With a collaboration rap sheet rather than a criminal one, Lloyd Banks has done well for his family.Born Christopher Llyod in Jamaica, Queens, Banks was raised by his mother as his father spent most of his time behind bars. From a young age he began writing loose narratives and was influenced by rapper Big Daddy Kane, one of his absent father's favorites. After he turned 16 he dropped out of high school and started appearing on inner street mix tapes as one of the neighborhood's underground rappers. Another neighborhood rapper, Tony Yayo, approached Banks about starting a group together, along with another rapper 50-cent. They wanted their crew to be called G-Unit.With 50 Cent, G-Unit became an instant success. They produced several street albums together and had original numbers. He appeared on 50 Cent's breakout hit album, Get Rich or Die Tryin' and together, G-Unit released Beg For Mercy in 2003. The G-Unit album allowed Banks to tour with his childhood friends as the album remained on the Billboard Top 20 for months to come. He received the title of 2003's Mixtape Artist of the Year for his appearance on G-Unit's mixtapes.It wasn't until June 2004 that the world saw an individual effort by Banks. Along with G Unit/Interscope Records, Banks released his solo debut Hunger For More. The album contains the similar beats and sounds of G-Units' famous member 50 Cent, but with more lyrical flows. The 14-track album peaked at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, as well as the Billboard 200 charts and the Top Internet Albums in 2004. Just two years later he released his sophomore effort Rotten Apple.
