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.
You So Tough
G-Unit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
Nigga you so tough
Tough until your heartbeat stop
The tre pound pop, your arteries shot
You bleed into shock, get in the pine box
Damn you's a hard motherfucker
You so tough
The 4 fifth kick, the Hechler spit
You in deep shit, oh now your ass sick
You supposed to be hard motherfucker
[Verse 1: Lloyd Banks]
Bury all your hatin, cuz hatred will bury ya
Learn not to talk tough talk through your cellular
Fucked then beef, the president and senator
There is no peace, youre the prey or the predator
While you plottin on me, I'm 10 steps ahead of ya
Black 40 caliber I put a infrared on ya
Nigga I'm special, you mad cuz ya regular
Man I don't want your bitch, I damn near remember her
Refresh my memory, oh yeah I slept with her
No wonder she ain't mention you when I met with her
Mind on my cheddar, they'll remember me forever
The groundwork I put in made my lifestyle better..and better
I like the fuckin street, bright in the phantom lights
Montana light, two women in {?} lights, they round the planet twice
But I don't forget where I come from dum dum dum
[Hook]
[Verse 2: Tony Yayo]
For that china white I lay a nigga mama down
We can shoot it out like Frank White did in Chinatown
You know I got that hard white, you know I got that tan n brown
Automatic tre pound leave a nigga man down
Murder murder, homicide, real right niggas ride
Gangstas they never hide, thank God I'm still alive
My pocket look like theres cracks on me
My waist look like I got the MAC on me
These hoes on my dick I got that ass on me
You a RN: regular nigga that rap homey
I'm crack homey, I'm dope money
I wake up and wipe my ass with dope money
C Back, Maybach, my shit two tone
Nigga run up on that, your ass a tombstone
I'm hood like a group home, ghetto like a pay phone
Jake The Snake I'm low in the hood from em
[Hook]
[Verse 3: 50 Cent]
Yeah I got a knife for a tough nigga, 9 for a hard nigga
Don't make me empty the chamber
Even if I'm locked in the cell-block, they fallin' the shell shock
When I open your head with the banger
I cause a riot in the yard, make a mess in the mess hall
I got just blew trial and I ain't got nothin' left
Whats todays mathematics? shit ain't addin' up
Get knocked with 10 machine guns only get 12 months
Ooooh weee, don't talk to me, you talk to him, you talkin' to them
I got the best lawyers money can buy
They said they would've got me 10, or maybe 9
I said "How do you explain how homey breeeze?"
They said keep ya mouth shut or you eatin' the cheese
The song "You So Tough" by G-Unit delivers a powerful message about the consequences of pretending to be tough. The hook and verses point out how someone can seem so tough until they face the reality of a dangerous situation. The lyrics suggest that being authentic and sticking to one's own values is better than pretending to be someone else. The theme of the song is related to street culture, where being "hard" is often a way of gaining respect and street cred. The song also deals with the issues of loyalty, power, and betrayal.
In the first verse, Lloyd Banks emphasizes the importance of staying ahead of one's opponents and not being caught up in their games. He also warns against making enemies by using a phone to talk tough instead of confronting someone face to face. In the second verse, Tony Yayo talks about his experiences with drugs and violence, using a metaphorical language of the streets. He suggests that he has no regrets for the violence he has caused and that he is proud of his criminal background. The third verse by 50 Cent discusses his experiences in jail and how his lawyers helped him get a reduced sentence. He also warns against talking too much, as it could lead to trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Acknowledgment or Agreement.
Nigga you so tough
You're trying to act tough, but you're really not.
Tough until your heartbeat stop
Your perceived toughness is all talk until you get shot.
The tre pound pop, your arteries shot
When you get shot with a three-pound weapon, your arteries will be punctured.
You bleed into shock, get in the pine box
Once you're shot, you'll go into shock before dying and being buried in a pine box.
Damn you's a hard motherfucker
Sarcasm towards the 'hard' image you're trying to portray.
You so tough
Still sarcastic towards the 'tough' image being projected.
Tough until your punk ass hit
You're perceived as tough, up until you're hit by a gun.
The 4 fifth kick, the Hechler spit
If you're shot by these kinds of guns, you won't seem so tough anymore.
You in deep shit, oh, now your ass is sick
Once you've been hit with the gun, you'll feel the consequences of being a 'tough' person.
You supposed to be hard motherfucker
Reminding you of the image you're pretending to have.
Bury all your hatin, 'cause hatred will bury ya
Don't hold onto hate or else it's going to hold onto you.
Learn not to talk tough talk through your cellular
Don't pretend to be tough over the phone; it's not real.
Fucked then beef, the president and senator
Even people in high positions have conflicts.
There is no peace, you're the prey, or the predator
You have to choose if you'll be the hunter or the hunted.
While you plottin' on me, I'm 10 steps ahead of ya
I'm way ahead of you while you're trying to come up with a plan against me.
Black 40 caliber I put an infrared on ya
I have a powerful weapon to hit you with.
Nigga I'm special, you mad 'cause ya regular
I'm unique, and you're not, which is why you're angry.
Man, I don't want your bitch, I damn near remember her
I never wanted your woman, but I might've gotten with someone who looked like her.
Refresh my memory, oh yeah, I slept with her
I may have slept with someone who looked like your girl.
No wonder she ain't mention you when I met with her
It's no surprise she didn't mention you when we met up.
Mind on my cheddar, they'll remember me forever
I'm focused on making money; people will never forget me.
The groundwork I put in made my lifestyle better..and better
The hard work I've done has improved my lifestyle significantly.
I like the fuckin street, bright in the phantom lights
I like being out in the streets, shining my flashy car's lights about.
Montana light, two women in {?} lights, they round the planet twice
Perhaps he's saying his car lights shine as bright as the stars, and he's cruising around the world with two women.
But I don't forget where I come from dum dum dum
I have not forgotten my roots, no matter how rich and famous I become.
For that china white, I lay a nigga mama down
For the white drugs I sell, I'd resort to killing someone's mother.
We can shoot it out like Frank White did in Chinatown
I'm willing to engage in a shootout like a gangster movie.
You know I got that hard white, you know I got that tan n brown
You know I have drugs, both white and brown.
Automatic tre pound leave a nigga man down
When shot with an automatic three-pound weapon, you will be killed.
Murder murder, homicide, real right niggas ride
Some people will kill and be killed.
Gangstas, they never hide, thank God I'm still alive
Gangsters don't hide, and I'm lucky to still be alive.
My pocket looks like theres cracks on me
His pockets are bulging with drugs.
My waist looks like I got the MAC on me
He has a gun in his waistband.
These hoes on my dick I got that ass on me
These women are attracted to me.
You a RN: regular nigga that rap homey
You're just an average rapper.
I'm crack homey, I'm dope money
I deal with harder drugs and make more money.
I wake up and wipe my ass with dope money
He makes so much money selling drugs that he uses it as toilet paper.
C Back, Maybach, my shit two tone
He drives a two-tone luxury car.
Nigga run up on that, your ass a tombstone
If someone tries to rob him and fails, they'll end up dead.
I'm hood like a group home, ghetto like a pay phone
He's as ghetto as a forgotten group home or pay phone.
Jake The Snake, I'm low in the hood from em
Like a snake, he's hidden in plain sight in the hood.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANAND BAKSHI, MARVIN N BERNARD, RAHUL DEV BURMAN, CURTIS N JACKSON, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES N LLOYD, Curtis James Jackson, Christopher Charles Lloyd, Marvin Bernard, Rahul Dev Burman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miles Lewis
on Lay You Down
Beg For Mercy was one of the best albums of 2003.