ILUVLOLA.NET EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH LLOYD BANKS!

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Lola

Last week, we were given the opportunity to do an interview with G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks. He’s preparing to release his third album HUNGER FOR MORE 2 on November 23rd, 2010, and is really amped about his future projects. One of our new additions to the ILUVLOLA.NET team, DJ Nef-You got on the phone with him for a Q&A and chopped it up.

DJ Nef-You for ILUVLOLA – What’s up Banks?

Lloyd Banks – What’s up bro?

DJ Nef-You for ILUVLOLA – How are you doing?

Lloyd Banks – I’m good, I’m chillin…

ILL – You have a new album, The Hunger For More 2, coming out in a few months. It’s your first album in 4 years. How do you feel about it?

LB – Yeah it’s been 2 years. It’s a beautiful thing you know – to have the opportunity to showcase my talent. There’s an added significance to this because it’s a continuation from my first album, and I think that happened because of the pure energy from “Beamer, Benz or Bentley.” That changed everybody’s way of thinking because it wasn’t just any regular come back record. It was a record that was powerful enough to influence a new sound. I think that with that energy I felt like a new artist again and I remembered what it felt like to come out in 2004 with my first release. I felt like why not continue where I started, go back there, and remind people why they took a liking to me to begin with. At the same time I challenged myself to create new energy and bring a new fan base and stay relevant and compete with all the artists that are out now.

ILL – What can we expect with this album?

LB – I mean…I feel ­that the fans can definitely expect – as plain as it sounds – hunger. I have a lot of things that I want still. Even though I’ve been in the game for almost 10 years now, there are still a lot of things I have to achieve as a solo artist, to help paint my own legacy. I feel like if you close the G-Unit books now we will definitely go down in history as one of the most influential rap groups, but there is so much I can do as an individual, and you can definitely expect the same drive from me, if not more. I think the business sometimes overshadows our actual love for the art and I want my fans and supporters to know that I’m 100% capable of delivering.

ILL – Your first album HUNGER FOR MORE, debuted at #1  on the Billboard charts with 500,500 copies sold in the first week, and it’s a RIAA certified Platinum album. In 2005 you received a World Music award for the World’s Best Selling New artist. That’s some big accomplishments for a debut album. Do you feel any pressure with this one, 6 years and 2 albums later?

LB – Yeah I definitely feel pressure. There is so much going on, so many big albums coming out, but there is no bigger pressure than the one I’ve created for myself. I know what I’m up against and I’ve been in deep thought. I haven’t really been worried about accolades or things like that. It’s not just album sales anymore – now you have a lot of digital sales, shows, and overall awareness, total impact on everything. Put that all together and that’s what helps you decide a successful album – a big movement.

ILL – Can you speak on any features/production on the album?

LB – Yeah, I’ve got a lot of new production on the album. I got Budha The Future. I got a joint from Nick Speed out of Detroit, which is dope. I got a kid named G’Sparks who did a joint for me. I got a kid named Nascent, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Young Seph, and a kid named Cardiak who did about 3 or 4 joints for me. On the features side, I just got off the phone with Yayo – he’s going to have his verse in today. I got 50 on a record called “P’s and Q’s.” I got a verse back from Raekwon a couple of days ago which is crazy. I’m waiting on a verse from Styles P, Pusha T from The Clipse  – I think it’s wrapped up pretty tight as far as lyricists go. I wanted to bring that to the album and mix it with some of the cats that I respect out there and make magic.

Side note: 50 Cent confirmed this morning via Twitter that Eminem and Kanye West will also be on the album!

ILL – Are you recording in New York or traveling to other cities for recording as well?

LB – I record wherever I have to, to be honest. Most of the recording takes place at my house. I have a studio at home that I’ve been recording in for the past 4-5 years. But I do record all over – Amsterdam, London – wherever. That’s part of the reason why the album is so broad because I had the opportunity to write some of the album in my neighborhood, out of the country, on tour and you know there are so many things that go through your mind when you’re constantly moving around.

ILL – How did your most recent single with Lloyd “Any Girl” come about?

LB – I actually had the record done when I was overseas and someone I guess hacked into my e-mail and the record leaked. It was a situation where I had to get it mixed and mastered and put out as soon as possible before it got worse, so I reached out to Lloyd and at the time he was independent so there was nothing to stop the situation from happening. He flew out to New York and laid his part down. He’s a professional so it didn’t take long and it was cool. There weren’t any funny vibes or anything either considering the whole Murder Inc. situation. I look at him as a brand new artist, the same way he looks at me, so I think it’s a mutual respect between us. The concept of the video was from the video “How To Be a Player” with Bill Bellamy, which is one of my favorite movies so I used that concept. That’s key for me too – making some short films within the video to prep me to get into the movie game.

ILL – G-Unit had a lot of beefs since its inception. Do you feel that “beefs” are still relevant in 2010?

LB – I think that beef and competition are two different things completely. You can’t have beef with someone you haven’t met. It’s usually a misunderstanding. The conversations that take place in person are different from Twitter or other online networks, so I feel a little crazy about myself engaging in those petty things especially when it’s going to get blasted online. Back in the day rap feuds were fueled off personal issues. A lot of these dudes hung out and they knew each other and smoke of each other based off the situations personally. Now just because you may feel like you’re number one, you can talk about the next guy, and then after a while it just gets corny. I look at it like competition and it’s no different than two football players on a football field. Somebody has to get knocked down.

ILL – What is your favorite city/place away from home, and why?

LB – Wow, I have a couple of favorites to be honest with you. Puerto Rico is one of my favorite places because it’s one of the first places I performed at aside from North America. I love Australia because it’s a beautiful place. I just came back from France also – Cannes and St. Tropez are crazy. I’m a big fan of pretty trees and clean water so whenever I can get around that kind of environments I set off and write different kinds of music.

ILL – What are some crazy things fans have done to get your attention?

LB – Well there is a difference between what you consider a fan and a groupie. Fans are smarter than groupies. Groupies will put themselves in danger to try and get whatever they’re trying to get to. Fans are smarter than that. There’s only so much they’re willing to do. But I’ve seen some hardcore fans stand outside all night. I remember the day like yesterday. It was when my second album came out. I was in LA and there was a line up at a record store all the way around the block waiting there from midnight. Memories like that I’ll never forget you know? I’ve forever grateful for those times. I always get shocked when people ask for my autograph; it never gets old to me. I am nowhere near tired of doing this. It’s something I look forward to when I get out of the house. Sometimes that support of your supporters will keep you pushing not just in business but also in everyday life – knowing that you’re appreciated.

ILL – What is one thing someone would be surprised to know about you?

LB – That I’m probably more excited about my career now than I was at the beginning. Sometimes people feel like they’re content or they have done enough, but I honestly feel like I’m only halfway where I need to be. I don’t want people to feel like money is everything. Money is not everything to me because I’ve wanted to rap since I was a little kid and everyday is a dream for me; living this right here. At the same time, everything is planned, nothing happens by accident so I think it’s all happening based on the work that you put in. What you put in is what you get out of it.

ILL – Any beat or song you wish was yours?

LB – Pshhh, yeah a bunch of them. 50 Cent’s “21 Questions” for sure. I had that same beat on a CD, I just passed up on it because I was writing more aggressive music on my album.

ILL – Were you the one who gave it to 50?

LB – I might have – I think I didn’t want the CD anymore… No as a matter of fact he told me to listen to the CD and I didn’t find anything on it and he got that CD as well as a few other beats that are on GET RICH OR DIE TRYING. I feel like that about everybody’s record that comes out that I like you know? Especially when it’s a smash. I pay attention to the radio when I get the chance so if I hear something for the first time and I think it sounds big and then it turns out to be a big record, you just feel like shit, like, “I wish I would have had that joint.” I’m pretty sure people felt like that about “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” too.

ILL – Are there any artists you are not interested in hearing music from again?

LB – That I’m not interested? Probably Shyne. I don’t think anybody’s too interested in hearing music from him because it doesn’t sound like what we were used to hearing from him. His whole style, everything just switched up for me, so I’m definitely not excited to hear what he sounds like.

ILL – Any fashion trends you don’t understand?

LB – Tight jeans. I was never really a fan. It’s funny because I see pictures of my family, my pops, my uncles and people back in the day and the jeans were worn a little slimmer, and the shorts were up higher, so I guess to each his own. I just don’t understand it from people that weren’t dressing like that. If that’s what you do and that’s all you, and you won’t change that, then I can respect it. But I don’t respect trends where people go from one thing to another. I was always somebody that tried to create something new – everything I’ve done – all my tattoos, my jewelry…

ILL – That’s sick! You’ve designed all your jewelry?

LB – Yeah! Remember the G-Unit spinner? I drew that free hand. I drew all my other jewelry pieces and every tattoo I have except the one on my back – something I decided to bring into the game to spice it up a bit.

ILL – Do you have a personal favorite all time song?

LB – Damn there are so many, it’s impossible to answer with just one. I’ll just pick Biggie Smalls “Niggas Bleed.”

Follow Lloyd Banks on twitter @LLoydBanks

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About DJ Nef-You | Contributor - Twitter | Facebook | Web

DJ Nef-You is a young hearted music, entertainment and fashion fanatic who spins at clubs and puts out mixtapes. His extensive involvement with the artists he works with allows him to have an in depth knowledge of what goes in to making the music . Deeply emerged in the hip hop scene, he is an open minded hungry DJ that inspires the people through his interests and ideas. Nef-You is a new addition to the iluvlola.net team but is looking forward to sharing experiences with the readers.

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