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".
Respect
Lloyd Banks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Papoose, Jimmy (Harlem) Banks what's good?! (queens)
It's Yayo nigga! Yeah! Yeah
I got every pair of Jordans, every kind of bitch
Ridin' foreign cars my life is the shit (come on)
My Louis bookbag, is full of them stacks
Homey I'm in Spain I ain't thinkin' about hats
I had swag since the third grade
Havin' sex on the beach with a mermaid, draped in that Herme
In that spur, pullin' on that purple
Cause I like her, and I like her too
No time to talk bitch get in
My first time in the booth, I knew I would win
The first time in the pen it was different than the streets yo
I seen niggas make movies out of C.O's
Fuck my P.O. he got a attitude
But I'm a man of respect what he 'gon do?
For every time I hear a bitch nigga talk
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time I bag a new fly ass broad
That just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time the streets say that I'm that boy
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
I got the tools that keep you niggas in check
To me I'm not a fool I'm a man of respect (yeah)
We some men of respect, you a bitch in a dress
I got these niggas so scared that they swimmin' in sweat
And they don't send us a check, he gettin' hit in his chest
My daughter needs her hair done I gotta get some barrettes
Put the grip on the sket, and graze the skin off his neck
I keep a 40 like queens but I don't live in the 'jects
You ever send us a threat? That you don't live to regret
You better come with your towels even gorillas get wet
Ladies lift up your breast, you bang lift up your set
My gun got a bad bladder take a piss on your vest
Thug-a thug-a, thug-a, thug-a my click is the best
Your bars stink, that's why you got shit on your breath
Niggas clapped tryin' to slap me five
I put 'em on wheelchairs, like Drake on Degrassi High
They say I don't smile, that's cause I don't play fair bro
I stay Sirius like satellite radio
For every time I hear a bitch nigga talk
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time I bag a new fly ass broad
That just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time the streets say that I'm that boy
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
I got the tools that keep you niggas in check
To me I'm not a fool I'm a man of respect (yeah)
I'm a South Jamaica Queens nigga (yeah!)
Boy play me make a scene nigga countin' paper clean nigga
Bouncin' on that beam nigga, and not that star type
Where I go, moms go, make it rain at the stop light
My Coupe makes the cops tight, my aurora make the shorties get her wop right
Drop her off and catch my portal rock flight
Block life, kingpin, respect the center block ice
God it must be somethin' good, could be seven hot dice
Locally connected, vocally respected
International record I'll be leavin' any second
Check it, let me stretch it 'fore your funds exit
My Method, got your Man Louis V vested
Excellent, my weed man got me somewhere in the clouds
Havin' daydreams of me sleepin' on a hundred pounds
For any burglary sounds we got a hundred rounds
AK's when I'm down to the ground and put 'em down
For every time I hear a bitch nigga talk
It just makes me wanna get more money (More money)
And every time I bag a new fly ass broad
That just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time the streets say that I'm that boy
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
I got the tools that keep you niggas in check
To me I'm not a fool I'm a man of respect (yeah)
Now BK stand up (bed-stuy)
I'm in bed-stuy big cape rubber-band up
Goons don't play (no) that'll get ya jammed up
Gotta watch the jakes, that'll get ya canned up
You know how we play, hundred grand a truck (flossin')
Them dice games, two grand and up
The life man, the lights and the cameras
Parked the Maserati, right in front of Marcy (yep)
To talkin' with the homeys when I'm out at Marcus Garvey (melon)
And pardon me y'all, I meant chalkin' bodies (goonies)
Shout to Lil' Kim do your bid like Frank White
Then come home and do it BIG like Frank White (ball on 'em)
We buy cars just to race 'em like the Indy's (speedin')
They fly the Spur a buck eighty for the Bentley (wow)
A rock star like the Red Hot Chili Pep's
They follow my car cause the feds feel we a threat (they takin' pictures)
Yeah I keep bread with a chilly neck
Diplomats 'round this bitch they knowin' we the realest set (bird gang)
Yeah we 'gon spoil New York
Call us the Dipset Knicks the way we ball in New York, motherfuckers!
For every time I hear a bitch nigga talk
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time I bag a new fly ass broad
That just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
And every time the streets say that I'm that boy
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
I got the tools that keep you niggas in check
To me I'm not a fool I'm a man of respect
(I'm a man of respect yeah)
The song starts with a boastful call-out by Lloyd to his fellow rappers from different neighborhoods - Brooklyn, Harlem, and Queens, stating that they are men of respect and others should respect them as they come through. Lloyd is then heard rapping about his luxurious lifestyle, having every pair of Jordans and driving foreign cars. He also boasts about his expensive Louis Vuitton bookbag filled with cash and his love for high-end brands like Hermés. He mentions his first time in the booth, where he knew he would win, and contrasts it to his first time in prison, where things were different from the streets. He has seen movies being made inside the prison, and he is someone who values respect, a sentiment he reminds his parole officer.
The second verse is by Tony Yayo, and he uses his lyrics to assert the crew's reputation as someone not to be trifled with, using violent language about opponents who challenge them. The chorus repeats the theme of obtaining more money and staying ahead of the game. The last verse is by Papoose, where he raps about his life's high points, including rubbing shoulders with celebrities and connecting with Lil' Kim. He boasts about buying and racing cars and calls out sloppy and washed-out rappers.
Overall, the song's theme is about being respected in the rap industry, played out through boasting verses and a repeated chorus of seeking to rise higher and obtain more wealth and power.
Line by Line Meaning
Men Of Respect, See us comin' through you better respect us (Brooklyn)
We, as men of respect, demand your respect as we enter the scene (Brooklyn)
Papoose, Jimmy (Harlem) Banks what's good?! (queens)
Papoose, Jimmy, and Banks greet each other and acknowledge their respective neighborhoods (Harlem & Queens)
It's Yayo nigga! Yeah! Yeah
Yayo proudly introduces himself with enthusiasm
I got every pair of Jordans, every kind of bitch
I own a collection of Jordans and have been with various women
Ridin' foreign cars my life is the shit (come on)
I enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, driving exotic cars
My Louis bookbag, is full of them stacks
My Louis Vuitton bag is filled with a large sum of money
Homey I'm in Spain I ain't thinkin' about hats
I'm currently in Spain and not concerned about trivial matters
I say Cassius Clay, you say butter, I say Parkay, I drink Rose'
I am referencing Muhammad Ali by his birth name (Cassius Clay), making a play on words by using 'butter' (as in smooth) and 'Parkay' (a brand of margarine), and enjoying the luxury of drinking Rose wine
I had swag since the third grade
I have possessed a confident and stylish demeanor since I was in the third grade
Havin' sex on the beach with a mermaid, draped in that Herme
I engage in sexual encounters on the beach with a fictional sea creature, while wearing expensive Hermes clothing
In that spur, pullin' on that purple
While driving in my Spur (Bentley Continental), I enjoy smoking high-quality marijuana
Cause I like her, and I like her too
I am attracted to multiple women and enjoy their company
No time to talk bitch get in
I don't have time to waste talking, so get in the car
My first time in the booth, I knew I would win
When I recorded my first song, I was confident in my abilities and knew it would be successful
The first time in the pen it was different than the streets yo
Being incarcerated for the first time was a different experience compared to life on the streets
I seen niggas make movies out of C.O's
I've witnessed individuals manipulate correctional officers to their advantage
Fuck my P.O. he got a attitude
I don't like my probation officer because of his negative attitude
But I'm a man of respect what he 'gon do?
Despite my grievances with my probation officer, I command respect and question his ability to harm me
For every time I hear a bitch nigga talk
Whenever I encounter a weak individual talking nonsense
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
Their words motivate me to obtain even greater wealth
And every time I bag a new fly ass broad
Whenever I attract an attractive woman
That just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
It fuels my desire to accumulate more wealth
And every time the streets say that I'm that boy
Whenever the streets acknowledge me as someone noteworthy
It just makes me wanna get more money (more money)
It intensifies my pursuit of financial success
I got the tools that keep you niggas in check
I possess the necessary skills and resources to control and dominate others
To me I'm not a fool I'm a man of respect (yeah)
I don't consider myself a fool, but rather a man deserving of respect
We some men of respect, you a bitch in a dress
We are men who command respect, while you are nothing more than a weak individual
I got these niggas so scared that they swimmin' in sweat
I instill so much fear in these individuals that they sweat profusely
And they don't send us a check, he gettin' hit in his chest
If they don't pay us what they owe, they will face severe consequences and potentially physical harm
My daughter needs her hair done I gotta get some barrettes
I have an obligation to ensure my daughter's hair is taken care of, so I need to buy some barrettes
Put the grip on the sket, and graze the skin off his neck
I will hold and aim the firearm, causing a minor injury by grazing the skin on someone's neck
I keep a 40 like queens but I don't live in the 'jects
I carry a .40 caliber handgun like the rough areas of Queens, but I don't reside in the projects
You ever send us a threat? That you don't live to regret
If you ever dare to send us a threat, be prepared for the consequences that come with it
You better come with your towels even gorillas get wet
If you confront us, be prepared for a fight, as even the toughest individuals can be defeated
Ladies lift up your breast, you bang lift up your set
Women should proudly display their assets, while gang members should represent their affiliation
My gun got a bad bladder take a piss on your vest
My firearm has a large magazine capacity and will shoot at your bulletproof vest
Thug-a thug-a, thug-a, thug-a my click is the best
My crew is composed of the most skilled and respected individuals
Your bars stink, that's why you got shit on your breath
Your rap lyrics are terrible, which is why your breath smells like feces
Niggas clapped tryin' to slap me five
People attempted to give me a high-five but ended up being shot
I put 'em on wheelchairs, like Drake on Degrassi High
I severely injure them, leaving them in wheelchairs, similar to Drake's character on the TV show Degrassi High
They say I don't smile, that's cause I don't play fair bro
People mention that I don't smile because I don't adhere to the concept of fair play
I stay Sirius like satellite radio
I am serious and focused, just like the satellite radio service Sirius
I'm a South Jamaica Queens nigga (yeah!)
I proudly identify as a resident of South Jamaica Queens
Boy play me make a scene nigga countin' paper clean nigga
If someone tries to test me, I will cause a commotion, as I count my money without any stains or imperfections
Bouncin' on that beam nigga, and not that star type
I am physically agile and confident, but not in the same way as a celebrity
Where I go, moms go, make it rain at the stop light
Wherever I travel, my entourage, including my mother, accompanies me and throws money out of the car's window at stoplights
My Coupe makes the cops tight, my aurora make the shorties get her wop right
My luxury car frustrates the police, and my presence causes women to become sexually aroused and dance
Drop her off and catch my portal rock flight
After the encounter, I will leave and take a private flight
Block life, kingpin, respect the center block ice
I am heavily involved in the street life, as a respected leader, symbolized by the valuable center block of ice
God it must be somethin' good, could be seven hot dice
There must be something valuable at stake, possibly involving high-stakes gambling
Locally connected, vocally respected
I am highly regarded within my local community and have earned respect through my vocal skills
International record I'll be leavin' any second
I am on the verge of becoming an international sensation and will soon depart for global success
Check it, let me stretch it 'fore your funds exit
Listen closely as I elaborate before you lose all your money
My Method, got your Man Louis V vested
My approach and style, similar to that of Method Man, have individuals investing in expensive Louis Vuitton clothing
Excellent, my weed man got me somewhere in the clouds
My marijuana supplier consistently provides me with potent weed that gets me extremely high
Havin' daydreams of me sleepin' on a hundred pounds
I fantasize about resting atop a large sum of money (a hundred pounds in weight)
For any burglary sounds we got a hundred rounds
If any criminal activity is attempted, we are armed with a hundred rounds of ammunition
AK's when I'm down to the ground and put 'em down
If necessary, I will use AK-47 rifles to defend myself and eliminate threats
Now BK stand up (bed-stuy)
Brooklyn, stand up and represent Bed-Stuy
I'm in bed-stuy big cape rubber-band up
When in Bed-Stuy, I wear a large amount of money wrapped around my wrist with a rubber band
Goons don't play (no) that'll get ya jammed up
My associates do not engage in games; their actions can lead to trouble and imprisonment
Gotta watch the jakes, that'll get ya canned up
We need to be cautious of the police; their presence can lead to arrest
You know how we play, hundred grand a truck (flossin')
You are aware of our lifestyle, where we possess large amounts of money and display it when driving luxurious trucks
Them dice games, two grand and up
We participate in high-stakes gambling, with the minimum amount being two thousand dollars
The life man, the lights and the cameras
We experience a glamorous and extravagant lifestyle full of attention and fame
Parked the Maserati, right in front of Marcy (yep)
I confidently park my Maserati directly in front of the Marcy Houses, a housing project in Brooklyn
To talkin' with the homeys when I'm out at Marcus Garvey (melon)
I engage in conversations with my friends when I'm out in the Marcus Garvey Park (referring to the watermelon stereotype)
And pardon me y'all, I meant chalkin' bodies (goonies)
Apologies, I misspoke, I meant taking the lives of enemies (goonies reference)
Shout to Lil' Kim do your bid like Frank White
A shoutout to Lil' Kim, encouraging her to serve her prison sentence with the same resilience as Frank White, a fictional crime boss
Then come home and do it BIG like Frank White (ball on 'em)
Upon release, she should live a lavish and extravagant lifestyle, just like Frank White did (showing off)
We buy cars just to race 'em like the Indy's (speedin')
We purchase vehicles specifically for racing, similar to the cars used in the Indianapolis 500
They fly the Spur a buck eighty for the Bentley (wow)
People drive their Bentley cars at an impressive speed of 180 mph
A rock star like the Red Hot Chili Pep's
I am comparable to a rock star, similar to the Red Hot Chili Peppers
They follow my car cause the feds feel we a threat (they takin' pictures)
Law enforcement agencies surveil my movements because they perceive us as a potential danger (taking photos as evidence)
Yeah I keep bread with a chilly neck
I always carry a large amount of money with a diamond-studded necklace
Diplomats 'round this bitch they knowin' we the realest set (bird gang)
The Diplomats (rap group) recognize that we are the truest crew (referring to Bird Gang, a subgroup)
Yeah we 'gon spoil New York
We will indulge in luxury and extravagance, making New York City envy our lifestyle
Call us the Dipset Knicks the way we ball in New York, motherfuckers!
We are the equivalent of the Diplomats basketball team, dominating and excelling in New York City
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AOG Samson
A classic that will never die
DoItCapital
This track is more proof that Fabolous is #1 . He goes toe to toe with any rapper you think is good and always comes out on top. Always
Bryan Howard
I as big of a fab fan as there but he's 3 here
Joseph O'Brien
Banks hooks go as hard as his punchlines.
Planet Bu
PLK YOU KNOOOOO
Marv Macho
Banks hook game is underrated as fuck. His shit go hard
Michael Parish
For sure. I forgot bout this song.
Tevin Richie
“Not the kind to major in something minor” Motivation 👍🏾💪🏽
hiiipower iii
Still one of the hardest mixtapes ever
Neè Lee
FOREVER FIRE 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥