Lloyd Banks spoke with AmaruDonTV in an interview published in July about his lyrical evolution after more than a decade in the Rap industry.
Banks says that seeing the Internet generate fan reactions caused him to create music that caught people’s attention.
“I would use those comments to fuel me,” he says. “Literally, if it was a hundred comments and half of them were good and the other half were bad, my goal would be to get 75 next time. Then 85 next time to the point where there were no bad comments.”
The G-Unit rapper says that he has seen people appreciate his music more and more as time has gone on.
“Now if go to sites, I see things like Top 5 Dead or Alive or PLK Punchline King, one of the greatest,” he says. “I see things like that and every now and then you might get somebody who doesn’t connect with the music, but it’s about nine out of 10 now. That’s what fuels me.”
Reflecting on his career, Lloyd Banks says that he no longer focuses on creating a catchy punchline. He says enjoys when people are impacted by his music more than impressing them with one line. He appreciates that fans can directly connect to artists, something that he says he never got to do growing up.
“When I was doing punchlines and stuff all the time, nobody tattoos punchlines,” he says. “You’re not gonna run into a fan with a tattoo of a punchline. When you change your content and you say your subject matter is some real shit and it’s really connecting with what people are going through on a day to day basis, then you might see a tattoo. When I dropped Failure’s No Option, the name alone is inspiration so I started seeing tattoos. I see people with the Cold Corner tattoos with the statue of liberty cover on the face and quotes from the mixtape. I can’t help but want to do that more because I want people to hold onto some lines that’s inspirational, not just a witty punchline that made you go, ‘Woo!’ As an artist, people are gonna want things from you. They can’t get everything from you. I tell people all the time, you don’t know how lucky you are. You can tweet your favorite rapper. You can tell him how you feel. I couldn’t even tell Biggie how I felt. Y’all are really privileged right now.”
Lloyd Banks released Halloween Havoc 2 yesterday (November 1).
this guys had evolved so much. nothing but respect
Love the new content. but not gonna lie I still wnat some of those early freestyles with them witty punchlines in them
from 2002 to 2006 his punchlines were unbeatable! that 134 all stars mixtape he makes those other dudes look like rookies.
Legend
When it comes to Banks, I’ve been a fan because you don’t have anyone else who compares as an artist. When first starting he was ‘hungry’ (hence Hunger For More for you slow mah fuckahs) and the bars reflected that. Now, as an artist the bars reflect an artist who has caught (and held on) the attention of his fans and is giving us substance. Which I feel given the era we are in is hard to do. At least it’s hard without getting frustrated, I’d imagine. With all that said, I was fucking ecstatic when I saw this drop. I always tell people who have never heard Banks to listen to ANY intro to ANY of his body of works. From bars, delivery, cadence, production, energy, and ESPECIALLY the beat… you can’t go wrong.
2 Words
WASHED UP
Join the discussion
2 words Die Hater
He’s gay just like 50 gayunit.
Game fan? Now tht nigga is washed
Lmao your the 1 out of 10 he just said fuels him. Plk
One of the nicest to ever step up to the mic. His music will hold for years to come.
My G.. Stay true
One of the real ones still left
The level of underrated he is, is ridiculous.
HH2 is crazyyy
the goat, music touches my soul
Call me crazy but he actually got better I wish he would put out more he’s def needed
Live4ever- That’s my f****** joint damn this man is beast getting love from South Africa F’s with G-Unit hard…
Very true Jimmy we share a name my G I’m from South Africs
He hit me on IG after I sent him a pic of half of my sleeve I had “The top don’t mean you’re living right, keep your mind on what matters” that’s love right there lol my dog
Love that line. That’s the exact words on my IG bio..lol
I totally feel where Banks is coming from and I’ve always said that he started becoming a better song writer around the CC2, but he still calls himself the “PLK”, so that doesn’t really make sense to me.
When they were beefing with Joe Budden Joe it Loydd with a line about all loyyd had was punchlines so His raps have no substance, I guess Banks took it to heart Lol Joe a fool for that..