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.
Betta Ask Somebody
G-Unit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm, on, fire
If, you don't know, who I be
You better ask somebody about me
Oh, you wanna be tough nigga, a look is enough
I put that snub nose to ya and bust nigga
If, you don't know, who I be
And they'll tell ya I'm a soldier boy
And I done told ya, over and over boy
I come from a big city, the streets corrupt
Now I'm rollin' with snub-noses to heat you up
Out here niggas'll do anything to reach a buck
Cause when you broke you can't afford to fuck ya sneakers up
I take my time, keep my mind on my bank funds
Learn how to separate the real from the fake ones
And on my heater nina rep what could I carry on
My nigga just lost his momma, and his daddy gone
From now on I can provide cause my paper's straight
Family losin' his legs, but I can take the weight
Some niggas hate but I'll be damned if they hold me down
Front niggas didn't know me then, bet they know me now
Blunt and a smile, eventually it'll be a frown
Cause every time I turn around a nigga locked down
While I'm in the world, tryin to bring my loot through
Hopin' one day we can kick it like we used to, my nigga
If, you don't know, who I be
You better ask somebody about me
Oh, you wanna be tough nigga, a look is enough
I put that snub nose to ya and bust nigga
If, you don't know, who I be
You better ask somebody about me
And they'll tell ya I'm a soldier boy
And I done told ya, over and over boy
Uhh, they never seen 26's on a Hummer
My goal is to try to fuck Trina by the summer
Some niggas hate me, but they only made me
Go and put mo' ice in my mouth than Baby
G-Unit and Shady, them dudes is crazy
Next time, we only usin' Dr. Dre's beats
Fuck you, pay me, take your magazine flicks
This ain't no Nelly hurr, take a good look at this
Got the wrists of a chemist and the heart of a hustler
Plus I probably done robbed mo' artists than Russell
Always in trouble, you can blame my mother
Gave birth to a gorilla and raised him in the jungle
I ain't crawled, I stumbled across the Mexican with birds
Papi had coke and new plates and pounds of herb
Keep my hand on my Glock, and my ear to the streets
I'm a country boy, you can hear it when I speak
G-Unit!
If, you don't know, who I be
You better ask somebody about me
Oh, you wanna be tough nigga, a look is enough
I put that snub nose to ya and bust nigga
If, you don't know, who I be
You better ask somebody about me
And they'll tell ya I'm a soldier boy
And I done told ya, over and over boy
Bentley Azure dreams, G-5 agenda
The hood had made a nigga heart colder than December
Don't take much to make my gun go off
One shot'll make a hardrock look oh so soft
If you don't know you better ask who I be
Or end up in ICU gettin' fed through a IV
Down in the Lou', they say they feelin' me dirty
In New Orleans they say I'm that nigga, ya heard me?
From them Southside blocks to Watts, Westside don't front
You know about them Grapestreet Gangstas, G'd up
Rollin that weed up
Nigga get outta line, get shot stabbed jacked
Hit with a bat or beat up
Fuck that, we're on that same bullshit
Same forty-cally Glock, same full clip
Pussy claat bwoy, ya nah wanna tak wif me
I'm a real rudebwoy, ya nah wanna ruf wif me
The lyrics to G-Unit's song "Betta Ask Somebody" speak of the rapper's tough and gritty persona. They convey a message of warning to anyone who might underestimate his abilities as a soldier boy. The lines "I'm on fire" and "if you don't know who I be, you better ask somebody about me" assert his dominance, while "you wanna be a tough nigga, a look is enough" implies that he doesn't take kindly to people trying to prove themselves to him. The line "I put that snub nose to ya and bust nigga" is a warning that he won't hesitate to use violence when necessary. The lyrics also touch on the rapper's upbringing in a big city with corrupt streets and the struggles he's faced to get where he is now. Despite any hatred or setbacks he's encountered, he remains confident in himself and his abilities.
Line by Line Meaning
I, know, you, know
I know who I am and what I'm capable of, and you should know it too.
I'm, on, fire
I'm unstoppable and at the top of my game.
If, you don't know, who I be
If you're not familiar with who I am, you better find out.
You better ask somebody about me
You should inquire with people who know me well to discover my reputation.
Oh, you wanna be tough nigga, a look is enough
If you want to act tough, just looking intimidating won't cut it.
I put that snub nose to ya and bust nigga
I'll use my gun to take you down if you try to mess with me.
And they'll tell ya I'm a soldier boy
Those who know me well will vouch for the fact that I'm a tough and capable fighter.
And I done told ya, over and over boy
I've already proven myself many times before, so don't test me.
I come from a big city, the streets corrupt
I grew up in a tough urban environment where crime and corruption are common.
Now I'm rollin' with snub-noses to heat you up
I now carry guns with me for protection.
Out here niggas'll do anything to reach a buck
In this world, people will go to any lengths to make money.
Cause when you broke you can't afford to fuck ya sneakers up
When you're poor, you can't afford to damage your possessions, like expensive sneakers.
I take my time, keep my mind on my bank funds
I focus on building my wealth steadily and strategically.
Learn how to separate the real from the fake ones
I've learned to differentiate between genuine people and those who are just pretending.
And on my heater nina rep what could I carry on
I carry a gun and am prepared to use it to protect myself.
My nigga just lost his momma, and his daddy gone
A close friend of mine recently lost both of his parents.
From now on I can provide cause my paper's straight
Now that I have money, I can support my friend in need.
Family losin' his legs, but I can take the weight
Another family member is struggling with a health issue, but I am strong enough to help support them.
Some niggas hate but I'll be damned if they hold me down
Some people may dislike me, but they won't impede my success or progress in life.
Front niggas didn't know me then, bet they know me now
People who didn't give me the time of day in the past now recognize my accomplishments and abilities.
Blunt and a smile, eventually it'll be a frown
I may seem happy-go-lucky now, but eventually things will get serious and unpleasant.
Cause every time I turn around a nigga locked down
I see people I know getting arrested and locked up all the time.
While I'm in the world, tryin to bring my loot through
I'm busy making money and achieving my goals while living my life.
Hopin' one day we can kick it like we used to, my nigga
I hope to one day have more free time to spend with my close friend.
Uhh, they never seen 26's on a Hummer
People are impressed by the highly customized Hummer I'm driving.
My goal is to try to fuck Trina by the summer
I hope to have a sexual encounter with the rapper Trina before the summer is over.
Some niggas hate me, but they only made me
Those who dislike me have only made me stronger and more determined to succeed.
Go and put mo' ice in my mouth than Baby
I've acquired more expensive jewelry than the rapper Birdman.
G-Unit and Shady, them dudes is crazy
My record label and the rapper Eminem are known for their wild personalities and unpredictable behavior.
Next time, we only usin' Dr. Dre's beats
In our next musical project, we plan to exclusively use beats produced by Dr. Dre.
Fuck you, pay me, take your magazine flicks
I expect to be paid for my work, and I don't want my picture taken for free by a magazine.
This ain't no Nelly hurr, take a good look at this
I'm different from the rapper Nelly, so don't compare me to him.
Got the wrists of a chemist and the heart of a hustler
I'm skilled with my hands and ambitious in my pursuits.
Plus I probably done robbed mo' artists than Russell
I may have stolen from more famous people than the music executive Russell Simmons.
Always in trouble, you can blame my mother
My rebellious nature may be partly due to my upbringing.
Gave birth to a gorilla and raised him in the jungle
My mom raised a tough and aggressive person like me in a rough environment.
I ain't crawled, I stumbled across the Mexican with birds
I didn't start from the bottom - I found success through luck and chance opportunities.
Papi had coke and new plates and pounds of herb
I encountered a man who had both drugs and guns in his possession.
Keep my hand on my Glock, and my ear to the streets
I stay vigilant and prepared for danger in my neighborhood.
I'm a country boy, you can hear it when I speak
I come from a rural background and my accent reflects that.
Bentley Azure dreams, G-5 agenda
My aspirations include owning a luxury car and being able to fly on private jets.
The hood had made a nigga heart colder than December
Growing up in a rough neighborhood has made me emotionally hardened.
Don't take much to make my gun go off
I'm quick to use my weapon if I feel threatened.
One shot'll make a hardrock look oh so soft
I am skilled with my gun and can take down even the toughest opponents.
Or end up in ICU gettin' fed through a IV
If you don't back off, you may end up in intensive care receiving medical attention through an IV drip.
Down in the Lou', they say they feelin' me dirty
People in Louisiana appreciate and respect my music.
In New Orleans they say I'm that nigga, ya heard me?
In New Orleans, people speak highly of me and my status as a respected figure.
From them Southside blocks to Watts, Westside don't front
My influence and reputation extend from the southern part of the city to the Watts neighborhood out west.
You know about them Grapestreet Gangstas, G'd up
People are familiar with the notorious Grape Street Crips gang that I associate with.
Rollin that weed up
I often smoke marijuana.
Nigga get outta line, get shot stabbed jacked
If someone crosses me, they risk being shot, stabbed or robbed.
Hit with a bat or beat up
I'm not above using physical violence to get my way.
Fuck that, we're on that same bullshit
We're still up to our usual antics and bad behavior.
Same forty-cally Glock, same full clip
I still carry my trusty 40-caliber Glock and a full magazine with me.
Pussy claat bwoy, ya nah wanna tak wif me
Don't mess with me, or you'll regret it.
I'm a real rudebwoy, ya nah wanna ruf wif me
I'm a true tough guy, and you don't want to mess with me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID DARNELL BROWN, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES LLOYD, PIERRE ALAIN DAHAN, CURTIS JAMES JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miles Lewis
on Lay You Down
Beg For Mercy was one of the best albums of 2003.