One of the biggest Hip Hop stories of 2014 was the G-Unit reunion. They made headway that caught the attention of everybody, including HipHopDX, who awarded the group “Comeback of the Year.” As the initial buzz began to quell, the Unit dropped The Beauty of Independence, and picked up where they’d left off with T-O-S (Terminate on Sight) in 2008. The addition of Kidd Kidd, and the cleared air between 50 Cent and Young Buck enabled a fresher sound than what fans had come to expect. All five members had spoken about the inevitability of a follow-up EP, and now it’s here.
The Beast is G-Unit was recorded the week after Summer Jam left the entire Hip Hop world taut with anticipation and found the group in 50’s mansion full of momentum. The spectacle signature G-G-G-G Unit! With Slowbucks getting his chain snatched in the background as Fif’s “What Up Gangsta” blared through stadium speakers. On the project, there is a great diversity of sound. Trap stuff (“I’m Grown”), boom-bap (“Doper Than My Last One”), and without a doubt the expected club banger (“Bring My Bottles”). The core four members each have songs that they carry individually, with Kidd Kidd sprinkled in accordingly. On “I’m Grown,” 50 switches his style up a bit, opting for a more triplet-friendly flow. Buck carries the weight on “Bring My Bottles,” and Banks and Yayo shine on “Doper Than My Last One,” and “Ballin’” respectively.
Perhaps not coincidentally, each emcee’s moment in the sun is largely a reflection of their geographic regionality: Kidd Kidd and Buck drop that southern twang, and ride the beats with high energy flows. Yayo and Banks, meanwhile, are New Yorkers, and personify the East Coast vibe on the mic. Banks, specifically, stands out on “Doper Than My Last One,” with top-notch lyricism and delivery. Fif does a little bit of everything, as he should being the leader of the group. It appears he learned a lesson or two from the negative feedback that enveloped Animal Ambition.
While the EP has its great moments, it isn’t without its flaws. The verses on “Ballin’” are nearly overshadowed by an auto-tune hook sung by 50. “Bring My Bottles” on the other hand, is in-your-face, and a seemingly dated reversion to the early 2000s. Yet these moments only reinforce the notion of G-Unit’s newfound room for growth. In an era where the hot new artists are influenced by certain nuances and trends, G-Unit is adapting, through trial and error, largely through the sound they themselves refined during the aughts. And when it works, it works well.
The G-Unit sound has changed for the better. There is no one specific musical style that they emulate, which is both refreshing, and interesting from a critical standpoint. In just over six months, the Unit has released two major EPs, while shaking off the rust and deciding on a new direction. Everybody shows up, and 50 doesn’t steal the spotlight. The Beast is G-Unit is a solid EP with the potential to inspire an equally effective studio LP. If 2014 was any indication, G-Unit won’t be settling down anytime soon.
fire not classic
Ye i agree
the best
A little dated soundin to me , concepts and production sound like Ugk rejects
Cant say I dont understand why you say that but this shit was pretty tough.
“The Beast is G-Unit” is a testament to the group’s new approach, and for a six-song EP, there is great diversity of sound.
EP is fucking dope compared to the bullshit these other artists are making
decent project. needed more 50 though.
GUNIT BEEN IN THE GAME A LONG TIME NOW AND ARE STILL MAKING DOPE MUSIC BUT FOR SOME REASON THE KIDS OF TODAY DON’T LIKE THEM AND THINK THEY ARE UNCOOL AND WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO YOUNG THUG DRAKE BIG SEAN KANYE WEST WALE ETC WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE THEY ARE MISSING OUT
In my opinion is better than “The beauty of the independence”. 4/5
Werd
Wish it was more than 6 tracks but The Beast is nice as hell. The reviewer here doesnt quite know what he’s talkin bout though, as the Yayo-led song is “Boy Boy” not “Ballin,” and the verses on “Ballin” are not overshadowed at all, each verse is sick, even Yayo’s.
I wasn’t feeling the production at all on this one. Last one was much better! I still fucks with The Unit though. Not everything you put is going to be hot or liked by everybody! They working though!
kanye too nice all day nigga
I wasn’t feeling the production at all on this one. Last one was much better! I still fucks with The Unit though. Not everything you put is going to be hot or liked by everybody! They working though!
This was a great project to help lead I to the eventual g unit album, ballin has such a great beat & the hook is on another level, 50 is just in the zone with his hooks makes u very excited for for his solo album SKI(street king immortal) im grown is dope too beat is hot hook is dope and the verses were flame, Kidd Kidd verse bodied that too, banks doper then my last is fire, and a great way to lead into cold corner 3, boy boy is dope but choose one is crazy from the beat to the hook to the verses, I think ballin and choose one are my favorites can’t wait for all the other projects they put out especially 50’s SKI album also looking forward to them doing vids to all the songs from both EP’s
So gangster
I actual played the beauty and the beast in a shuffle as if it was one album it was pretty dope. Yayo really went in on that Boy Boy track.
Am now feeling the true hip hop flowing in the veins
50 fucked up should have released full LP titled Beauty & The Beast
1.Nah I’m Talkin’ Bout
2.They Talked About Jesus
3.Come Up
4.Ahhh Shit
5.Watch Me
6.Digital Scale
7.The Plug
8.Changes
9.Dead a Pussy Nigga
10.Ballin
11.Doper Than My Last One
12.Choose One
13.I Don’t Fuck with You
14.Boy Boy
15.Bring My Bottles
16.I’m Grown
Sickest album out they just released it wrong 50 was scared of sales
I listen to it like this it is Insane
Should have called the LP Beg For Mercy…..Again
It does have some good songs on it. I prefer the last one better.
Another example of whats wrong with hiphop: some 40 year old men rapping about guns, money and coke. 40 year old men should grow up and take responsibility. Besides the G-Unit are average rappers and more hype then skills. 50’s career is over, Banks is only good for 4/5 dope songs on a solo, Yayo is wack, Buck is broke and needs money and is also average. Let real hiphop come back.
Reviewer has obviously quickly skimmed through the songs cos yayo’s led song was boy boy. Study the songs properly cos this EP is dope
straight FIRE YA HEARD
I NEED AN ALBUM NOW PLEASE 50 DO IT
I gotta keep ballin
DOPE!!!
Copped this dope album
PURE FIRE
DOPE album go get it if you don’t have it
Way better than most of whats out now, lets be real
EP is fire
Nice mix of tracks
G-Unit still dropping dope music 13 years later
best of the unit
i wish G-unit have a long run in the industry.Thats dope music compared to that bullshit nowadays.And i need more 50 and Yayo verses
Only bad song was Ballin with that autotune shit,i dont know why 50 tried that,i mean he never tried to follow wack trends… 4/5
m waiting for 15 track album,,jst enjoyin ballin
ballin is my fav joint right now
another classic!
they gave big Sean a 4 and this 3.50 this site is what’s wrong with hip hop they took the hood out of rap .
thank you for your comment
Still in rotation .. this is hip hop to mee.
Banks got it
Banks got it…
Fire every song is a banger and had the vibe that we miss in hip hop music both of the ep and the remixes that g unit have put on haven’t disappointed
How to get 5 stars on hhdx dont do anything street and wear tight jeans smh
Whole EP was fire, cant wait for more new music from the Unit, Banks comin with that Cold Corner 3 real soon
How’d this get a higher rating than To Pimp a Butterfly? lol
Ahh nevermind, I was looking at the user reviews. Makes sense lol
This shit go hard, that track ballin is off the hook
True shit..amazing track to work out to
the Beauty and the Beast EP sold 67K albums in the US
That dont make sense….I give it a five for giving me hope
G unit->Kendrick
Until god calls for me…
I got to keep ballin
Buzzin
THE BEAST
“it appears he learned a lesson or two from the negative feedback that enveloped Animal Ambition” – the only negative feedback I saw was from HHDX, so you really think he “learned a lesson or two” from internet bloggers? LOL FOH
still bumpin dis
I cant believe this aint gettin more attention
SKI yall dont deserve #smsaudio
PIL2 still in stores…..
wow this ep gettin some deserved recognition
Seriously, fuck you if you listen to this bullshit. You are fucking scum and nobody likes you. You are a piece of shit.
5 fucking star anyone hating this dont no hip hop. beast, go listen to drake