Banks was born in New Carrollton, Maryland and raised in Queens, New York. His mother named Rosa LLoyd of Puerto Rican descent and has a Haitian-American father. His father spent most of Lloyd's childhood in prison, leaving his mother to raise him and his two siblings. Lloyd attended August Martin High School but dropped out at age 16. For his stage name, he took his great, great-grandfather's name Banks, which was passed on by his uncles who also shared it.
G-Unit was founded when childhood friends Lloyd Banks, 50 Cent, and Tony Yayo decided to make a group with each other. They met Young Buck when UTP group came to New York and 50 Cent heard Young Buck rapping. After 50 Cent signed his contract with Aftermath Entertainment they took Young Buck in the group and signed him. Tony Yayo, being an older and more experienced rapper, joined 50 Cent on the Nas Promo Tour, the Cash Money Tour and the Ruff Ryders Tour. As Banks remained at home waiting for 50 and Yayo to return, he started rappin around the neighborhood to further increase his buzz on the streets. He then hooked up with neighborhood producers and made tracks for local mixtapes. Lloyd Banks has a renowned reputation on the mixtape scene. While Banks was making Mixtapes,50 Cent was soon granted his own record label by Dr. Dre and released the album Get Rich or Die Tryin'; Lloyd Banks was featured on the song "Don't Push Me", and the remixed version of "P.I.M.P". Soon after the group had established their own record label, G-Unit Records, G-Unit released their first official group album Beg for Mercy in November 2003, which went on to be certified double platinum.
During August 2005, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, and their entourage were traveling in a van, when the vehicle was pulled over after passing through a red light in midtown Manhattan. Officers said they discovered a loaded handgun and another weapon in the van. Prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss the charges after an investigation determined that neither Lloyd Banks nor Young Buck was in possession of the weapons. Felony gun charges against Lloyd Banks and Young Buck were dropped on November 8, 2006.
In the early morning hours of January 9, 2010, in a Kitchener, Ontario hotel, an alleged altercation took place between Banks and a concert promoter over performance fees. Banks, and three of his associates, were later charged with forcible confinement, aggravated assault and robbery, and released on $50,000 bail.
In late January 2010, it was announced that Banks would release a new song, "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley" featuring Juelz Santana, from his upcoming third studio album. "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley" charted at #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. Lloyd Banks release info via his twitter announcing that the title for his third album has tentatively been called The Hunger for More 2' and will attempt to take him back to his best work. However, the G-Unit label later stated that the title is not set in concrete and still may be altered. The title of the album was confirmed by 50 Cent as H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More 2) in a interview with MTV News. According to Banks, Interscope is trying to get him back due to the success of the single "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley".
Air Your A$$ Out
Lloyd Banks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bulletproof cap
I ain't going out like Kennedy
50 got my fanbase growing out in Tennessee
I'm getting so much head it's
Drawing out my energy i'm touring now
I need enough weed to pass around
Somewhere around a half a pound
Bitch, I'm gonna sell records
I got a platinum sound
Ranned into half the town
Bandana wrapped around
Nah, we ain't got no manners
And as far as the clips you
Know how gorillas feel about bananas
Acknowledge whenever we round
And as far as bouncing back I'm
Like Ben Wallace on the rebound
You still spending 10 dollars on your weed
Clown you might lose your dick
It's all kind of disease now
They ain't OG's, they grumpy, old men
Riding 'round in a chunky old Benz, nigga
Those ends i'm not the type to fall in love
Make your hoes friends
I turn a friend to a ho, spend all the dough
Niggas'll start fighting by the
End of the show
I got 30 niggas on stage and 10 in the row
Ya know
Get ya gun, we gon' come for you
We'll lay ya ass out
The shells hit you knees, split ya
There's blood all on your couch
Didn't think niggas would really run
Up in your house
Hog tying ya mutherfucking kids and ya spouse
Bitch, give us the mutherfucking
Money and we out
This 45th shell'll tear a fucking
Hole in ya blouse
Waiting for me to have a change of heart
You assed out
Kill every motherfucker up in this
Bitch and stamp out nigga, this is pressure
Punks respect pressure
Catch ya stunting in something I
Want and I'll get ya
Go 'head ride through ya strip
In your Benz on chrome see if I won't run up
In your motherfucking home
They say money make the world go 'round
I've seen my knife work
I turn a clown smile to a frown
Squeeze and watch the barrel spin
On the trey pound i'm a G-Unit gorilla
Niggas know how I get down
In "Air Your A$$ Out," Lloyd Banks delivers a bold and aggressive rap filled with bravado and explicit threats. The opening lines set the tone, as he announces his presence in a '64 (most likely referring to a Chevrolet Impala) with an air horn blowing at his enemies. He compares himself to a bulletproof cap, suggesting that he won't go down easily, just like Kennedy, who was famously assassinated. Banks acknowledges the growing fanbase that 50 Cent has helped him build, specifically mentioning Tennessee. He boasts about his sexual prowess, claiming to receive so much head that it drains his energy. He also talks about his success in the music industry, confident in his ability to sell records with his "platinum sound." Banks takes pride in his street credibility, referencing his association with certain areas and his disregard for manners or etiquette. He warns others not to cross him, using a metaphorical connection between gorillas and bananas to imply potential violence. Banks highlights his resilience, comparing himself to Ben Wallace, a former NBA player known for his rebounding skills. He takes a dig at others, claiming they spend too much money on low-quality weed and might contract sexually transmitted diseases. Finally, Banks refers to himself as someone who can turn a friend into a hoe and expresses his dominance in the rap game by asserting his ability to start fights and having a large entourage.
Line by Line Meaning
We in the '64, air horn blowing at my enemies
We're cruising around in a '64 car, making loud noises to intimidate and provoke our enemies
Bulletproof cap, I ain't going out like Kennedy
I'm wearing a bulletproof hat, not willing to die in the same way as Kennedy did
50 got my fanbase growing out in Tennessee
Thanks to 50 Cent's influence, my fanbase is expanding in Tennessee
I'm getting so much head, it's drawing out my energy, I'm touring now
I'm receiving a lot of attention and sexual favors, which is exhausting me, but it's worth it because I'm now touring
I need enough weed to pass around, somewhere around a half a pound
I require a significant amount of marijuana to share among my associates, approximately half a pound
Of that Manhattan brown, bitch, I'm gonna sell records, I got a platinum sound
Referring to potent marijuana, I'm confident that my music will be successful, possessing the quality to achieve platinum record status
Ranned into half the town, bandana wrapped around, nah, we ain't got no manners
We encountered many people in the town, displaying our affiliation with a bandana, and intentionally disregarding social conventions or politeness
And as far as the clips you know, how gorillas feel about bananas
Regarding firearm magazines, it's understood that gorillas have a strong desire or inclination towards violence, comparing it to how they feel about bananas
Acknowledge whenever we round, and as far as bouncing back I'm like Ben Wallace on the rebound
People should recognize our presence, and when it comes to recovering from setbacks, I'm as resilient as Ben Wallace, known for his rebounding skills in basketball
You still spending 10 dollars on your weed, clown you might lose your dick
If you're still buying cheap marijuana, you're foolish and may face negative consequences, such as potential impotence
It's all kind of disease now, they ain't OGs, they grumpy, old men
There are numerous health risks associated with promiscuity, and those who claim to be original gangsters lack credibility, resembling grouchy, elderly men
Riding 'round in a chunky old Benz, nigga, those ends I'm not the type to fall in love
Driving around in an old, unattractive Mercedes-Benz, focusing on financial gains rather than emotional attachments, I don't easily develop romantic feelings
Make your hoes friends, I turn a friend to a ho, spend all the dough
Engaging with your female acquaintances, I have the ability to influence them to engage in promiscuous behavior, spending all their money
Niggas'll start fighting by the end of the show
Emotions escalate and conflicts arise among individuals before the end of the performance
I got 30 niggas on stage and 10 in the row, ya know
I have a large crew of 30 individuals on stage and an additional 10 in the front row, demonstrating the extent of my entourage
Get ya gun, we gon' come for you, we'll lay ya ass out
Prepare yourself and arm yourself because we will aggressively confront you, overpowering and defeating you
The shells hit you knees, split ya, there's blood all on your couch
Bullets will strike your knees, causing severe injury, resulting in blood splattered on your furniture
Didn't think niggas would really run up in your house
You underestimated the fact that we would actually invade your home without hesitation
Hog tying ya mutherfucking kids and ya spouse
We will restrain and immobilize your children and spouse in a brutal and threatening manner
Bitch, give us the mutherfucking money and we out
Woman, hand over the money promptly, and we will swiftly depart
This 45th shell'll tear a fucking hole in ya blouse
This specific type of bullet will create a significant and destructive hole in your clothing
Waiting for me to have a change of heart, you assed out
If you expect me to suddenly show mercy or compassion, you are out of luck
Kill every motherfucker up in this bitch and stamp out nigga, this is pressure
We will eliminate every single individual in this location and assert dominance; this is an intense and highly intimidating situation
Punks respect pressure, catch ya stunting in something I want and I'll get ya
Weak individuals will yield and show deference under intense duress; if I see you flaunting something I desire, I will harm or confront you
Go 'head ride through ya strip in your Benz on chrome see if I won't run up
Challenge me by driving through your neighborhood in a flashy Mercedes-Benz, and you'll witness me fearlessly approaching or attacking you
In your motherfucking home, they say money make the world go 'round
I will intrude into your residence, affirming the notion that money is the driving force behind the world's functioning
I've seen my knife work, I turn a clown smile to a frown
I have witnessed the effectiveness of my blade, capable of transforming a cheerful clown's expression into a sad or pained one
Squeeze and watch the barrel spin on the trey pound, I'm a G-Unit gorilla
I will pull the trigger and observe the rotational motion of the gun's barrel on the three-pound firearm; emphasizing my affiliation with the G-Unit as a powerful and aggressive individual
Niggas know how I get down
People are aware of my ruthless nature and the manner in which I operate
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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