G-Unit
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G-Unit is a successful rap group led by recording artist 50 Cent. It was originally founded by him, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination; later, the latter two were kicked out, and Nashville rapper Young Buck added to the official roster. The group has become one of the wealthiest multi-member groups in hip-hop.
The group first garnered a following in the underground "street" scene in New York by independently releasing several mixtapes, at first on their own, then with crew member Whoo Kid, who now runs the mixtape company Shadyville Entertainment. They also appeared on many other mixtapes, including those of DJ Kay Slay and DJ Clue.
History
50 Cent gained solo success after jointly signing to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Eminem's Shady Records and scoring a multi-platinum hit with his debut Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Following this success, 50 Cent and his manager Sha Money XL founded G-Unit Records, a label distributed through Interscope. His releases, starting with the sophomore album The Massacre, have been released under G-Unit/Shady/Aftermath/Interscope, while his G-Unit rap group and its individual members release their material simply under G-Unit/Interscope.
The first artist signed to G-Unit Records was Lloyd Banks, as the other member Tony Yayo was in prison, Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination had been released from the group, and Young Buck wasn't part of the group yet. Quickly after Young Buck and Tony Yayo signed they released their G-Unit debut album Beg for Mercy on G-Unit Records, with the incarcerated Tony Yayo featured on two songs.
Controversy
The feud with The Game
Their next acquisition was The Game, a Compton rapper backed by Dr. Dre. After releasing his debut album, which sold multiplatinum as the most successful G-Unit album since GRoDT, 50 Cent and G-Unit publicly ousted the rapper from their clique on many radio stations, notably the controversial Hot 97. 50 Cent claimed that The Game didn't follow the tradition (beefing with Ja Rule & Murder Inc); he also refused to beef with 50 Cent's rival's Nas, Jadakiss, & Fat Joe.
On the anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.'s death, the two publicly made peace, jointly donating money to charities and promising that they wouldn't risk their lives in the feud (They didn't want to have a "coast war", like Tupac & B.I.G., who were enemies from opposite coasts & both died violently). Within a few weeks, however, members of G-Unit continued dissing The Game in interviews. Finally The Game shot back at Hot 97's recent Summer Jam 2005 and on his 'How The West Was One' tour.
The Game recently released a 15-minute-long song titled "300 Bars and Runnin". He has also started a campaign titled: "G-Unot", which many hip hop stars have supported by wearing "G-Unot" shirts. G-Unit have released few "disses" towards The Game, and have on many occasions mentioned their views on him at interviews. Recently The Game claimed victory in the feud and declared the beef over on his last mixtape album "Stop Snitchin - Stop Lyin".
Other Rivalries
Amidst the beef with The Game, G-Unit's four core members have sent shots at Nas, Jadakiss and Fat Joe, all purportedly for associating with 50 Cent's nemesis Ja Rule. Prior to this, Southern rapper Chingy and NY rapper Joe Budden have both consistently sent diss tracks at the group and dissed them in interviews, though Chingy has reported his beef with them was set up by both parties as a publicity stunt.
Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination, both chafing at having been dropped from the group, have on several occasions made records with West Coast rappers C-Bo and Yukmouth, sending disses toward the camp.
Recent Acquisitions
50 Cent has proven adept at luring both established as well as up-and-coming artists to G-Unit. His post-Game signees include:
- M.O.P., who left Roc-a-Fella Records at the time of the label's split and signed up with G-Unit.
- Mase, renouncing his pastorhood, signed a joint venture between G-Unit and Bad Boy, reverting to his old "Murda Mase" persona, including violent and mysogynistic lyrics.
- Spider Loc, another West Coast rapper, and Crip gang member who is head of G-Unit West.
- Olivia, the first female to sign to G-Unit, who has proven nearly invisible, only appearing on the occasional single hook and mixtape.
- Mobb Deep, who signed with G-Unit after parting ways with their former label.
50 Cent has also expressed interest in signing rappers such as Kool G. Rap, Beanie Sigel, Lil' Flip, and Shyne, with little to no success.