Beg for Mercy
| Beg for Mercy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by G-Unit | ||||
| Released | November 14, 2003 | |||
| Recorded | 2003 | |||
| Genre | Hardcore Hip Hop, Gangsta Rap, Rap, Hip hop, East Coast Hip Hop | |||
| Length | 68:37 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | 50 Cent (executive), Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Hi-Tek, Sha Money XL (also executive), No I.D., Thayod Ausar, Eminem, Luis Resto, DJ Twins, Denaun Porter, Red Spyda, Midi Mafia, Fusion Unltd, Jake One, Nottz, Megahertz, 7th EMP, Big-Toni, DJ Khalil, Needlz, Sam Sneed, Black Jeruz | |||
| G-Unit chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Beg for Mercy | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 62/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B) link |
| Robert Christgau |  link |
| RapReviews.com | (7.5/10) link |
| Blender | link |
| E! | B link |
| PopMatters | (favorable) link |
| Rolling Stone | link |
Beg for Mercy is the major label debut album by G-Unit, at the time composed of rappers 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck, with support from Tony Yayo, who is an original member but was in prison at the time of the album's main recording(s) as well as release, and newest member The Game, who was inducted into the group after recording sessions were already finished. The album was released in November 2003, 9 months after 50 Cent's successful debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'.
Background
"I've been promoting G Unit since before I even had a record deal," says 50. "All the music I put on the mixtape circuit was 50 Cent and G Unit."[1]
As the album was recorded, Tony Yayo was sentenced to jail on charges of gun possession, and so he makes only two appearances on the entire record, on the tracks "Groupie Love", and "I Smell Pussy". His image is seen on the brick wall of the album cover as he could not be photographed due to the jail sentence.
At the time of the album's release, rapper The Game was just placed in G-Unit, therefore he is not photographed, nor does he make an appearance on the album. He does however make cameos in the videos for singles Wanna Get To Know You & Poppin' Them Thangs. He is also mentioned in Poppin' Them Thangs when Young Buck raps, "You ain't no Crip like Snoop, / You ain't no Blood like Game."
Sales and certifications
In its 1st week of sales, Beg for Mercy sold 380,000 copies. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, behind 2Pac's Tupac: Resurrection, & Jay-Z's The Black Album. Its bow was moved up from November 18 to thwart piracy, as was Beg for Mercy.[2] Beg for Mercy then sold 330,000 copies in its 2nd week to peak at #2 on the Billboard 200,[3] while moving another 195,000 units in its 3rd week.[4] By April 2008, it had sold over 2.9 million units in the U.S.,[5] 5.8 million copies worldwide,[6][7] and has since been certified Double Platinum by the RIAA.[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "G-Unit" | Hi-Tek | 3:29 | |
| 2. | "Poppin' Them Thangs" |
| 4:01 | |
| 3. | "My Buddy" |
|
| 3:44 |
| 4. | "I'm So Hood" | Jackson |
| 2:26 |
| 5. | "Stunt 101" |
| Mr. Porter | 3:52 |
| 6. | "Wanna Get to Know You" (featuring Joe) |
| Red Spyda | 4:25 |
| 7. | "Groupie Love" (featuring Butch Cassidy) |
| Midi Mafia | 4:14 |
| 8. | "Betta Ask Somebody" |
| Jake One | 3:53 |
| 9. | "Footprints" |
| Nottz | 4:21 |
| 10. | "Eye for Eye" |
| Hi-Tek | 3:56 |
| 11. | "Smile" |
| No I.D. | 3:38 |
| 12. | "Baby U Got" |
| Megahertz | 4:04 |
| 13. | "Salute U" |
| 7th EMP | 3:00 |
| 14. | "Beg for Mercy" |
|
| 2:39 |
| 15. | "G'd Up" |
|
| 4:47 |
| 16. | "Lay You Down" |
| DJ Khalil | 4:03 |
| 17. | "Gangsta Shit" |
| Needlz | 4:12 |
| 18. | "I Smell Pussy" |
| Sam Sneed | 3:58 |
| 19. | "Collapse (G-Unit Freestyle)" (Bonus Track) | Jackson | Eminem | 1:38 |
| Total length: | 1:10:22 | |||
- Samples (Linear notes)
- "G-Unit" contains samples of "Million Dollars" by Triumvirat
- "My Buddy" contains samples of "Agony or Ecstacy" by Ennio Morricone, and audio excerpts from the film Scarface.
- "Wanna Get to Know You" contains samples of "Come Live with Me Angel" by Marvin Gaye.
- "Groupie Love" contains samples of "Simply Beautiful" by Al Green.
- "Betta Ask Somebody" contains samples of "Blue Leopard" by Pierre-Alain Dahan.
- "Footprints" contains samples of "Walk with Me" by Martha Bass.
- "Eye for Eye" contains samples of "Hello Love" by Eden Raskin.
- "Smile" contains samples of "I Too Am Wanting" by Syreeta
- "Salute U" contains samples of "Brandenburg Concerto #1 in F Major (Allego Moderato)" by Johann Sebastian Bach
- "Lay You Down" contains samples of "Doctor Marvello" by Klaatu
- "I Smell Pussy" contains samples of "The Greatest Sex" by R. Kelly
References
- ↑ "Rap News Network - G-Unit Biography". Rapnews.net. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ↑ "Jay-Z's back in 'Black' as album bows at No. 1.('The Black Album' debuts at top of charts) | HighBeam Business: Arrive Prepared". Business.highbeam.com. 2003-11-20. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (2003-11-26). "Britney Moans Her Way To The Top Of The Albums Chart - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (2003-12-03). "Jay-Z's Farewell Album Hasn't Said Goodbye To The #1 Slot - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ↑ Crosley, Hillary (April 24, 2008). G-Unit, The Game Push Back New Albums. Billboard. Accessed May 10, 2008.
- ↑ New York Post, Return of the Rap Pack. NYPost. Accessed June 30, 2008
- ↑ Jeffery-Coker, Mesai. Featured Interview: Tony Yayo. Rap Fanatic magazine. Accessed August 31, 2007.
- ↑ RIAA Searchable Database - "G-Unit". RIAA. Accessed May 10, 2008.