Young Hot Rod

When rapper <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50 Cent</a> came up through the world of underground mixtapes, he set a standard most rappers would follow, at least the ones who weren't making their names on the live rap battle circuit. Phoenix, AZ, native Young Hot Rod -- originally known as just Hot Rod -- took a completely different approach, sending his homemade demo CD to <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:6evKD5JWJON3qPBJtUEmtY">G-Unit</a> office in hopes the crew would sign him. <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a> heard the CD and Hot Rod's easy flow reminded him of his own. It was December of 2005 when the 20-year-old rapper received a call at his day job as a mortgage broker, and it wasn't from any random <a href="spotify:artist:6evKD5JWJON3qPBJtUEmtY">G-Unit</a> associate but <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a> himself. Hot Rod changed his name to Young Hot Rod and was soon in New York City, signed to G-Unit Records and working furiously on his debut album. Titled Fastlane, the full-length was recorded in only three weeks under the supervision of <a href="spotify:artist:3q7HBObVc0L8jNeTe5Gofh">50</a>, who had decided to push back releases from fellow <a href="spotify:artist:6evKD5JWJON3qPBJtUEmtY">G-Unit</a> soldiers <a href="spotify:artist:1BH45DVSTeGBvcYXNCd67g">M.O.P.</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4pr7J7wzgObkE3DD3Izi7q">Young Buck</a> so Young Hot Rod could be introduced in the summer of 2006. Fans got their first taste in July when his single "Be Easy," with guest <a href="spotify:artist:1XkoF8ryArs86LZvFOkbyr">Mary J. Blige</a>, hit urban radio hard. An appearance on the remix of <a href="spotify:artist:1P8IfcNKwrkQP5xJWuhaOC">LL Cool J</a>'s "Bump This" soon followed. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi