G-Unit

For the record label, see G-Unit Records. For the unit of perceived weight, see g-force.

G-Unit
The original G-Unit lineup; (left to right) Tony Yayo, 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks during a music video shoot.
The original G-Unit lineup; (left to right) Tony Yayo, 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks during a music video shoot.
Background information
Also known asGorilla-Unit
OriginQueens, New York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1999–2022
Labels
Past members

G-Unit (short for Gorilla-Unit)[1] was an American hip hop group formed by longtime friends and East Coast rappers 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks. After amassing a string of self-released mixtapes in the early 2000s, the group released their debut album Beg for Mercy in 2003, which went on to ship over four million copies in the US and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

During Tony Yayo's imprisonment in 2003, the group recruited Tennessee-based rapper Young Buck as a temporary replacement and later an official member. Californian rapper The Game was also made a member in late 2003 after Beg for Mercy, in an effort to promote him after he was signed to Aftermath/Interscope; he was ousted from the group in February 2005 for alleged disloyalty according to 50 Cent.[2] In April 2008, Young Buck was ousted from the group due to his problematic behavior.[3] In July 2008, the group released their second studio and final album, T·O·S (Terminate on Sight), featuring the original trio.

In early 2014, Yayo and 50 Cent both separately stated that G-Unit was no more. However, the group members reconciled and reunited soon thereafter, now becoming a quintet, with the rejoining of Young Buck and the addition of G-Unit Records artist Kidd Kidd. The group performed at Summer Jam 2014 and then released their first collaborative project in six years, the EP The Beauty of Independence, in August of the same year.

In 2018, Kidd Kidd announced that he was leaving both the group and label to become independent; Lloyd Banks and Young Buck followed suit after revolved disputes with 50 Cent.[4][5] In 2022, 50 Cent confirmed that the group had once again disbanded and stated that there would never be a reunion, citing disaffection with the other members.[6]

  1. ^ Williams, Houston. "50 Cent's Ideal World Is "Peaceful", Rapper Explains Gorilla Unit". Archived from the original on November 5, 2007..
  2. ^ "50 Drops Game From G-Unit; Shots Fired At Radio Station". MTV. Retrieved March 28, 2024.[dead link]
  3. ^ "50 Cent: Young Buck No Longer In G-Unit". MTV. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Kidd Kidd Leaves G-Unit to Find Success on His Own". XXL. April 11, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "50 Cent Announces Lloyd Banks' Exit From G-Unit Records". HipHopDX. June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "50 Cent Is Done 'Carrying' G-Unit, Says There Won't Ever Be A Reunion Album". HipHopDX. August 13, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.