ↑ Jon Michael (June 6, 2008) Mazaradi Fox - Soldier's Story SixShot. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  12. ↑ Aliya Ewing (April 7, 2008) 50 Cent Kicks Young Buck Out Of G-Unit & More! HipHopDX. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  13. ↑ Black Widow (June 19, 2008) Young Buck Responds to Leaked Phone Convo With 50 Cent, 'I Don't Feel No Shame' SixShot. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Shaheem Reid (October 21, 2008) Young Buck Says The Rehab Will Sell A Million In A Week MTV.com Accessed November 29, 2008.
  15. ↑ Shaheem Reid (February 28, 2005). 50 Drops Game from G-Unit; Shots Fired at Radio Station. MTV. Accessed 2 June 2007.
  16. ↑ Shake (April 4, 2007). 50 Cent Speaks!. HipHopDX.com. Accessed 27 January 2008.
  17. ↑ Joe D'Angelo (November 19, 2003). Beg for Mercy chart position. VH1. Accessed 26 July 2007
  18. ↑ Billboard. Artist Chart History – Lloyd Banks. Billboard. Accessed July 9, 2007.
  19. ↑ Winning, Brolin (October 3, 2006). Exclusive Interview with Lloyd Banks. MP3.com. Accessed August 27, 2007.
  20. ↑ Gold and Platinum search results - "The Hunger For More". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed August 27, 2007.
  21. ↑ Joe D'Angelo (September 1, 2007). Straight Outta Ca$hville chart position. VH1. Accessed 26 July 2007.
  22. ↑ Mitchell, Gail (March 12, 2007). Rapper Young Buck shows versatility on new album. Reuters. Accessed September 5, 2007.
  23. ↑ Shaw, Amir (March 20, 2007). Young Buck - man on fire. ro Spotlight. Accessed September 5, 2007.
  24. ↑ Young Buck - Buck The World. Universal Music Publishing Group. Accessed September 5, 2007.
  25. ↑ Gold and Platinum search results – "Straight Outta Cashville". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed August 24, 2007.
  26. ↑ James Montgomery (January 26, 2005). The Documentary chart position. VH1. Accessed 26 July 2007.
  27. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (September 23, 2007). Dr. Dre, mix marathon man. Los Angeles Times. Accessed October 2, 2007.
  28. ↑ The Game Continues. PR Newswire (September 26, 2006). Accessed January 26, 2007.
  29. ↑ Gold and Platinum search results – "The Documentary". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed January 26, 2007.
  30. ↑ Chris Harris (September 7, 2007). Thoughts of a Predicate Felon chart position. VH1. Accessed 26 July 2007
  31. ↑ Reid, Shaheem; Rodriguez, Jayson (February 26, 2007). Tony Yayo Dives into 50/Cam Conflict. MTV. Accessed August 31, 2007.
  32. ↑ Chris harris (November 16, 2005). 50 Cent Gets A Billboard Beating From Zellweger's Ex. VH1. Accessed August 24, 2007.
  33. ↑ Johnson, Dick (August 10, 2007). Pulse Report. SOHH. Accessed August 11, 2007.
  34. ↑ 50 Cent Timeline. Rock on the Net. Accessed May 24, 2007.
  35. ↑ Chris Harris (May 10, 2006). Tool, Pearl Jam Claim Billboard Chart In The Name Of Rock. VH1. Accessed 27 July 2007.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Samuel, Anslem (May 2008). XXL: G-Unit is in the House. XXL magazine, p. 73.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Kondo, Toshitaka (June 13, 2007). Stormy Weather. Vibe. Accessed August 23, 2007.
  38. ↑ Chris Harris (October 18, 2006). Lloyd Banks Can't Catch Rod Stewart's Classics In Race For Billboard #1. VH1. Accessed August 24, 2007.
  39. ↑ CRIA Search Certification Database - "Lloyd Banks". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Accessed May 29, 2008.
  40. ↑ "Tracie J." Murphy (December 14, 2006). Hip-Hop Charts: Ciara Hits The Jackpot, Eminem "Re-Ups," Jay-Z Slides Down. SOHH. Accessed August 1, 2007.
  41. ↑ UrbanConnects (April 4, 2007). Top Album Sales ANALYSIS 04/04/2007. UrbanConnects. Accessed August 13, 2007.
  42. ↑ Keiper, Nicole (July 19, 2007). Rapper Young Buck focusing on charity work, new image. The Tennessean. Accessed September 26, 2007.
  43. ↑ Paine, Jake (November 28, 2007). Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 11/25/07. HipHopDx. Accessed December 3, 2007.
  44. ↑ Paine, Jake (November 28, 2007). Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 11/25/07. HipHopDX. Accessed December 3, 2007.
  45. ↑ Katie Hasty. (July 9, 2008). Lil Wayne Back On Top Of The Billboard 200. BillBoard. Accessed July 10, 2008.
  46. ↑ Thomas A. Harden (August 7, 2008). HIP-HOP CHARTS: Lil' Wayne Begins Quest For "3 Milli," Nas Eeks Out Top 10 Spot, G-Unit On Life Support. SOHH. Accessed August 8, 2008.
  47. ↑ Aliya Ewing (July 30, 2008). Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/27/2008. HipHopDX. Accessed July 30, 2008.
  48. ↑ Steve Raze (November 5, 2007). Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo: Shooters, Part 2. AllHipHop. Accessed November 6, 2007.
  49. ↑ Sha Money Talks about Lloyd Banks, New Banks Album & More. TBOHipHop (June 12, 2007). Accessed July 24, 2007.

External links

The G-Unit family
Rappers
50 Cent · Lloyd Banks · Tony Yayo · Young Buck · Spider Loc · Young Hot Rod · Nyce · Mase
Groups
G-Unit · M.O.P. · Mobb Deep
Former artists
The Game · Olivia
Record labels
150 Entertainment · Cashville Records · Dumout Entertainment · G'$ Up · G-Unit Records · Baymaac Records · Infamous Records · G-Unit Philly
Companies
Books · Clothing Company · Films · Foundation · Money Management Group · Shadyville Entertainment · Cheetah Vision · Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit