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".
You Already Know
Lloyd Banks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Lloyd Banks)
Uh..
Uh..
Uh..
Uh..
Uh..
(Lloyd Banks Chorus)
You already know, my mind is on my dough
A millionnaire, don't spend a dolla on a hoe
And i'm still in here, tryna get a model out the door
How am I bother with the bottle of that dro
Slidin' on a roll, groupie in my vehicle that I don't even know
And if I wasn't Banks, shorty prolly wouldn't roll
From the Benz to the lobby, from the lobby til the door
If you ain't with the program, now you got to go (go)
(Lloyd Banks Verse)
I move like there's popo behind me
Cocoa inside me, so cold and grimey
44 beside me, hoes know where to find me
Where ever there's money, yeah i'm the shit honey (whoo)
Hood nigga with that rubberband brick money
If I go broke, I'll make you and your man strip dummy
Yeah nigga, you don't want it with them, there bigger cross us
Your on something, weed, their liquor, scared nigga, here trigger
Teflon, chest con, G'z Up, freeze up and you'll end up in your lawn
It's the protege of Fitty (uh huh), inspired by Biggie (uh huh)
Burns more then Ziggie (uh huh), the lil' niggaz dig me (whooo)
I've been stressed out lately, so i'm smokin' more than ever
Then smacked in the hood, good pumpin' out my lever
I'm a goodfella in a G-unit hood sweater
If your bitch give me a sign, i'ma get her
(Lloyd Banks Chorus)
You already know, my mind is on my dough
A millionnaire, don't spend a dolla on a hoe
And i'm still in here, tryna get a model out the door
How am I bother with the bottle of that dro
Slidin' on a roll, groupie in my vehicle that I don't even know
And if I wasn't Banks, shorty prolly wouldn't roll
From the Benz to the lobby, from the lobby til the door
If you ain't with the program, now you got to go (go)
(50 Cent:)
There's always folks, moving around with the toasters
Push the rock through the smoker's, warnin' do not approach us
We in the club with the pokers, steppin' in Gucci loafers
Stuntin' in testerosous, down in front with the vultures
My clique be the coldest, baddest bitches they know us
After the show they blow us and do all types of shit for us
Now I can speak for me, cuz me everywhere I be
Niggaz know i'm a G, got it locked, got the keys
We movin' bundles of D, sippin' on Hennessey
Buck rollin' the trees, Banks countin' the cheese
We get the paper then breeze, nigga we overseas
You stuck in the hood, ahh that ain't good
Different town, different tour, different telly, different whore
Triple x, wet sex, who's next, latex
Condom, condo, i'm tight, my money long though
You lookin' for a drink bitch, I ain't what you lookin' for
(Lloyd Banks Chorus)
You already know, my mind is on my dough
A millionnaire, don't spend a dolla on a hoe
And i'm still in here, tryna get a model out the door
How am I bother with the bottle of that dro
Slidin' on a roll, groupie in my vehicle that I don't even know
And if I wasn't Banks, shorty prolly wouldn't roll
From the Benz to the lobby, from the lobby til the door
If you ain't with the program, now you got to go (go)
(Young Buck:)
I'm out on bond, but the '40 still on me
Bouncin' round like Lil Jon, thinkin' 'bout my dead homies
Watch I hit me a lick, and go get me a brick
I keep on losin' shootin' dice, and i'm sick of this shit
Clienteles still poppin', so the druggies keep comin'
And my neighbours is watchin', but we still gettin' money, on this block
Till' the sun drop, I dont have a home
I will not stop sellin' rocks, thug till' i'm gone
Got a couple old schools and some iced out jewels
Some G-Unit shoes, body bullet tattoo
About to stomp me a bitch, put the pump to his lip
Tell him talk that shit nowww, y'all wanna trip
I keep it dirty on the Eastcoast, dirty on the West
Jus' a dirty lil' nigga with a glock and a vest
Banks tell me you dont like him and you know what i'ma do nigga
(Lloyd Banks Chorus)
You already know, my mind is on my dough
A millionnaire, don't spend a dolla on a hoe
And i'm still in here, tryna get a model out the door
How am I bother with the bottle of that dro
Slidin' on a roll, groupie in my vehicle that I don't even know
And if I wasn't Banks, shorty prolly wouldn't roll
From the Benz to the lobby, from the lobby til the door
If you ain't with the program, now you got to go (go)
The lyrics to "You Already Know" by Lloyd Banks featuring Young Buck and 50 Cent are centered around the idea that, despite their success and wealth, they remain focused on making more money rather than spending it on women. Banks raps about how he's more interested in getting a model out the door than spending time with a groupie he picked up, and his chorus emphasizes that his mind is always on his dough. The other verses cover much of the same ground, with Young Buck rapping about making money selling drugs and getting into trouble, while 50 Cent raps about the lavish lifestyle he lives while on tour. The song is characterized by its raw energy and aggressive delivery, as each rapper tries to one-up the other with their lyrics.
Additionally, the song contains several references to other rappers and figures in the hip-hop world. Banks references both Biggie and Ziggie in his verse, while 50 Cent namechecks Lil Jon and his clique as well as his own G-Unit crew. Meanwhile, Young Buck talks about how he's still thuggin' despite being out on bond, and he mentions his own body bullet tattoo. The song also features a prominent use of sound effects, such as gunshots and cash register sounds, which serve to emphasize the lyrics' focus on wealth and power.
Line by Line Meaning
You already know, my mind is on my dough
I'm focused on getting rich
A millionnaire, don't spend a dolla on a hoe
I'm rich and don't waste money on women
And i'm still in here, tryna get a model out the door
I'm still trying to pick up a beautiful woman and leave
How am I bother with the bottle of that dro
I don't need to smoke weed to have a good time
Slidin' on a roll, groupie in my vehicle that I don't even know
I'm driving around with a stranger I picked up
And if I wasn't Banks, shorty prolly wouldn't roll
If I wasn't famous, this woman wouldn't want to be with me
From the Benz to the lobby, from the lobby til the door
I'm moving from the car to the building, and then to the room
If you ain't with the program, now you got to go (go)
If you're not on board with my plan, you need to leave
I move like there's popo behind me
I'm quick and watchful, like I'm being chased by the police
Cocoa inside me, so cold and grimey
I'm hard and tough, with a cold and dangerous personality
44 beside me, hoes know where to find me
I carry a gun for protection, and women are drawn to me
Where ever there's money, yeah i'm the shit honey (whoo)
I'm successful and popular, especially when there's money involved
Hood nigga with that rubberband brick money
I'm a street guy with a lot of cash in my pocket
If I go broke, I'll make you and your man strip dummy
If I ever lose my money, I'll force you to take your clothes off to get it back
Yeah nigga, you don't want it with them, there bigger cross us
You don't want to mess with us, we're too powerful and dangerous
Your on something, weed, their liquor, scared nigga, here trigger
If you're high or drunk and acting scared, I'll pull the trigger
Teflon, chest con, G'z Up, freeze up and you'll end up in your lawn
I have a bulletproof vest and a gun, so don't mess with me or you'll be dead
It's the protege of Fitty (uh huh), inspired by Biggie (uh huh)
I'm under 50 Cent's mentorship and am influenced by The Notorious B.I.G.
Burns more then Ziggie (uh huh), the lil' niggaz dig me (whooo)
I'm popular and make more money than Ziggy (Marley), and young guys like me
I've been stressed out lately, so i'm smokin' more than ever
I'm under a lot of pressure, so I'm smoking weed more often
Then smacked in the hood, good pumpin' out my lever
I'm respected in my neighborhood and have a lot of influence
I'm a goodfella in a G-unit hood sweater
I'm a respected member of G-Unit and wear their clothing
If your bitch give me a sign, i'ma get her
If your girlfriend shows any interest in me, I'll try to sleep with her
There's always folks, moving around with the toasters
People are always carrying guns around us
Push the rock through the smoker's, warnin' do not approach us
We deal drugs and people know not to mess with us
We in the club with the pokers, steppin' in Gucci loafers
We go to clubs with our guns and wear expensive shoes
Stuntin' in testerosous, down in front with the vultures
We're showing off our fancy cars and standing in front of the dangerous people
My clique be the coldest, baddest bitches they know us
My crew is the hardest and has the most attractive women
After the show they blow us and do all types of shit for us
After performing, women will have sex with us and do anything we ask
Now I can speak for me, cuz me everywhere I be
I can speak for myself, because I'm respected and famous everywhere I go
Niggaz know i'm a G, got it locked, got the keys
People know I'm a gangster and I have a lot of control and power
We movin' bundles of D, sippin' on Hennessey
We're selling drugs and drinking a lot of Hennessy
Buck rollin' the trees, Banks countin' the cheese
Young Buck is rolling weed and Lloyd Banks is counting money
We get the paper then breeze, nigga we overseas
We make money and then leave, we're also internationally known
You stuck in the hood, ahh that ain't good
Being stuck in the ghetto is not a good thing
Different town, different tour, different telly, different whore
We travel a lot and meet new women in each place we go
Triple x, wet sex, who's next, latex
We have a lot of sex with different partners, using protection
Condom, condo, i'm tight, my money long though
I'm safe and financially successful
You lookin' for a drink bitch, I ain't what you lookin' for
If you're looking for a free drink and nothing else, I'm not interested
I'm out on bond, but the '40 still on me
I'm out of jail on bail, but I still have my gun
Bouncin' round like Lil Jon, thinkin' 'bout my dead homies
I'm partying and having fun, but also mourning my deceased friends
Watch I hit me a lick, and go get me a brick
I'm going to commit a robbery and then buy some drugs
I keep on losin' shootin' dice, and i'm sick of this shit
I'm constantly losing money by gambling and it's frustrating
Clienteles still poppin', so the druggies keep comin'
I still have a lot of drug customers, so I'm making money
And my neighbours is watchin', but we still gettin' money, on this block
The police are watching us, but we're still making money on this street
Till' the sun drop, I dont have a home
I'm going to keep hustling until I make enough money to have a permanent residence
I will not stop sellin' rocks, thug till' i'm gone
I'm going to continue selling drugs until I die as a thug
Got a couple old schools and some iced out jewels
I have some classic cars and expensive jewelry
Some G-Unit shoes, body bullet tattoo
I'm wearing G-Unit shoes and have tattoos of bullets on my body
About to stomp me a bitch, put the pump to his lip
I'm going to beat up a woman and threaten to shoot someone in the mouth
Tell him talk that shit nowww, y'all wanna trip
I dare someone to confront me now and start a fight
I keep it dirty on the Eastcoast, dirty on the West
I'm coarse and vulgar no matter where I go
Jus' a dirty lil' nigga with a glock and a vest
I'm a dangerous young man with a gun and bulletproof vest
Banks tell me you dont like him and you know what i'ma do nigga
If Lloyd Banks tells me someone doesn't like him, I'll take action against that person
Contributed by Katherine B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.