Lloyd Banks- Rotten Apple Review - Hip Hop Message Board

The Unit is at it again. The arsenal of the G-Unit camp continues to roll out in full force. After building up a buzz taller than New York City itself, mixtape artist of the year Lloyd Banks is back with his sophomore release.

More than 2 years after his first solo album, fans are anxiously waiting to see how the lyrical punch line king will bounce back after what some say to be a disappointing Hunger for More. Up to now G-Unit has flooded the hip-hop industry with mixtapes, movies, and clothes and even though the recent success of new G-Unit label singe?s have failed to live up to par.

Banks is here to clean up and set the record straight that New York is G-Unit.
--Banks and 50 each provide the chorus and verses to hit you off with a hood heater. Great way to intro and it gives confidence that rest will follow.

Reminds me of another great intro ??I?

m a Soldier ft 50 Cent.? Although Prodigy usually disappoints he fits in well.

--?Go head hate on me now, you?ll miss a nigga later, I?

m hood like bullet holes and pissy elevators.? Banks?

lyrical talents continue on this track. Violins create a sleek feel with a classic chorus.
--Banks replicates the exact flow on part 1.

Production is upbeat but also sounds too congested. The chorus isn?t distinct, blends together with the verses, making it hard to tell apart.

Even though verses are nothing special, Banks fans will still like it. Part one wins the battle.
--Good concept song.

Good interaction with the words on the chorus. 50 Cent, known for his killer talk on the mixtape circuit drops another heart throbbed killer feel. ?

Yeah listen up clicko, I hustle I get dough, you fuckin wit a sicko, I spazz let a clip go, cannon out da rental beam to ya temple, I squeeze blow your mental all ova ya friends? The hood gonna like this one.
--Crazy beat!

Banks addresses the G-Unit haters who have seemed to surface in the past couple of years. ?I?

m a G-Unit nigga?I?m the sickest thing spittin in a while?

grimy and gritty New York City?s top gun? This song is complete.

Enormous beat, sick flow, great lyrics with a convincing chorus. One of the better songs on the album
--On Fire part 2 definitely brings the heat on this one. The hard hitting horns on the production are complimented nicely with 50 and Banks tag teaming to produce an unbelievable chorus.

--This part of the album for the ladies. Lloyd Banks lacks lyrical punch lines in this one but compliments with a smooth flow of words. Only 2 verses, not exactly a Karma or Smile but the females will certainly warm up to this track.

--Another R B feel but defiantly not a female song. Banks paints poetry about his addiction to music through decisive words. First verse is mediocre but improves by the second.

Beat is boring; maybe Nate Dogg should have substituted for Mr. Soulchild. It will take a bit, but it will grow on you
--Disappointing?

all the hype of Rakim on this album comes through a sample, no verse at all. The blend of Banks, Rakim and a Dj scratch creates a raw atmosphere on the chorus. All 3 verses supply good lyrical punch lines but Banks saves the best verse for last?

listen closely. ?From hear on out its man slaughter for the masses and classics courtesy of Mr.

Mathers?
--Queens collaborates on this track to reinforce the gutter mentality. Havocs absence allows Prodigy to control the second verse and even though P significantly lacks lyrical skills, his words come to light and surprisingly keeping up with the flow of Banks.

Blue Hef?s lyrical skills continue as he address critics that claim G-Unit has gone pop, ?Niggas feel I?

m different, cause everything is good, they actin like I changed, like I went Hollywood, like I don?t keep it street, like I don?t keep the heat, like I aint homicide all over the beat?

The biggest surprise on the album with a astonishing hood feel.
--Very monotone feel with the piano lightly dancing across the beat. Banks voice over the chorus is immersed.

Lyrical but tiresome.
--By far the most lyrical song on the album. Lloyd murders the first verse and stills apply pressure on the second.

Beat could have been better, has a Halloween flow. ?Ima bomb on these niggas till they can?

t bomb back, the Hiroshima demeanor, microphone crack!?
--Hard beat from Eminem.

Sort of has a ?Ballad of Obie Trice? feel.

Slow creepy production buttered up with climaxing trumpets. Banks warns haters on this deep New York City anthem. Yayo?

s feature is only 8 bars. It sounds like Tony?s appearance was something that Banks HAD to do.

Different feel, but it latches on.
--One of the better R B type flows on any track. Lloyd Banks warns the females about his one night stands.

?Besides I done gave you the signs, you just wouldn?t read it, Now you feeling like Keyshia Cole, you should of [cheated]?

Keon Bryce completes the song with a smooth ambiance over the chorus. Soon as day breaks Banks on his way ?MIA back to JFK.

--Efforts of making song ?for the south? sort of falls short.

Very catchy beat, Banks has a good verse and flows nicely over the chorus. Buck overshadows everyone on this track. 8Ball supplies a good south presence but Scarface ruins the track by ?

talking?
--Bank?s sing song flow mixed with the high strung chords generates a serious flow.

Blue Hef explains the result of hood mentality on the chorus, ?We aint got shit to live for. You either headed for the pen or on your way to Gilmore?

Although this song brings some serious heat it lacks efforts with only two verses and only extending to 2:51 in length.
Rotten Apple dodges the sophomore jinx and also takes a leap toward returning the crown to New York. This album by itself doesn?

t get the job done, but it definitely takes NY one step closer. Overall good album, Rotten Apple brings more of a ?rap?

cd compared to Hunger for More. Even though CD production could have been a lot better, Banks should quite the talk of recent low album sales with this one. But will the industry respond?

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