Born
in Maryland, to a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father, Lloyd
Banks moved to the New York City neighbourhood of South Jamaica, Queens at
one year old. With his father in and out of the prison system, Banks' mother was
left to raise him. Banks began performing his rhymes on street corners, where he
gained local fame and appeared on several mix tapes. Together with two other
local aspiring artists, Tony Yayo and 50 Cent, G Unit was created. Banks would
later sign a record deal with Interscope Records and went on to have hits
with the G Unit camp. The Rotten Apple album is his latest offering which
includes the soon-to-be hit single Hands Up. Finally, we get a new album from you! Tell me more about the tracks…
It's been two years since my last album came out. This one is catering to all of my audiences, especially for the mix tape audiences who were there at the beginning of my career. There are club records, serious records, every kind of record you can think of.
Did you do anything special to record this album?
It was a lot easier for this album; I build a studio in my house over the summer when I was on a roll so it meant that I could come back home as well.
What's the meaning behind the title Rotten Apple?
It's talking about New York City which we know as the Big Apple. I wanted to show that the city is more than what is shown to people. I wanted to give the story behind the story and Rotten Apple means it's not all good.
What makes this album different to other material you've recorded before?
There isn't much of a difference between the two albums, they're quite similar because I haven't had a chance to become big headed or have an ego because my first album sold over two million worldwide but at the same time the media didn't give it much of a chance. I basically agreed to disagree.
Does anyone influence your writing?
Nobody really. I’ve always been doing my own thing; people didn’t even know I was writing when I started. It’s always been something that I handle myself. I don’t listen to people and get ideas.
You’ve had some of your tracks leaked before, how did that happen and what do you think of downloading?
It happened because of a misplaced CD. Sometimes you get careless, that’s why I don’t carry CD’s around anymore. Downloading is always going to be there so people might as well get used to it. You have to do things to step up your value to make people go back to the record stores. My energy really came from the mix tape market and bootlegging so I still supply them with material.
Did 50 Cent help you much with this project?
He always has his input. For the most part I go off and record then show him what I’ve come up with. He came up with the order of the records on the album, I definitely trust his judgement. He’s a good teacher and I’ve been working with him for the past five to six years now, it’s something that comes naturally.
How has life changed for you since G-Unit?
I’m definitely in a better space of life, fewer risks are being taken and everybody who means something to me is taken care of. There is hate that surrounds you but at the end of the day I’ve adapted to it.
Have you ever used the fact that you’re a celebrity to your advantage?
Of course! It’s ignorant for people to deny who they are. There are advantages and disadvantages like when you go to the airport people think you’re used to getting what you want so they try and make things difficult. It happens to me all the time. They fire you up over simple things, I’ve missed a few flights over it.
What kind of life experiences have made you the rapper you are today?
Too many to count, I'm twenty four years old. Basically my neighbourhood and growing up in Queens is where I've had most of my main experiences. There have been many negative things that have happened, many trials and tribulations. It starts from a broken home with a single mother raising a man, which is hard. Your manhood starts a lot earlier than it normally would.
If you had a film about your life story made, who would you like to play your character?
I don't know that's a tough one! I don't know many actors my age. I would hope to play myself. I've had a lot of movie offers and things like that but to do music is real hard so I'd like to stick to that for the time being.
When you're not doing music what do you like to do?
I sleep and smoke a lot. I record a lot too. That's what my day consists of. Every working day I'm around a lot of people so when I do get time off I like to get my sleep in and chill with my family. I have a lot of my friends with me on the road so I don't get too homesick when I'm away.
What's your message for the 360-X street team?
What's up street team, you know who this is. Shout out to the Rotten Apple and the London street team. You know how it goes down, y'all better get on your job and put up those posters before I have to come down and do it myself.
The new album “Rotten Apple" is released 9th October 2006
The new single “Hands Up" is released 16th October 2006
www.lloydbanks.com
By Rashmi Shastri - Oct 2006