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.
Eye For Eye
G-Unit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nigga you shit on me, I'll shit on you
You put a hit on me, I'll put a hit on you
A eye for an eye nigga
Survive the shots or die nigga
[Lloyd Banks]
You can't roll wit me I'm Lloyd Banks the one and only
There ain't a government around that can control me, oh no
I'm on that doggy style shit, man I don't love a hoe
Pappa wasn't around so I had to let my brother know,
Never stay in center, play the back and let your money grow,
Most them nigga wouldn't be around if you was bummy yo,
South side Jamaica nigga yeah that's where I come from,
If you see a nigga with me then there's more than one gun,
Five straight soldier ain't that tired of being the dumb one,
Or even satisfied being another niggas dun-dun,
We all know friendships turn sour when you getting it,
Some niggas hate me in the hood but I don't owe them niggas shit,
Smilin' all up in my face like I don't know them niggas sick,
But I can care less, I'm on the album and I'm gettin' rich.
[Chorus]
[Young Buck]
Walkin' and talkin' spit it how I live it nigga,
Came from the country, dirty south get it nigga,
Feds trying to question me, they run up in my hotel,
They said there wasn't shootin', but they found no shells,
New york city, hell they throwin' niggas under jails,
I got love for them and I ain't even from there,
Now bust a shot for them boys on the block,
I can feel your pain nigga,
I'm still in the game nigga,
There somethin' bout the sound of a trey-pound,
That make me pull up, hop out and make a nigga lay down,
See every time we round' ya hear some shots go off,
And niggas get there chains snatched when they try and show off,
Shoot outs in broad day we do it the mob way,
And come to find out these niggas is softer than Sade,
I'ma keep living my life with a pistol in my palm and a wrist full of ice,
You can call me the don.
We got the Hei-ny
So make one wrong move and you're dying
Ain't no time for coppin a plea and crying
Cause my niggaz ain't gon' stop ridin'
So you gone
[Chorus]
[50]
I got a hand gun habit, nigga front I'll let ya have it,
When the shots go off cops saying 50 back at it,
I'm allergic to the feathers on these bird ass niggas,
Front and I'll put ya brains on that curbed fence nigga,
I ain't a marksman my spark and I'll spray shit,
Enough rounds for the Hk I don't play bitch,
Move like I'm militant back on that gorilla shit,
Moody, disrespectful, I'm ruley but niggas can't move me,
I squeeze till I run outta ammo, if it's a problem it's handled,
I'll have your people pourin' out liquor and lightin' candles,
You fuck around I'll blow your brains on my new york times,
Run home turn to the sports section and read your mind,
It's crystal clear you should feel when that gat bust,
First it's crime scene tape then you end up in that black hurst,
We don't go to funerals but we'll go to your wake fam,
View your body all banged up, you made a mistake man.
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of G-Unit's "Eye For Eye" speak of the principle of revenge - "an eye for an eye." The song's three verses, rapped by Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, and 50 Cent respectively, all revolve around the theme of retaliation in case of a threat or an attack. Lloyd Banks talks of being self-reliant and not relying on anyone else but himself, while Young Buck talks of his life and background, including how he came from the Dirty South, and how he got embroiled with the Feds. 50 Cent raps about his gun habit, and how he is always ready to retaliate and protect himself.
The chorus conveys the message that if someone hurts you or puts a hit on you, then you shouldn't hesitate to retaliate, and that could even involve being willing to die to prove a point. The song's overall message is that one degree of threat or attack deserves an equal degree of retaliation, and that people should be ready to protect themselves rather than rely on others or feel sorry for themselves when something happens to them. The song speaks to the reality of gang violence and the desire for power and control in certain aspects of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Nigga you shit on me, I'll shit on you
If you disrespect me, I will retaliate by disrespecting you in a similar manner.
You put a hit on me, I'll put a hit on you
If you try to harm me or hire someone to harm me, I will respond by doing the same to you.
A eye for an eye nigga
This is a saying that means that revenge should be proportional to the offense.
Survive the shots or die nigga
You have two options when it comes to a violent altercation: either survive the attacks or die trying.
You can't roll wit me I'm Lloyd Banks the one and only
You cannot be on equal footing with me because I am unique and irreplaceable.
Not your buddy, not your pal, not your homie
I am not your friend or associate in any way.
There ain't a government around that can control me, oh no
I cannot be controlled by any governing body or authority.
I'm on that doggy style shit, man I don't love a hoe
I am focused on living freely and enjoyably, and I have no interest in being romantically involved with any individual.
Pappa wasn't around so I had to let my brother know,
My father was not present, so I had to teach my younger brother important life lessons and impart wisdom to him.
Never stay in center, play the back and let your money grow,
It is wise to not be in the spotlight and instead focus on building wealth through smart investments and careful planning.
Most them nigga wouldn't be around if you was bummy yo,
If I did not have any money or success, most of the people who claim to be my friends would not stick around.
South side Jamaica nigga yeah that's where I come from,
I am from the South Side of Jamaica, a tough neighborhood in Queens.
If you see a nigga with me then there's more than one gun,
If you spot me with others, it's safe to assume that we are all armed and prepared for any potential danger.
Five straight soldier ain't that tired of being the dumb one,
I am a strong and dedicated individual who is tired of being underestimated or taken advantage of.
Or even satisfied being another niggas dun-dun,
I refuse to be someone else's subordinate or follower.
We all know friendships turn sour when you getting it,
It is a commonly known fact that friendships can become strained when one or both parties achieve financial success or fame.
Some niggas hate me in the hood but I don't owe them niggas shit,
Some individuals from my neighborhood may dislike me, but I am not indebted to them in any way.
Smilin' all up in my face like I don't know them niggas sick,
Some individuals may act friendly toward me in person, but I know that they secretly hold disdain for me.
But I can care less, I'm on the album and I'm gettin' rich.
I couldn't care less about the opinions of others because I am currently earning money and achieving success through my music.
Walkin' and talkin' spit it how I live it nigga,
I am confident and bold in speaking about my experiences and lifestyle.
Came from the country, dirty south get it nigga,
I am originally from the rural southern part of the United States.
Feds trying to question me, they run up in my hotel,
The federal government is attempting to interrogate or investigate me, and they have even raided my hotel room to search for evidence.
They said there wasn't shootin', but they found no shells,
The authorities are claiming that there was no gunfire, but they were unable to find any bullet casings to support their claim.
New york city, hell they throwin' niggas under jails,
New York City can be a harsh and unforgiving place, and many individuals are unfairly incarcerated or punished.
I got love for them and I ain't even from there,
Despite not having been born or raised in New York City, I still have compassion and show support for the people there.
Now bust a shot for them boys on the block,
Let's fire some bullets in honor of the individuals from our neighborhood who have passed away.
I can feel your pain nigga,
I empathize with the struggles and hardships that you have faced in life.
There somethin' bout the sound of a trey-pound,
The sound of a .357 caliber handgun is intense and powerful, and it strikes fear into those who would try to oppose us.
That make me pull up, hop out and make a nigga lay down,
When I hear the sound of gunfire, I am ready and willing to take action and make sure that the other person cannot continue fighting.
See every time we round' ya hear some shots go off,
Whenever my group of associates is present, you can expect to hear gunshots fired in the vicinity.
And niggas get there chains snatched when they try and show off,
If an individual flaunts their wealth or possessions, they may very well have those items stolen from them.
Shoot outs in broad day we do it the mob way,
We are not afraid to engage in violent confrontations even during daylight hours, and we do so with the same cold-blooded intensity as organized crime groups.
And come to find out these niggas is softer than Sade,
Upon closer inspection, these individuals who pose as tough or intimidating are often revealed to be weak and ineffectual.
I'ma keep living my life with a pistol in my palm and a wrist full of ice,
I will continue to live my life unapologetically, with a firearm for protection and plenty of expensive jewelry to show off my wealth.
You can call me the don.
With my powerful presence and bold personality, I can be considered a leader or authority figure in my community.
I got a hand gun habit, nigga front I'll let ya have it,
I am addicted to carrying a handgun and if anyone ever tries to challenge me or threaten me, I am willing to use it.
When the shots go off cops saying 50 back at it,
When gunfire is heard, the police will immediately assume that I am the one responsible for it.
I'm allergic to the feathers on these bird ass niggas,
I cannot stand the fake and phony individuals who pretend to be something they are not.
Front and I'll put ya brains on that curbed fence nigga,
If someone tries to disrespect or challenge me, I am willing to use my firearm to fatally wound them and then discard their body on a street curb.
I ain't a marksman my spark and I'll spray shit,
I do not have perfect accuracy when using a gun, but I will still shoot in the general direction of my target and cause damage with a spray of bullets.
Enough rounds for the Hk I don't play bitch,
I have plenty of ammunition for my HK handgun, and I am not afraid to use it against anyone who crosses me.
Move like I'm militant back on that gorilla shit,
I carry myself with a sense of discipline and watchfulness, like a militant soldier who is always on high alert for danger.
Moody, disrespectful, I'm ruley but niggas can't move me,
I can have a bad attitude and show disrespect to others, but I cannot be intimidated or swayed from my beliefs or actions.
I squeeze till I run outta ammo, if it's a problem it's handled,
If someone tries to start trouble with me or my associates, I will use my gun until I run out of bullets, at which point the problem should be taken care of.
I'll have your people pourin' out liquor and lightin' candles,
If someone tries to mess with me, they will likely end up getting killed, and their loved ones will mourn them at their funeral with liquor and candles.
You fuck around I'll blow your brains on my new york times,
If someone tries to disrespect or threaten me, I will kill them and the story of their death will be reported in the New York Times newspaper.
Run home turn to the sports section and read your mind,
I will be reading about the news of the person I just killed in the newspaper and gloating about my victory.
It's crystal clear you should feel when that gat bust,
When I fire my gun, it should be obvious to anyone listening that a gunshot has been fired and they should feel fearful or intimidated.
First it's crime scene tape then you end up in that black hurst,
If someone tries to mess with me or my associates, they will soon find themselves dead and wrapped in crime scene tape at their funeral.
We don't go to funerals but we'll go to your wake fam,
I will not attend someone's funeral, but I will happily show up to their wake and gloat over their dead body.
View your body all banged up, you made a mistake man.
If someone tries to mess with me or my associates, they will end up dead with their body badly injured, and this will be seen as a mistake on their part.
[Chorus: x2]
This repeated chorus emphasizes the idea of retaliation and that anyone who tries to cross us will meet a violent end.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID DARNELL BROWN, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES LLOYD, EUGENE RASKIN, 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.