By Isaiah Smith/Entertainment editor
G-Unit member Lloyd Banks further solidifies his status as a solo artist with his sophomore solo-album Rotten Apple.
“ I can’t wait for the streets to get Rotten Apple ’cause I’ve put so much into writing this one; it’s unbelievable. I’ve made so many records for this album and cut it down to just the real heat,” Banks said
in a press release.
“ Hands Up,” produced by Eminem and featuring 50 Cent, is the first single.
This song has a good club vibe; the VIP room feel makes it a booty-shaking song with plenty of punch.
Banks has a very even tone while he raps, which gets a little boring.
“ Iceman,” featuring Young Buck, Scarface and 8Ball, is my favorite track.
Banks raps about how much bling-bling he has, claiming the title of iceman because every time he
moves it looks like a flash of lightning.
The beat is good, and the raps flow well enough that the lyrics blur together, which I like in a rap.
Banks’ rap won the Mixtape Artist of the Year award at the 2004 Justo’s Mixtape Awards.
“ That right there is the most important plaque that I have in my whole house. No matter what happens or how big I get, winning that award was the greatest personal achievement to me,” he said.
With 50 Cent as an executive producer and collaborator on several tracks, Banks is likely to win many more awards.
“ Rotten Apple,” the title track featuring 50 Cent and Prodigy, highlights New York City’s dark side.
“ I named the CD Rotten Apple because I thought I should let my fans know that New York is not just skyscrapers and bright lights,” he said.
“ I actually wanted to call the album Shi**y City … but I couldn’t curse in the title, so that was that,” Banks said.
“ Addicted,” featuring Musiq Soulchild, has a great beat.
Soulchild really adds something needed to the track that Banks’ monotonous tone leaves out—feeling.
The clever lyrics compare music to crack because of the addictive quality of a good beat.
“ NY NY,” featuring Tony Yayo, continues the New York theme.
Unfortunately, this is the same old tone. Different words, same tone.
Banks has a serious problem on his hands if he cannot master his vocals enough to vary his tone.
Other performers who stepped up to collaborate on tracks for this include Kerri Hilson on “Help,” Rakim on “You Know the Deal” and Mobb Deep on “Get Clapped.”
“ With this album, I bring back the hunger that I had on the early mixtapes. This is all about returning to my roots because that’s what got me here,” he said.
Overall, even with a lot of help from 50 Cent, Banks falls short of memorable.
I give Rotten Apple three stars.
The lyrics are good, yet Banks needs to get out of that note because he lives there.
