Throwback Write-Up #26: G-Unit - Beg For Mercy - HipHop | HipHop Channel

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Throwback Write-Up #26: G-Unit - Beg For Mercy - HipHop

Throwback Write-Up #26: G-Unit - Beg For Mercy - HipHop

Throwback Write-Up #26: G-Unit - Beg For Mercy

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 09:02 AM PST

Artist: G-Unit

Album: Beg For Mercy

Label: G-Unit/Interscope

Release Date: November 14th, 2003

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Background

Has any rapper ever had a more successful, hyped-fueled, prolific, and ubiquitous year than Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in 2003? From the beginning to end, it was a wild unparalleled ride. Right from January, with still no official album out, 50 was already at the top of the game. 50 was extensively featured on the huge 8 Mile soundtrack, "Wanksta" was rocking the streets, and "In Da Club" was rocking the clubs. The anticipation was so wild that a semi-authorized commercial release of a 50 Cent mixtape (Guess Who's Back) actually went gold. 50 rode a whirlwind of mythical reputation (HE WAS SHOT 9 TIMES!!!!! was exclaimed by rap fans ad nauseam), career ending clout (Ja Rule had gone from rap superstar to punchline in basically a year), big budget production, and co-signs by the two biggest possible co-signers, to 1.7 million in sales in America for Get Rich or Die Trying during its first two weeks (a number that would have been higher if they did not undership the album, stores literally ran out).

But it didn't end with GRODT. The rest of 2003 would unfold with 50 continuing to supply the streets with his G-Unit Radio mixtape series, put the nail in Ja's coffin with the Invasion II: Conspiracy Theory mixtape, propel Lil Kim's comeback with a guest spot on "Magic Stick", takeover XXL for an issue as editor in chief with an issue that started a beef with Joe Budden, appear on posthumous songs by both Biggie and Pac, somehow getting a blatant cash grab 3-song EP/DVD The New Breed to platinum status, and supplying the streets and suburbs with G-Unit clothing and sneakers, worn by thugs and wankstas alike. He also established his own record label, G-Unit Records, despite just releasing his debut.

But we already knew about G-Unit. They had been prominently featured right from the jump of 50's comeback from his near fatal shooting. Banks and Yayo were right there with 50 on the cover of the prophetic mixtape 50 Cent is the Future. Lloyd Banks came out guns a-blazing with a punchline heavy style that had him dubbed "PLK" (Punchline King). Young Buck, previously of Cash Money affiliate/Juvenile led group UTP had a distinct southern drawl that added to his charismatic delivery. Tony Yayo, now a shadowery folk legend after getting locked up at the beginning of 50's rise to fame, only added to the group's infamy with the phrase "Free Yayo" being shouted on every mixtape nationwide and shown to millions worldwide via Eminem's T-shirt at the Grammys. After dominating the mixtape game, it was time for G-Unit's proper major label debut, as the perfect cap to rap's craziest individual year.

Review

That's a hell of a precedent to live up to. So what would it be? Would Beg for Mercy be merely a self-congratulatory victory lap cap to 50's historic year, or the official second phase of the G-Unit takeover? It actually ended up being both. Beg for Mercy didn't shake up the game like GRODT (it didn't even hit Billboard #1, more on that later). But it did set the stage for Banks and Bucks very successful 2004 debuts, and keep the momentum riding into an extremely high 2004. The self-titled opener "G-Unit" is triumphant with its rolling Hi Tek piano keys and declarative hook. Right from 50's first verse though, he hints that the hunger that propelled his mixtape rise and GRODT might not be present here:

"You can be the hardest, we'll just be the smartest"

50 got rich, and he didn't die trying. Now with a taste of success, he was ready to ride that wave. The album's first single was "Stunt 101", a single more fitting of Buck's former Cash Money home, and some of the first proof that 50's hit making touch wasn't as bulletproof as he was. What I'm sure you and everyone else remembers best about this album is actually its second single, the Dr. Dre and Scott Storch produced "Poppin Them Thangs". Now this is the G-Unit we all wanted. The crew all rapping grimey over a hard car thumping Dre beat, with an instantly memorable 50 hook to engrain into all of our memories. "My Buddy" a gun ballad with one of Em's better beats, is the cartoony gangsta we all wanted going into this album. The 50 solo "I'm So Hood" had that street braggadocio and slick gangsta talk coupled with a laid back but hard head nodding banger of a beat. It was looking so good, this is what the G-Unit faithful wanted from a big budget G-Unit album.

GRODT's weepy R&B tinged "21 Questions" became a hit for 50 and opened him up to a new potential audience. To that song's credit, it had a corny playful appeal and it was fresh during 50's rise to fame, most hadn't seen that side of him. But since that song's ascension, 50 has doubled or even tripled down on that formula. First up is the Joe (hey kids, remember Joe? ….) featuring "Wanna Get to Know You" that lacks the corny creativity of 21 Questions. "Groupie Love", one of only two songs to feature Tony Yayo before he got locked up, features a cheap garbage beat that sounds like its straight off of some independent Knoc-Turn'al album. "Betta Ask Somebody" seemingly slightly modifies that aforementioned beat (from Rhymesayers underground-backpacker superstar producer Jake One, here for a paycheck) and suddenly we have a deep nadir in the middle of this album. Buck raps:

"Next time we only using Dr Dre beats"

Which didn't happen, but you wish they did that this time around. GRODT had a murderer's row of top major label commercial production that Beg for Mercy pales in comparison to. Next up is the almost solo Young Buck cut to get this going again, "Footprints", with Buck demonstrating the flow and style that would make Straight Outta Cashville a southern favorite. Hi Tek returns to offer some smooth keys again for "Eye For Eye".

We finally get to the Lloyd Banks solo cut "Smile", finally able to hear a full three verses from PLK, and we get a sappy love song. Look, I know we got to diversify our bonds and G-Unit are aiming for sales, but this is Banks first solo song on a major label, and here we have him out of his lane on a No ID beat that is trying to trace 21 Questions. Before this album can go completely off the rails, we get back to our regularly scheduled gangsta street party (but not before the completely forgettable "Baby U Got", seriously, I got nuthin for this song). "Salute U" is a hard street soldier anthem. G-Unit president Sha Money XL (whatever happened to him?) gets the energy turnt back up with the title track. Dr. Dre and Storch return for another album highlight with the cold keys of "G'd Up". "Gangsta Shit" is that high energy gangsta shit (especially with a fierce Buck verse) that is very welcomed here.

The album ends with two mixtape favorites, "I Smell Pussy" which begins with Murder Inc disses but somehow morphs into a love song, and 50's freestyle over Em's "Till I Collapse". It's a bit of a tease tho, and you wish that G-Unit pulled a Dipset and set aside a second disc of their major label debut for mixtape highlights). But alas, Beg For Mercy is a jam packed 70 minutes, using its full disc like most early 2000s rap albums, trying to have something for every type of potential fan. As a result, it doesn't quite really please its main target audience of mixtape savvy G-Unit soldiers. But I guess the real target audience was the rap masses. However, despite 50's colossal year, him personally guaranteeing that the album would hit #1, and there being four golden tickets hidden in the CD case for your own real G-Unit spinner chain (I never did hear about anyone actually winning these), Beg For Mercy was beaten by both Jay-Z's The Black Album and 2Pac's posthumous Tupac Resurrection. It was the first cracks on 50's otherwise Teflon chart reputation, and perhaps a foreshadowing that the empire wasn't meant to stand for long. But as a young 50 fan, 2003 50 mania was quite the phenomenon to watch run wild and be a fan through. No one quite ever had a year like 50's 2003 before and ever again; not even 50 himself.

Key Lyrics (PLK!)

"Slow down little nigga, don't exceed your speed Cause I will put G's on your fitted like the Negro League" – Lloyd Banks, "Poppin Them Thangs"

"We'll try to take up for them lames around you He'll get shots for free like I flagrant fouled you" – Lloyd Banks, "Salute U"

"I'm tired of you niggas with your maybe beef We gon' be here forever, you're temporary like baby teeth" – Lloyd Banks, "Beg for Mercy"

"Niggas'll SNATCH YA, I'm like a back catcher I'll give a sign, and then throw something at cha" – Lloyd Banks, "G'd Up"

"The 16 top shot loader'll bend ya ass up like yoga Your fuckin' with a soldier I'm sellin' tickets for a first class trip to a hospital folder" – Lloyd Banks, "Lay You Down"

Questions:

Was Yayo missed on this album?

How does this compare to G-Unit's mixtape work?

Was this album too soft and/or commercial?

Has anyone else had a comparable year to 50's 2003?

Were you one of the people that won one of those damn G-Unit spinner chains?

submitted by /u/t-why
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Daily Discussion Thread 11/19/2020

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 06:08 AM PST

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
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Thread Guidelines

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New to /r/hiphopheads or hip-hop in general?

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submitted by /u/ModsLittleHelper
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Jeezy and Gucci squash beef after 15 years and perform 'So Icey' together!

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 07:45 PM PST

[FRESH ALBUM] SAINt JHN - While The World Was Burning

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 09:00 PM PST

SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | TIDAL

TRACKLIST

  1. Sucks To Be You [prod. f a l l e n]

  2. Switching Sides [prod. Mars & Murda Beatz]

  3. Freedom Is Priceless [prod. Ghostrage & f a l l e n]

  4. Gorgeous [prod. f a l l e n]

  5. High School Reunion, Prom (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) [prod. f a l l e n & Quay Global]

  6. Monica Lewinsky, Election Year (feat. DaBaby & A Boogie Wit da Hoodie) [prod. f a l l e n]

  7. Roses Remix (feat. Future) [prod. f a l l e n & Quay Global]

  8. Pray 4 Me (feat. Kanye West) [prod. f a l l e n]

  9. Quarantine Wifey (feat. JID) [prod. f a l l e n]

  10. Time For Demons [prod. f a l l e n]

  11. Ransom (feat. 6LACK & Kehlani) [prod. f a l l e n]

  12. Back On The Ledge [prod. f a l l e n & Johan Lenox]

  13. Roses - Imanbek Remix [prod. Imanbek]

submitted by /u/Kitchen_Ur_Lies
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Posted: 19 Nov 2020 09:06 PM PST

SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | TIDAL

TRACKLIST

  1. Oh Lord (feat. Tamika Mallory)

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  5. Da Ghetto (feat. E-40)

  6. Niggaz

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  10. The Glory (feat. Ne-Yo)

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submitted by /u/Kitchen_Ur_Lies
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[FRESH] Statik Selektah - Play Around (feat. Conway the Machine, 2 Chainz, Killer Mike, & Allan Kingdom)

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 09:05 PM PST

In response to the 'worst aging' post, what are some of the best or most memorable opening lines in hip hop history?

Posted: 19 Nov 2020 11:42 AM PST

Some of my picks would be -

'it was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazines, Salt N Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine'

as well as classics like

'one, two, three and to the four, Snoopy Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at the door'

and the more recent

'first things first, rest in peace Uncle Phil, for real'

submitted by /u/zshnz
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New Slowthai album TYRON out Feb 5th 2021

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[Original] I wrote this verse after reading the autobiography of Malcom X

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Posted: 19 Nov 2020 08:35 AM PST

Holy... this album will be crazy

https://genius.com/albums/Statik-selektah/The-balancing-act

01. "The Healing" (feat. Black Thought) 02. "Keep It Moving" (feat. Nas, Joey Bada$$, Gary Clark Jr.) 03. "Play Around" (feat. Allan Kingdom, Killer Mike, 2 Chainz, Conway the Machine) 04. "Hard Living" (feat. Dave East, Method Man) 05. "Time" (feat. Jack Harlow) 06. "Watch Me" (feat. Joey Bada$$) 07. "America Is Canceled" (feat. Termanology, Styles P, Jadakiss) 08. "No Substitute" (feat. Brady Watt, Paul Wall, Benny the Butcher) 09. "Off My Mind" (feat. Haile Supreme, Fly Anakin, Rome Streetz) 10. "Welcome To The Game" (feat. Kota the Friend, Marlon Craft, Haile Supreme) 11. "Soul Custody" (feat. Blu, Evidence) 12. "No More" (feat. Rim da Villin, Smoke DZA, Lil Fame) 13. "Ralph Lauren's Closet" (feat. Sean Price, Thirstin Howl III) 14. "Balance Beam" (feat. JFK, CJ Fly, Nick Grant) 15. "Way Up" (feat. Haile Supreme, Havoc, Bun B) 16. "Immortal (feat. Harley Harl, Bobby Sessions)
submitted by /u/Mich3006
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[FRESH ALBUM] K.A.A.N. - Vivid Canvas

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