Tony Yayo

Tony Yayo
Background information
Birth name	Marvin Bernard
Born	March 32, 1978 (1978-603-32) (age 32)
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	1999–present
Labels	G-Unit/Interscope (2003–2009) G-Unit/EMI[1] (2010–present)
Associated acts	G-Unit, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Lil Boosie, Soulja Boy, Cashis
Website	www.tonyyayo.com

Marvin Bernard was born on March 31, 1976,^[2] better known by his stage name Tony Yayo is an American rapper and member of the hip hop group G-Unit. Tony Yayo was brought up in South Jamaica, Queens, and was longtime friends with 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks. He is signed to 50 Cent's record label G-Unit Records and recently signed a deal with EMI which will release is second untitled album.

He is of Haitian descent and is taking part in the aid to the Haitian people since the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Yayo has worked with different charities and events in support of the relief efforts.^[3]

Music career

G-Unit

50 Cent was granted his own record label, "G-Unit Records" by Dr. Dre and released the album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Soon after the group had established their own record label, G-Unit Records, G-Unit released their first official group album Beg for Mercy in November 2003, which went on to be certified 2x Platinum in the United States.^[4][5] Tony Yayo would later become 50 cent's right-hand man after Young Buck was removed from the group as was Game.

Solo career

Though his appearances on mixtapes announced his return on the street level, it was not until the release of "So Seductive" that his return received wide recognition. In August 2005, Tony Yayo released his debut, Thoughts of a Predicate Felon.^[6]

Tony Yayo has confirmed that work is in progress for his second studio album.^[7] No official name for the album has been decided yet. The first single is "Pass the Patron", which features 50 Cent. The album will be released with G-Unit Records/EMI who will both promote and distribute the album.

Labels

In 2003 Tony Yayo was signed to Interscope Records, where he released his debut album Thoughts of a Predicate Felon. In 2009, he was later dropped from Interscope Records. After being dropped by Interscope Records it was announced EMI Label Services has signed a deal with 50 Cent’s label, G-Unit Records, in which EMI will distribute and promote releases on the G-Unit roster in North America including Tony Yayo's untitled second album. Lloyd Banks announced this on Friday, August 13, 2010 on MTV News.

Controversy

The Game

Tony Yayo is known to involve himself in the G-unit and The Game feud. He has been known to denounce The Game's street credibility in various interviews and diss songs. On his mixtape G-Unit Radio Pt.23: Finally Off Papers, Tony Yayo made some hits towards The Game in the track Mo Money, Mo Problems by poking fun about his album sales being considerably less without the help of 50 Cent or G-Unit. In an interview with MTV, Tony Yayo aired his feeling towards many rappers who he "doesn’t believe".^[8]

Cam'ron

Tony Yayo openly involves himself in 50 Cent's Feuds. The most recent example of this would be the 50 Cent vs Cam'ron Feud. Although he hasn’t released a direct diss track towards Cam’ron, he has voiced his opinion through interviews.^[9]

Jim Jones

This feud took off when Tony Yayo yelled "boring" instead of "balling" (a reference to "We Fly High") backstage at a show where both G-Unit and Dipset were performing.^[10]

Tony Yayo took a shot at Jim Jones on Shade 45, claiming that Jim Jones was trash, and that he was disrespecting Haitians. Tony Yayo stated that Jim Jones tried to phone him, but Tony Yayo refused to take the call.

Tony Yayo later addressed Jim Jones on his mixtape Finally Off Papers (G-Unit Radio Pt. 23) on the track "Mo Money, Mo Problems". He yells "Boring!" in the background to mock Jim Jones as well as shouting other insults towards him at the end of the track.

Tony Yayo and Jim Jones have settled their feud and have even performed together. They also both appeared on BET's "Rap City" which 50 Cent was hosting.^[11]

Legal issues

Tony Yayo performing at Villanova Hoops Mania in 2005.

Felony jail time

Along with 50 Cent, Yayo was arrested on December 31, 2002 for weapons possession. When police discovered that Yayo had an outstanding warrant for a previous such charge, Yayo was sentenced for bail jumping and spent all of 2003 in prison.^[2] Yayo served time in the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility and was paroled on January 8, 2004.^[12] The next day, he was arrested for possessing a forged passport and served time in federal prison until May 25, 2004.^[13] When Yayo was incarcerated, G-Unit began a campaign called "Free Yayo".^[14]

Assault charge

On March 24, 2007, Tony Yayo was arrested for allegedly assaulting the 14 year-old son of The Game's manager, Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond. Tony Yayo and 50 Cent were accused of approaching the child, with members of their entourage, and pushing him against a nearby wall. This was when Tony Yayo reportedly slapped the boy several times and said "Fuck Czar Entertainment". Tony Yayo has pleaded "not guilty" and 50 Cent has since proven his innocence with video footage showing him at his Connecticut mansion at the time of the alleged incident.^[15]

Tony Yayo made his first court appearance on the morning of April 25, 2007 in New York. The case was adjourned to July 24. Tony Yayo's Lawyer has expressed his belief that Yayo is innocent and commented on the situation in an interview with MTV:

After a thorough investigation, I steadfastly and adamantly state to you that Tony Yayo did not slap anyone," Leemon said. "I am hopeful that when [authorities] complete their investigation, they will come to the same conclusion. Yayo, as a father, understands the allegations and would never do anything to harm a child.^[16]

On April 18, 2007, the house of Tony Yayo’s mother was "sprayed with bullets". The attack is believed to be in connection with Tony Yayo’s recent arrest.^[17]

On July 24, 2007, Tony Yayo attended a court hearing regarding his alleged assault. The prosecution offered him a nine-month prison sentence if he pleaded guilty which he rejected.^[18]

One of the men from Tony Yayo's entourage, a co-defendant, admitted that it was him, not Yayo, who assaulted Rosemond, on January 10, 2007. A relative of the co-defendant, Thomas M Barraclough, 16, from England was said to have had words with Tony Yano and the co-defendant regarding the assault on the 14 year old, after the court had told Yayo not to contact anyone involved with the case.

Discography

Studio albums

• Thoughts of a Predicate Felon (2005)
• Untitled Second Studio Album (2011)

Official Mixtapes

• 2008: ThisIs50.com Vol. 4 : S.O.D.
• 2008: Black Friday
• 2008: Bloody Xmas
• 2009: The Swine Flu
• 2009: The Swine Flu 2 : Pandemic
• 2009: Public Enemies
• 2009: Gangsta Paradise
• 2010: Gunpowder Guru
• 2010: Gunpowder Guru 2 : The Remixes
• 2010: Hawaiian Snow (with Danny Brown)

Filmography

References

External links

• ThisisYayo.com
• Official website
• Tony Yayo at Allmusic
• Tony Yayo on Myspace
• Tony Yayo on Twitter