G-Unit was founded shortly after 50 Cent left Columbia Records. The original members were: 50 Cent, Bang Em Smurf, Domination, Lloyd Banks, Sha Money XL & Tony Yayo. These rappers collectively established the group as a whole in 2000; however, after Yayo got a prison sentence 50 Cent signed Young Buck and along with himself and Banks became the three faces of G-Unit. Smurf and Domination left the group due to some problems with the General, 50 Cent.
After being shot, 50 Cent signed to Interscope Records. Due to the success of his commercial debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', he was granted his own record label. This was when 50 and Sha Money XL founded G-Unit Records.
The group continued to work hard and released several mixtape series which earned them a lot of attention in the rap industry. The most prominent of these being 50 Cent Is the Future, God's Plan, No Mercy, No Fear and Automatic Gunfire. G-Unit have also started a mixtape series with their DJ, DJ Whoo Kid, called G-Unit Radio.
These mixtapes gave them a gigantic buzz throughout New York City, which eventually led to 50's first solo album Get Rich or Die Tryin' selling over 12 million copies.
Before the group had a chance to record its debut album, Tony Yayo was sentenced to prison for a gun-possession charge as well as bail-jumping. During Tony Yayo's prison sentence, the group signed Nashville rapper, Young Buck. They continued their activity, working on yet more mixtape recordings. In particular, their 'G-Unit Remix' to 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P." was successful.
During Tony Yayo's prison sentence, G-Unit recorded their debut album, Beg for Mercy. The album was quickly released on November 14, 2003 to combat bootlegging and had significant commercial success. Tony Yayo made only two appearances on the album, both on songs that were recorded before his arrest. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts and sold over 4 million units.
50 Cent later went on to sign The Game, Mobb Deep, M.O.P., Olivia, Spider Loc andMase. The Game was asked to be put in the group by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. 50 Cent agreed, and gave 7 of his records which was supposed to go on his second LP The Massacre. After The Game went on the radio and said that he had no problems with some rappers 50 Cent had issues with, 50 felt that Game was disloyal and kicked him out of the group, which lead to the infamous G-Unit vs. The Game/Black Wallstreet meet and beat off.
04-i'm-so-hood
G-Unit Lyrics
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Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Little Tyrone Toddy gettin' his ass whipped so he holdin' that gat down
His momma think it's my fault cause he listen to back down
Bobby was a fucking bum he pumpin' ? now
He keeps her fresh chicks white T's and fitted hats now
Uncle Rock-a-whiner we won't put the yack down
Erica the jump shop but he's smoking crack now
Country boots shrowden crackers got him on his back now
And Sean runnin' round with his gat now
Up in niggaz cribs sayin' where that money at pound
And Saundra from BK I seen her out in Houston
That bitch travel the world she runnin' round boostin'
And Toya got these bad ass kids they a nusince
Their baby daddy's never come around they useless
Everynow and then I come through on some new shit
Pearly white six and some chrome deuce deuce.
[Chorus: x2 50 Cent]
I'm so hood, I can't help it
I'm so hood, I can't help it
Love me for being me
Cause I can't change it can't rearrange it I am what I am.
So love me for being me.
[50 Cent]
Now I'ma six man momma told me god don't like ugly
I fell scraped my face and thought god must don't love me
So Owen every morning before he sell dope
Niggas keep whoopin' that ass cause he sell soap.
Charlie be beggin' all the time he stay broke
Flip be down on 109 rollin' up smoke
Chamie he a thief catch a stunt in a stolen car
He that nigga that you call when you crash and need new parts
They say they love me because I rap now but they don't like me
I've been locked up 3 times and they ain't write me
Stevey a pump fucker with Shanqua get mean quick
Pop shots at you he sure must suck a mean dick
The blocks hot D's jump out on us almost all the time
They watch us from the building but niggas still be on the grime
Wade used to call the cops and tell them G had a nine
Till G put that gunning down that ?
[Chorus]
The lyrics of G-Unit's song "I'm So Hood" appear to be a reflection of 50 Cent's experiences growing up in Queens, New York. The song portrays the struggles and hardships faced by people living in the hood through the stories of various characters. The lyrics highlight the realities of life in the ghetto, including poverty, drug addiction, and crime. Through this portrayal, 50 Cent's lyrics suggest that the people in the hood are trapped in their circumstances and cannot escape them easily.
The first verse of the song introduces some of the characters and their stories. Tyrone Toddy is a young man who is carrying a gun due to fear of being attacked, and his mother blames 50 Cent for his behavior since he listened to his song "Back Down." Bobby is a drug dealer who has used his earnings to buy new clothes and stay fresh. Uncle Rock-a-whiner is a habitual drinker who can't seem to put down the bottle. The second verse continues with new characters, including Owen, who is beaten up regularly for selling hand soap, and Charlie, who is always begging for money but remains broke. Flip is a drug addict who spends his time smoking weed, and Chamie is a car thief who is always up to no good.
The chorus of the song emphasizes 50 Cent's self-acceptance by stating that he is so hood that he cannot help it. He encourages his listeners to love him for who he is because he cannot change or rearrange himself. The song's overall message is that those who live in the hood are people with stories and experiences that deserve recognition and respect.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
An informal greeting or acknowledgment, expressing excitement or agreement.
Little Tyrone Toddy gettin' his ass whipped so he holdin' that gat down
Little Tyrone Toddy is being beat up so badly that he clutches his gun tightly.
His momma think it's my fault cause he listen to back down
Tyrone Toddy's mother believes that 50 Cent is to blame for her son's behavior due to his music.
Bobby was a fucking bum he pumpin' ? now
Bobby was previously unemployed but is now engaged in a profitable activity, albeit with some unknown specifics.
He keeps her fresh chicks white T's and fitted hats now
Bobby now has enough money to buy his girlfriend new clothes and accessories.
Uncle Rock-a-whiner we won't put the yack down
Uncle Rock-a-whiner refuses to stop drinking alcohol (referred to as yak).
Erica the jump shop but he's smoking crack now
Erica used to work at a clothing store, but now smokes crack.
The Lunatics the Lost Boys cheap shit is wack now
50 Cent believes that the music produced by hip-hop groups The Lunatics and The Lost Boys is no longer popular.
Country boots shrowden crackers got him on his back now
50 Cent is insulting someone (whose identity is not clear) who is unable to properly wear country-style boots and has been defeated in some way.
And Sean runnin' round with his gat now
Sean is carrying a gun and causing trouble.
Up in niggaz cribs sayin' where that money at pound
Sean is going to people's homes and demanding money.
And Saundra from BK I seen her out in Houston
50 Cent has seen Saundra (whose identity and background are unclear) in both Brooklyn and Houston.
That bitch travel the world she runnin' round boostin'
Saundra travels frequently and has a reputation for stealing or boosting (possibly shoplifting or committing other types of theft).
And Toya got these bad ass kids they a nusince
Toya has troublesome children who cause problems.
Their baby daddy's never come around they useless
The fathers of Toya's children never spend time with their kids and therefore are of no use.
Everynow and then I come through on some new shit
Every so often, 50 Cent surprises his fans with new, innovative music.
Pearly white six and some chrome deuce deuce.
50 Cent describes the car he recently acquired, a white BMW 6 series with chrome 22-inch rims.
I'm so hood, I can't help it
50 Cent expresses pride in his origins and background in the urban ghetto.
Love me for being me
50 Cent asks his fans to accept and appreciate him for who he is.
Cause I can't change it can't rearrange it I am what I am.
50 Cent makes it clear that he cannot and will not change himself or his image, and is simply being authentic.
Now I'ma six man momma told me god don't like ugly
50 Cent reveals that his mother warned him against bad behavior, citing the adage that God does not approve of ugliness (in this context, immorality or evil).
I fell scraped my face and thought god must don't love me
50 Cent fell and injured his face, causing him to briefly question whether God loves him or not.
So Owen every morning before he sell dope
Owen, who sells drugs, prepares for his illegal activity every morning.
Niggas keep whoopin' that ass cause he sell soap.
Owen gets beaten up regularly because he is involved in illegal drug operations.
Charlie be beggin' all the time he stay broke
Charlie is always asking for money and is consistently without funds.
Flip be down on 109 rollin' up smoke
Flip is smoking marijuana on 109th Street.
Chamie he a thief catch a stunt in a stolen car
Chamie is a thief, and was caught doing something illegal (i.e. a stunt) while driving a stolen car.
He that nigga that you call when you crash and need new parts
Chamie is someone you call when your car needs to be fixed or for replacement parts.
They say they love me because I rap now but they don't like me
Some people claim to love 50 Cent because he is successful in the music industry, but in reality dislike him as a person.
I've been locked up 3 times and they ain't write me
Despite being imprisoned three times, 50 Cent's friends and acquaintances did not write to him or offer support.
Stevey a pump fucker with Shanqua get mean quick
Stevey is a person who is cowardly (as pump is slang for cowardly) and gets aggressive around Shanqua.
Pop shots at you he sure must suck a mean dick
A man who shoots at people must be terrible at performing oral sex on women.
The blocks hot D's jump out on us almost all the time
The area where 50 Cent lives is filled with police officers who frequently stop and search him and his friends.
They watch us from the building but niggas still be on the grime
Even though the police are watching them, 50 Cent and his friends continue to engage in illegal activities.
Wade used to call the cops and tell them G had a nine
Wade would inform the authorities that G had a gun.
Till G put that gunning down that ?
Until G somehow got rid of that gun or stopped carrying it, Wade would inform on him to the police.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDREW HARR, JERMAINE JACKSON, JOSEPH CARTAGENA, DWAYNE CARTER, CHRISTOPHER BRIDGES, JAY JENKINS, KHALED KHALED, FAHEEM NAJM, ANTWAN PATTON, WILLIAM ROBERTS, TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miles Lewis
on Lay You Down
Beg For Mercy was one of the best albums of 2003.