G-Unit – The Beauty Of Independence (EP)

    A creative writing professor once imparted a treasure of wisdom on his students. Instead of using a generic word like “love,” writers should paint picturesque images that for the reader to better relay these complex feelings. As he would describe it, love is the scene of two people salivating over a bucket of KFC on a couch while Skyfall plays in the background. A synthesis of passionate kisses, saliva, and honey mustard is interrupted only when a lover reaches to fetch a lone piece of food in the corner of their lover’s mouth. In short, this is the feeling of real love put in imagistic scenery. Similarly, when G-Unit decided to put away a decade of petty squabbling, tearful phone calls, and name-calling to reunite, the widespread abundance of excitement was impossible to sum up in mere four letter words, or even KFC makeout sessions for that matter.

    But once that initial excitement cooled, a few incontestable facts emerged. It’s not 2003 anymore. When 50 Cent made a name for himself in the late ‘90s and early Aughts, he was propelled by a hunger to show and prove not witnessed since Nas rhyming at the BBQ. Filthy rich nowadays without having to risk dying to achieve it, his last few mainstream releases are a far cry from the tenacious Power Of The Dollar, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, and the quintuple-platinum The Massacre. Swapping musical ingenuity for relevancy at all costs, a surplus of gimmicky (albeit hilarious at times) shenanigans surfaced while 50 simultaneously bowed to modern music trends like a follower or hashtag personified. Conversely, Lloyd Banks had pre-reunion removed himself from the stigma of 50’s wingman to blossom into a purveyor of perennially consistent mixtapes with releases like The Cold Corner series. Unfortunately, with legal issues tying his hands, Young Buck hasn’t been as active as one would hope. And while a G-Unit reunion with Game would rival a KFC order with a complimentary lemon cake because the employees were a little slow with the order, beggars can’t be choosers. Beg For Mercy, mainly featuring the incarnate group of 50, Banks, and Young Buck is undoubtedly the creative and commercial pinnacle of the core trio, and it is this group along with an emancipated Tony Yayo and newcomer Kidd Kidd that form the new G-G-G Unit on The Beauty Of Independence.

    In this publicly opinionated modern world, Kidd Kidd’s inclusion in the group was met with an onslaught of pejoratives discharged from Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and probably even a few startup companies in Silicon Valley to receive licensing yet. But Kidd Kidd proves himself worthy of his counterparts, and it is his stubborn confidence and deep-rooted hunger to be recognized is exactly the same ambiance that the preeminent versions of G-Unit engulfed themselves in when they were flooding the streets with G-Unit Radio mixtapes, culminating in an unshakeable street devotion. Kidd Kidd is a newcomer, but his mentality is vintage G-Unit, and he sounds right at home with his more famous counterparts. Every breath seems to suggest that he is fully aware of his distinction, so his bars are as meticulous as they are entertaining, like his verse on “Changes,” where he rhymes, “I ain’t rich like 50 but I know the man / Red emjoi faces in your text / I know you mad.”

    Young Buck has always played the role of spark plug within the group, and it’s by no random act that his energetic flow is the first we hear on the instant street banger “Watch Me.” The instrumental gyrates around the same sort of accelerated, punchy drumline that dominates the likes of 50 Cent’s “What Up Gangsta” or Lloyd Banks’ “Shock The World.” Not surprisingly, the Unit stockpiles here with agile flows; torch oscillating from member to member. “I Don’t Fuck With You” slows the pace and relies heavily on the emcees. Aside from stray bullets, the main issue involving The Game and 50 Cent involved was a dispute about who wrote better hooks. Minister Louis Farrakhan was unable to get to bottom of it during the sit down, but on paper 50’s hooks don’t reek of ingenuity. But paper can’t be listened to via SMS headphones, and in prime form, 50 is able to provide just enough in the way of catchy head-bop material that doesn’t overtake nor interfere with the overall flow of the song. “I Don’t Fuck WIth You” and “The Plug” are perfect examples, and with so many eager emcees all vying for mic attention, most of the memorable moments here are realized through bars. Even Tony Yayo is better than expected, making his presence felt both on the chorus and an above average verse on “Digital Scale.”

    No one following Banks’ resurgence will be surprised at his strong performance, but 50 seems like a man reborn, imbued with hunger once again. Possibly because he is back among comrades, and not standing alone getting ready to make an errant pitch like Animal Ambition, 50 is impressive throughout the six song EP. Never one to mince words, 50 speaks frankly about the dissolution of his relationship with Interscope Records CEO Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre. While the story of contract overhauls and headphone rivalry is interesting on its own merits, it is the same sort of unbridled emotion and introspection that belied tracks like “Many Men” and ultimately make “Changes” the gem that it is. The track reads like it was crafted for therapeutic reasons in begrudging fashion rather than contrived, gimmicky ones. With the old band back together, it remains to be seen if the respective members of G-Unit will be able to rival the quality of music that rocketed them into the limelight, but with The Beauty Of Independence, they’re clearly in sync.

     

    RELATED: Many Men: A Q&A With Producers Of G-Unit’s “The Beauty Of Independence” [Interview]

    188 thoughts on “G-Unit – The Beauty Of Independence (EP)

    1. this cd was way better then i expected, i thought i would hear a rap group on trap beats trying to do what everyone else is doing.

      but they stayed original

      nice ep !

    2. It’s amazing how much speculation is in this article…the game beef over hooks was inaccurate. Game said all 50 could do is write hooks whereas 50 was saying he could write hit records. WAY OFF HHDX.

      Then they say 50’s hungry again. Well, as 50 already said in the past, he purposely didn’t put out his hit music due to the issues with his label. Basically now that he’s out, he’s giving the good material again because its all profit now.

      Then they bash Animal Ambition?!? The only Hip hop album in 2014 that you can play at your moms house or work without getting the “YOYO you listen to rap” face.

      Everything in this article is a comparison to previous work…come on dude, voice your opinion instead of hiding behind blatant realities

    3. I still have yet to hear it. I don;t have an Itunes account nor I want to get one. Is there any other way of getting this?

    4. DAAMN! This whole fucking EP is fiire! Really takes you back to the good ol’ days. Even Yayo is hungry, he go hard!

    5. Ayee! It’s G Unit Season now!

      “This is our year, next year is our year
      The year after is our year, the year after is our year” PLK

      G-G-G G UNIT!

    6. My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can’t believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

      This is what I do,,,

      ===================
      http://WWW.Cashtot.com
      ===================

    7. Ok people now lets support The Unit by getting those physical copies.Lets buy as many as possible to encourage the boys to keep releasing.

    8. These DX niggas keep suckin 50 dick. This EP is average. Heard these topics 10.000 times before and by better rappers. You want classic hiphop from groups then listen to:

      – public enemy
      – geto boys
      – tribe called quest
      – de la soul
      – wu tang
      – black moon
      – stetsasonic

      This is just crap!

      1. YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!! And these groups raised me, I’m now 30+, you are TRIPPIN’ G-Unit has their own sound, and they BELONG in group conversations with the likes above.

    9. this review feels bought. y’all even brand-dropped SMS Audio in this shit like 50 cent’s tweets. 4 stars for this generic-ass music? i liked the first couple reunion joints, Nah I’m Talking Bout and Real Quick, but this tape is weak. Also, not enough Lloyd Banks.

      1. You seem like one of the people who rate mixtapes 5/5 and albums 1/5 for no other reason than one is a mixtape and the other is an album.

        The EP was a continuation of the strong performance on the mixtape joints.

        Saying it is weak is clueless. This was one of the best hiphop EP’s ever made.

        Changes is the best G-unit track since Beg for Mercy.

    10. By far one of the most boring, most predictable albums of the year. At least Rick Ross goes out of his way to speak about current issues in the best, most lyrical way possible (BLK & WHT and Don’t Shoot). At least Ross’ rhymes are witty and unpredictable unlike Shitty Cent’s. Kid Kid will eventually be the Unit’s downfall with his wack lyrics. Mastermind was a slept on hip hop classic. Fuck the sales, the album was a masterpiece…from a mastermind. All in all, I give this garbage EP a -00000000.1/5

      1. Shut the fuck up and go tell your boss Dick Toss to quit putting date rape drugs in those lemon pepper wings and feeding them to dudes. Mastermind is a -infinity/5

      2. Fuck you, asshole. Ross’ verse on UEONO was clearly an error in misjudgment. We’re all human beings and we all make mistakes at some point in our lives, and to this day, Ross still feels regret and remorse for those lyrics. Mastermind was an undoubted and underrated classic that should have received more attention and accolades for his unseen efforts , hard work, and overall unyielding work ethic

      3. Bitch, quit crying over another motherfucka. He must’ve feed you some of those wings with your consent.

    11. well written article.

      Gunit and 50 ran hiphop for years, then they went on hiatus.

      now they are back. this ep is well done, hooks, verses, production, and the chemistry and combination is what makes them so good. the shit they do is just hot and different. its that style.
      they created the mixtape scene, remixing songs, and had multiple hits. you don’t do all that out of luck, its skill

      you can hate all you want, but this is hiphop. theres a reason its number 1 on itunes, and alot of people are bumping it without labels buying record spins on the radio and promotion. they are going to take over as usual. and rightly so.

      1. Your artical was well written. Your on point with everything you said. They dont get enough respect being hiphop (if you understand what i mean) and they also have a catalogue that not many can fuck with.

      2. thanks man, i definitely know what you mean. you know what i think happened. they were so popular for about 2002-2008 or even 2009. even if it was 50 as well.
        so many rappers beefed with them to get known, because their careers were dying. that inturn created alot of haters.
        also music and media is controlled with certain people, they won’t allow certain things, its like people are “chosen” and stories are “chosen” to get shown to everyone.

        if you look at the radio playlist its the same songs over and over and over. alot of the songs from artists are just not talented or even just popular, so their label pours money into the radio to play there songs, over and over, so then everyone is forced to listen and buy it. only something viral gets a chance to be the system.

        anyway they are hiphop, people don’t want them to be around, especially if you consider interscope ceo and dre, its all money they are billionares

      3. Fuck off. G-Unit created nothing they just follow a blueprint done by other nyc rappers 20/30 years ago. This is an average rapcrew with bullshit lyrics about being in the mobb and being the new pablo escobar.

    12. and this time they are going to do track with other artists as well.(the good ones). its more humble take over lol. which is good for them, so we can see the different combinations

    13. My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can’t believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

      This is what I do,,,,

      ===================
      http://WWW.Cashtot.com
      ===================

    14. Beg For Mercy was solid
      Terminate On Sight was terrible
      This is better than TOS, so its pretty good overall

    15. G-Unit IS BACK!!! to stop the haters and the boring stage of this HipKidsHopLameSwagSongs that is all garbage.

      GGGGG G-UNIT!!!

    16. My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can’t believe how easy it was once I tried it out.

      This is what I do,,,,

      ===================
      http://WWW.Cashtot.com
      ===================

    17. For God’s sakes, keep Yayo away from making hooks …

      Otherwise it is a solid project, better than I expected.

      1. Digital Scale was the main reason that made me wrote that above.

        Beats were on point, surprisingly good lyrics (even from Yayo) but they should let 50 do (or at least write) the hooks.

    18. people need to get this ep. support hiphop and the right music, this is the only way music will change. its not about them being millionares, its about getting music to shift back to hiphop.

      this generation is killing music, movies, sports, with its fake, no depth, and lack of inspirational thinking. how can anaconda be even popular? or iggy is not talented at all. or these other rappers man. waka flocka? future? wiz kalifa? young “insert any name” , rick ross, these people are garbage , with the same trap beats with NO creative hooks.

      support music and get hiphop back in the right direction.
      also support other artists like fab, jada, ortiz, etc and gunit and these dudes on the radio, billionares are paying for these shit rappers spins on the radio and then people hear it enough and accept the nonsense

      rant done. lol

      1. Excuse me? Support Fab, Jada, G-Unit. These niggas never made any classic and are just average! Besides 50 is a millionaire so i dont get your point. Also how many bullshit rnb tracks did 50, jada and fab? Accept the fact that eastcoast hiphop is dead.

      2. eastcoast hiphop is not dead, its just “chosen” not to be represented, because the intelligence of this generation is used to simple hooks, and same head bopping trap beats. Its simple and catchy to the small minded.

        i don’t mind rnb songs, like brandy,alicia keys, joe, usher, mary j, neyo, john legend, whatever etc. dude its hip hop man.
        its not just these guys, its also nas, talib, mos def, cassidy, juelz, etc, these people know music.

        your missing the point, the people who have been in music the last couple years are garbage, every song, i don’t listen to the radio, so i looked at the playlist and listened to some tracks . they are trash, music is controlled by certain people just like media, sports, anything. their are lost of talented songs and good music but labels “choose” who gets on the radio, they pour money into radio spins, thats why big shots like minaj, or jay z or kanye, drake, even when their song is bad, its get on the radio, like whatever features these people do, it just gets on the radio. they buy spins, after awhile anyone will be brainwashed lol when you play the same 10 songs over and over and over

        they are millionares, the put is just because they are, doesn’t mean not buy the ep, buy the ep and support the music for 5 bucks because then maybe culture will change, and you won’t have songs about ass twerkin, and sayin nigga every line.

        done

    19. Finally a hip-hop release with actual hip-hop rooted material… This EP is a breath of fresh air from the rest of this garbage being put out lately… Maybe there is still hope for the east coast…

    20. I just got paid $6784 working off my laptop this month. And if you think that’s cool, my divorced friend has twin toddlers and made over $9k her first month. It feels so good making so much money when other people have to work for so much less. This is what I do,,,,,,,,,,,,,
      ===================
      http://www.cashtot.com
      ===================

    21. 50 is really making a comeback. the ep is not perfect but it is a far cry better then most of the music from 50 over the past 5 years. more importantly fif, and gunit show growth with every song and project & there is no sense of awkwardness except for banks occasionally.

      Buck shines throughout. Yayo is yayo, (i’ve never understood how people called fifty disloyal when he’s allowed yayo to continue to rap with him throughout all the criticism) kidd kidd is getting better. fifty is going back to 03 and shines at making the songs catchy and stick in your head.

      alotta people wanna game gunit reunion..me too..but game is too volatile and i dont think it would work in the long game. game is like 50 in that beef fuels him, and another split with gunit would likely revitalize gunit haters and would serve no purpose to gunit

      its a good ep..fif is very knowledgable about the times and moves fast..one of the few artists right now that is on par with listeners attention spans if not ahead of them..lastly check out power its dope

    22. It’s great to hear G Unit back on top, they’re the best collective of MCs since Wu Tang Clan, the addition of Kidd Kidd is great he adds a brand new fan base to the collective, and I believe his rhymes will help Lloyd Banks become even greater at what he already does murder the mic every time he spits on it 4/5 on the EP

      1. Did you really say that if youre 35/45 that you should stop rapping???????????????????????????????? YOU are the problem in hip hop. You and folks like you are the reason that hip hop cant get the respect its due. White folks don’t tell the Rolling Stones to stop performing and that they have an age limit. Country ARtists don’t have an age limit. Why do you want to limit our artists?????? Please give me a rationale. Is it because you think hip hop is only about guns and trapping and cant mature? Or maybe you just cant mature and want your music to stay where you can understand it? Music is music. It doesn’t have shelf lives or age limits. Good music is timeless like an OJay’s cut. Don’t box yourself in mentally or put limits on yourself like that. Hip hop doesn’t belong in the box that you choose it to be in. Its gone commercial and even country artists are using making rap more common. Rap has become universal. Its not just for teenage Black Males anymore, yelling Fight the Violence! Its truly Universal, as it should be. Your not understanding this concept doesn’t change the validity of this statement.

    23. @eastcoasthiphopdead
      eastcoast hiphop is not dead, its just “chosen” not to be represented, because the intelligence of this generation is used to simple hooks, and same head bopping trap beats. Its simple and catchy to the small minded.

      i don’t mind rnb songs, like brandy,alicia keys, joe, usher, mary j, neyo, john legend, whatever etc. Dude its hip hop man.
      its not just these guys, its also nas, talib, mos def, cassidy, juelz, etc, these people know music. hiphop is rnb mixed with rap bro. thats what makes it nice

      you’re missing the point, the people who have been in music the last couple years are garbage, every song, i don’t listen to the radio, so i looked at the playlist and listened to some tracks . they are trash about 90% of them, music is controlled by certain people just like media, sports, anything. their are lots of talented songs and good music but labels “choose” who gets on the radio, they pour money into radio spins, thats why big shots like minaj, or jay z or kanye, drake, even when their song is bad, its get on the radio, like whatever features these people do, it just gets on the radio. they buy spins, after awhile anyone will be brainwashed lol when you play the same 10 songs over and over and over
      they are millionares, the point is, because they are, doesn’t mean don’t buy the ep, buy the ep and support the music for 5 bucks because then maybe culture will change, and you won’t have songs about ass twerkin, hoes, and sayin nigga every line. with basic simple hooks with no thought process

      by the way where is reggae?

      done

      1. co-sign.

        But i still hate the fact that average fucks like game or 50 cent are treated like rapgods becuase they arent.

        I hate the fact that NYC niggas wanna sound like its 1994 with dated premo productions.

        For pete’s sake: NEW YORK SWITCH YOUR STYLE AND BEATS UP and all these old dudes who are 35/45 stop rapping. You had your time now its time for new talent

      2. @eastcoast

        50 cent is one of the best song “makers”. You can hate, but he learned from jam master jay. You can tell, he knows how to make a track. it sounds good. the hook is complex and well delivered, the structure of the song is creative. thats why he has hits.
        also
        the style of the mixtape was created by the them. they were one of the first to take beats from other songs and recreate them in a rowdy way,
        also they were first to talk on the mixtape with that brash i don’t give a fuck, we run this shit rant on tracks,

        game’s album was wrote by 50 cent because dre told him to give him a turn. the guy sold mad records and then spit in the face of the guy who created him. its just sad for his mental disorder. thats why he his career never took off. hes a loser man lol its pretty obvious from the way he switches around. he needs meds.

    24. 5 is the most popular ranking…LOL. 46 out of 59 people gave this piece of mediocre shit a 5. Seems to be the case for every album reviewed on this site. Give me a fucking break…so the majority of people think every album that comes out is a perfect 5 album? Site has zero creditability.

    25. Very Nice EP give it 4/5 becuause its good to hear some New Music from them
      Yayo sounds better and KIdd Kidd holds is own Banks and Buck are superstars talent wise but dont think they know it and 50 verses nice and aggressive not a classic but only 6 songs
      hell would rather have just good songs than 5-7 that we all skip G..G…G…UNIT!!!!

    26. @eastcoast

      50 cent is one of the best song “makers”. You can hate, but he learned from jam master jay. You can tell, he knows how to make a track. it sounds good. the hook is complex and well delivered, the structure of the song is creative. thats why he has hits.
      also
      the style of the mixtape was created by the them. they were one of the first to take beats from other songs and recreate them in a rowdy way,
      also they were first to talk on the mixtape with that brash i don’t give a fuck, we run this shit rant on tracks, look at the tracks/hits 50 and gunit has made, its pretty versatile and different (maybe not content always) but concept and type of song

      game’s album was wrote by 50 cent because dre told him to give him a turn. the guy sold mad records and then spit in the face of the guy who created him. its just sad for his mental disorder. thats why he his career never took off. hes a loser man lol its pretty obvious from the way he switches around. he needs meds. game can’t create a song anymore because 50 cent wrote his album (most of it). thats why game needs the producer to help him and its still not that good.

      1. No 50 Cent’s songs are all the same with the same formula. It gets tired to listen to him and he has limited subjectmatter: guns and money. This nigga is 40 years old and must grow up!

        This nigga made one great album GRODT but not a classic. A classic is RTD or Illmatic.

    27. I respect the fact people can still like G Unit music, but a 6 track EP should never get a perfect score, especially when the production is as bad as Animal Ambition, and the subject matter is the same tired bullshit.

    28. The Unit has all of the energy right now. They moving and everyone knows. Look how quiet it is. Everyone is hoping that the wave will die. If nothing else Fif is a marketing genius! Trust me, it time. You can feel it can’t you!

    29. shit is wack..these goofy looking bastards thought they could just come back in the game in everyone would love them?? how stupid were they, wack beats gayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy unit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    30. DAMN! I give this G-Unit EP a B+ 88%. Short enough for the listening patience decent quality street music. I think obviously Yayo the weak link. But he surprises on here but I think he should leave the hooks to 50 Cent. Banks always brings the hunger. But Buck is a complete menace and a candidate for the most improved rapper in 2014. Kidd Kidd fits into the group as he sounds hungry as well. I like The Plug, Changes, and Watch Me the best. It is great to see one of my favorite groups back in rap.

    31. fuck all you haters! why you’s hating on real hiphop when all you do is skim through songs and say that you’ve heard the songs

    32. i lyk these guyz ar the best of all..the music they give out is amaizng..shouts out to 50,banks.yayo.buck and kid kid..

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