G-Unit

Though G-Unit became generally recognized as the brand name associated with <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50 Cent</a>, for instance serving as a catch phrase ("G-G-G-G-G-Unit!") as well as a record label (<a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22G-Unit+Records%22">G-Unit Records</a>), it in fact began as the name of his backing posse. G-Unit were originally a trio comprised of <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3vDUJHQtqT3jFRZ2ECXDTi">Lloyd Banks</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:50UMTib697JJ44le8DO2Va">Tony Yayo</a> (often with the accompaniment of either <a href="spotify:artist:75rSoy9VvZ5fhmAE2O4KL5">DJ Whookid</a> or Cutmaster C as their DJ), and this particular lineup resulted in a series of popular mixtapes during the early 2000s: 50 Cent Is the Future, God's Plan, No Mercy, No Fear, and Automatic Gunfire. Before the group had a chance to record its debut album for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Interscope%22">Interscope</a> in the wake of <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a>'s breakthrough with Get Rich or Die Tryin', <a href="spotify:artist:50UMTib697JJ44le8DO2Va">Yayo</a> was sentenced to prison for a gun-possession charge. His replacement, <a href="spotify:artist:4pr7J7wzgObkE3DD3Izi7q">Young Buck</a>, stepped up soon afterward, and the group continued its activity, working on yet more mixtape recordings and scoring some big-time success on the "G-Unit Remix" to <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a>'s "P.I.M.P.," which also featured <a href="spotify:artist:7hJcb9fa4alzcOq3EaNPoG">Snoop Dogg</a> and got heavy rotation on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22MTV%22">MTV</a>. Meanwhile, G-Unit recorded their debut album, Beg for Mercy, over the course of 2003, and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Interscope%22">Interscope</a> finally rush-released the album on November 14 to combat bootlegging, preceding it with a lead single, "Stunt 101." Several other singles followed, including "Poppin' Them Thangs" and "Wanna Get to Know You." <a href="spotify:artist:50UMTib697JJ44le8DO2Va">Yayo</a> rejoined the group when he was released from prison in 2004. Other G-Unit affiliates included <a href="spotify:artist:0NbfKEOTQCcwd6o7wSDOHI">the Game</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5YBSzuCs7WaFKNr7Bky0Uf">Olivia</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6O2zJ0tId7g07yzHtX0yap">Mobb Deep</a>. As <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a>'s stature began diminishing in the late 2000s, however, several of his G-Unit affiliates either defected or were let go. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi