S. Samuel
G-Unit's Lloyd Banks has decided to give the "Punch Line King" a rest for his Hunger For More 2 follow-up after a recent collaboration with Raekwon.
Banks credits the “The Chef” for inspiring his return to storytelling.
“Soon as I heard [Raekwon’s] verse [on ‘Last Train to Scotland’] it was on some storytelling sh*t, so I already knew what I had to do with it,” Banks explained in an interview. “Rae is one of the best at that, so his verse opened up my mind. It wasn’t like I had a blank beat to go off of. It’s crazy because I’d already planned on going back into the storytelling thing on my next project… that’s a cool start for me. It’s actually easier for me to paint pictures as far as stories because it’s less punchlines, it’s more out the mind. It’s different than having to break your brain to come up with a witty line.” (VIBE)
Although currently leaning toward storyline rhyme schemes, Banks is known for creating punchline-riddled freestyles.
“Another question I got for the Banks blog is what are some of my favorite beats to rap to,” Banks said in his video blog. “I gotta say ‘Lyrical Exercise’, that was crazy to me. I did it two or three times, [and] another beat was one of Cam’ron‘s beats. The joint where we did, ‘G-Unit Soldiers,’ I had to rap over that like three times. It’s just certain beats I can never get tired of. As long as you throw it on, I’m going to want to rap to it. Most of it is on the old instrumental CDs. ‘Quiet Storm’ is another one — ‘Shook Ones’ has gotta be the all-time best beat to rap over, hip-hop-wise. If you can’t do your thing over that, then just kill yourself.” (XXL Mag)
Last year, Banks named the late Notorious B.I.G., also known for having a knack for storytelling, as one of his favorite emcees of all-time.
“My top five rappers of all-time, definitely Biggie Smalls,” Banks revealed in an interview. “Tupac [Shakur], of course, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim and, those are all before my era. I would have to throw me up in there somewhere, for my era. Speaking for my era, I would have to throw me up in there. I’m like a mixture of all those, I’m a product of all those guys put together.” (Real Talk New York)
Banks’ Hunger For More 2 album debuted on the sales chart last month.
G-Unit member Lloyd Banks’ Hunger For More 2 debuted on the chart this week finding a spot at No. 26. After seven days in stores, the “Punch Line King’s” newest solo effort managed to sell 44,500 records. (SOHH Sales Wrap)
Check out Lloyd Banks & Raekwon’s “Sooner Or Later” down below:
