While 50 Cent was burning up the streets with his mixtapes to get a buzz for himself, he also had his crew G Unit, which at that time composed of 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. "50 Cent Is The Future" and "No Mercy, No Fear" were both mixtape bangers. Although you heard alot of 50 on these mixed tapes, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo showed that they belonged in the rap game. Lloyd Banks especially displayed his skills with all the clever punch lines that he had in each verse. 50 Cent eventually signed with Eminem's Shady Records. Once the mixtape banger "Wanksta" was on the 8 Mile soundtrack, you knew that there would be nothing but good things to come from 50's affiliation with Eminem and Dr. Dre. "In Da Club" was produced by Dr. Dre and fueled the buzz for 50's solo CD "Get Rich Or Die Trying". After one week of being on the shelves 50's solo disc sold over 800,000 units. 50 also was trying to negotiate a deal for G Unit as a group and a label. They would eventually sign to Interscope Records. Tony Yayo would be arrested early in 2003 and he had to do a year in jail. So 50 decided that Young Buck, who was already in G Unit, to take a major role like Lloyd Banks in the group's 1st Interscope Records release.

"Beg For Mercy" is nothing that is groundbreaking. You have heard everything that they have said before. The difference is that most people who followed the G Unit through all the mixtapes know that they usually have a hard street edge to all of their songs, even when they talk about the ladies. On "Beg For Mercy" in certain instances it seems as if their hard edge had been watered down. If G Unit is trying to appeal to certain audiences then I can understand because you have to look at the bigger picture.

"G Unit" starts off the CD as straight fire. If you didn't look at the CD's credits you would think that the track was produced by Dr. Dre but Hi-Tek produces the track as Young Buck, 50 Cent, and Lloyd Banks all get "Beg For Mercy" off to a nice start. The 1st single "Stunt 101" is produced by Denaun Porter of D-12, who also produced 50's "P.I.M.P". The song was a good choice to be the 1st single eventhough the song does have a west coast feel to it. The 2nd single, "Poppin' Them Thangs" is produced by Dr. Dre and Scott Storch as is an upgrade from "Stunt 101" as Lloyd Banks definitely makes the best performance on this song with all of his clever punch lines. "My Buddy" has the G Unit talking about how their weapon of choice travels with them no matter what the situation is and has everyone dedicating a verse to "their friend to the end". "Better Ask Somebody" has everyone cleverly talking junk the whole song as Young Buck even says he's going to get Trina by the summer. I am not sure about that one Young Buck, but "Better Ask Somebody" is one of this CD's better songs. Hi-Tek is back on the boards again with "Eye For Eye". If Lloyd Banks wasn't singing at the beginning of the song, this would probably be my favorite song on this CD, but once everyone gets down to business, this is another tight song on the CD. My favorite track on "Beg For Mercy" is "G'd Up" as the good Dr. Dre blesses the G Unit with one of his better laid back tracks. "Lay You Down" sounds like it's a message for DTP's Chingy as it sounds like his name is mentioned before the beat even starts playing. The track is another tight song on this CD.

While "Beg For Mercy" has alot of street anthems on the CD, they also save some tracks for the ladies, some good and some not so good. The best being "I Wanna Get To Know You" featuring Joe and the solo track from Lloyd Banks, "Smile". On "I Wanna Get To Know You" the thugs try their best to display how their trying to get to know a woman to gain other "benefits" at a later date or even on the 1st night. "Smile" definitely shows a different side of Lloyd Banks. Although, the track is nothing that you would think that you would hear from Lloyd he definitely displays that he can have a solo career with this track. "Groupie Love" features Butch Cassidy an is an alright track. Tony Yayo has a nice verse on the track, as well as Lloyd Banks, but 50 could have stayed off the track this time. "Baby You Got" could have been left off this CD and isn't even worth talking about.

50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and even Young Buck have nice solo songs on this CD. 50's "I'm So Hood" is more of an interlude but he has two nice verses on the track. Young Buck's "Footprints" shows that he has solo skills but he should still wait behind Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo before he tries to drop a solo CD.

Overall, "Beg For Mercy" is a decent CD. It's not better than "Get Rich Or Die Trying" but the CD is not as bad as everyone is making it seem. What everyone has to understand is that the G Unit's days of just making mixed Cds are over and since they have a major label deal they have to tone things down a little bit. However, that also means that they shouldn't be singing on the tracks and that Mr. 5 0 himself should step his rap game up as XXL would say. Your G Unit members shouldn't outshine the major artist on the CD and that's exactly what Lloyd Banks does to 50. I would still recommend picking this CD up because there are some good tracks on "Beg For Mercy". Then when they release a 2nd disc we will get to hear Tony Yayo on more tracks since he has been released from jail.

James' Top 5

1) G'd Up

ALL DEEZ HATAZ SAYIN GIRL UNIT BE FAKE, DEY GOTTA GO! AINT NUTTIN FAKE ABOUT DA PAIN DEY SINGIN ABOUT. IT REAL HARD GOIN TRU LIFE HIDIN WHO AND WHAT U REALLY BE, PRETENDIN YOU SOMETIN U AINT. GIRL UNIT GOT DA GUTS TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. DEY DA FIRST RAP UNIT DAT AINT ASHAMED TO PROFESS DEY LUV FOR UDDER MEN, TO LET BRUTHAS KNOW IT BE ALL RIGHT TO BE TENDER N TRUSTING N GIRLISH IF DAT U TRUE NATURE. WHEN RAP MASTER REGINA TRIX ON TRACK 9 TALK ABOUT HIS DIFFICULT TRANSITION FROM MACHO MAN 2 TRANSVESTITE 2 FULL BLOSSOMING TRANSSEXUAL WOMANHOOD N HIS/HER PAIN OF FINDING A REAL MAN IN DIS SOCIETY DAT WONT ACCEPT TRANSGENDERS, WELL IT BREAK MY HEART. DONT BE A HATA, BE A BRUTHA LUVA INSTEAD. GAY POWER! BLACK POWER!

I am still shock that a cd like this can still sell in 2003. Why? Because these cats are talking about the same crap that cats back in 1993 talked about. You know, "gangsta rap" crap. Who cares about how many women you can get? Who cares about you being shot? Who cares about your ice, your rides, or your guns? Can you come up with a different topic? These cats are no different from the black actors of the 1920-30s who was paid to demean their race by acting like fools. Those actors didn't have a choice back then, but these cats do. Its sad that we have not learned our lessons. Get Outkast's new cd instead of this mess.

True Story...This Album Is Hot Garbage!! 50 Raps About Being Hood When He Sings, Lloyd Banks Has No Hot Punchlines, Young Buck Is Wack And Tony Yayo Can't Rap To Save His Life! Although It Sucks, It's The Best Coaster Ever!

Lyod Banks and Young Buck tried to capitalize on fifty's popularity with this album and it might have sold but it's still terrible. The album is littered with tracks tellin of how they're going to kill people and how dangerous and tough they are. Then they go on to brag about sexual exploits. You'd think they'd find something actually deep to rap about. However, they don't and the result is a very poor album.