Interviews

MTV interview

When MTV News met up with 50 Cent and the G-Unit at the Mixshow Power Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, last month, we asked Sway to sit down with teacher and students for a short, meaningful interview.

Then 50 grabbed the mic, insisting on conducting the interview himself. Here's what happened. ...

50 Cent: How was the process of working on this album?

Lloyd Banks: Man, the process of working on this album was work, then some more work.

Young Buck: And some more work.

Banks: And some more work, a little bit of play, a little bit of sleep. For the most part it was work, but it was a cool experience.

50 Cent: I heard you guys recorded the majority of this album on the tour bus. Why you were on tour with 50 Cent?

Banks: Yeah, we were on the Rock the Mic Tour, you know, with a whole bunch of other guys — Jay-Z, Snoop, a bunch of popular people. We had a studio on the bus so it was kinda cool.

50 Cent: So can I get a prediction from you guys? How many records do you think you're gonna sell?

Young Buck: Well, they say this 50 Cent guy did like, 800,000 to a million records his first week. So I predict ... I'm going hard. A million and a half.

50 Cent: A million and a half records the first week?

Young Buck: Yeah. That's what type of material is on that album, homie.

50 Cent: That would have to be some real, real hot music.

Young Buck: Expect the unexpected. You heard me?

50 Cent: So we know Young Buck is from Nashville, Tennessee, and he has a different style than you. How were you guys able to work together, you being from Jamaica, Queens, and all?

Banks: It's kinda easy because we all from the same atmosphere even though we not from the same neighborhoods. Like I'm from Southside Jamaica, Queens, but there's a Southside everywhere. So, even if we're not writing together at the table, when we come into the booth we're still on the same page because the same thing happened in my 'hood that happened in his 'hood.

50 Cent: What about this album is gonna make your record sell so much?

Young Buck: Basically, I think it's real life behind the album and the controversy behind the album. There's a lot of things that 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and Tony Yayo are saying on that album that's gonna make you stop and say, "Uh oh, hold up. I know he didn't just say that."

50 Cent: So I got questions the ladies are interested in. Are you guys in any relationships, anything like that? Someone special in your life?

Young Buck: No, but I'm looking for Ms. Right. Wherever she's at, holler at the kid, you know? Even on the video I took my shirt off a little bit so I could show ya'll the diesel part of Young Buck. Ya heard? So all you ladies out there, you know what I'm sayin'. I'm watchin', you know.

50 Cent: So how about you, Lloyd Banks?

Banks: Oh man. I don't really have anyone right now. I've been looking, though. I don't wanna be a ho.

50 Cent: Since you've been looking, tell me a good place to look.

Banks: I'm not even gonna lie, I'm always in the 'hood, you know. I got a thing for 'hood girls, but I'm starting to open up the magazines.

50 Cent: That's where you look for your girlfriends?

Banks: I'm looking in the magazines, I'm trying to find me a good one. You know, a career lady.

50 Cent: So is there anyone you've seen in a magazine that you're excited about right now?

Lloyd Banks: Well, recently I just did a record with Alicia Keys.

50 Cent: Alicia Keys.

Lloyd Banks: I'm not even gonna lie to ya'll. I couldn't stop looking at the lady the whole time I was recording.

50 Cent: Wow. So you got a chance to work with Alicia Keys. What kind of record is it like, how does the record feel?

Lloyd Banks: The record is actually a relationship record. If I could be your boyfriend, or I could be your girlfriend, vice versa.

50 Cent: That should be interesting to hear now that we know that you thought Alicia was attractive.

Lloyd Banks: I have a lot of interest in that lady, you know. Time will tell.

50 Cent: So, Young Buck, could you explain to the people exactly how you ended up in G-Unit?

Young Buck: Well basically, I was runnin' with Juvenile, and he was in the process of trying to get his own label started, UTP Records. Everything wasn't really moving as planned, but you know, it was moving. And one day he happened to just go to New York, looking to do some recording and trying to put together a new deal for his company. I was kinda like the guy who was riding with Juvie, trying to make things happen. He was like, "Yo man, I think I can get in touch with 50." And it just ended up happening. And at the time Juvenile had a studio on the bus, and 50 came by, Banks, Yayo. We started like a little side project on the bus and it was not no battle thing, but just spittin' individually. The kid was feeling Buck, and I was feeling the kid from the beginning, I always knew who 50 Cent was, I never had a chance to really touch base with him. So when I got a chance to meet him, I spilled all my beans to him and let him know what situation I was in, where I was coming from. And 50 Cent basically kept it real, like, "Yo, if this rap thing happens for me man, I'm gonna come back and holler." And that's exactly what he did.