Lloyd Banks Net Worth

What Is Lloyd Banks's Net Worth?

Lloyd Banks is an American hip-hop artist who has a net worth of $4 million. Lloyd Banks is a founding member of the influential hip-hop group G-Unit. Known for his clever wordplay, sharp punchlines, and smooth delivery, Banks quickly earned a reputation as one of the most skilled lyricists to emerge from New York's early 2000s rap scene.

After gaining recognition through G-Unit's underground mixtapes, Banks broke into the mainstream with the group's debut album "Beg for Mercy" in 2003, which went double platinum and helped redefine East Coast hip-hop. The following year, he released his solo debut "The Hunger for More," featuring the hit single "On Fire." The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and established Banks as a standout voice within the group and a successful solo artist in his own right.

He followed up with "Rotten Apple" in 2006, continuing to deliver lyrically dense verses and collaborating with top-tier artists. Though G-Unit's dominance began to fade toward the end of the decade, Banks maintained his reputation through a steady stream of acclaimed mixtapes that showcased his consistency and lyrical prowess.

In the 2020s, Banks re-emerged with "The Course of the Inevitable" and its sequels, a trilogy that marked his return to form. The albums reaffirmed his reputation as a technically gifted MC and cemented his legacy as one of hip-hop's most respected lyricists.

Early Life

Lloyd Banks was born Christopher Charles Lloyd on April 30, 1982, in New Carrollton, Maryland. Lloyd was raised in Queens, New York, by his mother. Lloyd dropped out of high school at 16. He took his great-great-grandfather's name, Banks, and made it his stage name.

Career

In 1999, Banks became a member of G-Unit with childhood friends 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. They met Young Buck when the group came to New York, and 50 Cent heard Buck rapping. After 50 Cent signed a contract with Aftermath Entertainment, they took Young Buck into the group and signed him. 50 Cent and Tony Yayo joined the Nas Promo Tour, the Cash Money Tour, and the Ruff Ryder Tour, while Banks stayed home and tried to increase his profile by rapping around his neighborhood.

Banks quickly became known for his mixtapes, which he teamed up with neighborhood producers to record. 50 Cent featured Banks on the song "Don't Push Me," as well as on the remix of "P.I.M.P." G-Unit released a group album called "Beg for Mercy" that was certified double platinum in November 2003.

Banks' first solo album, "The Hunger for More," was released in June 2004. The album was a commercial success and produced a top ten hit, "On Fire," and reached #1 on the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and was certified 2x Platinum. Lloyd said about the reasoning behind the title of the album:

"When I say 'The Hunger for More,' it could be referring to more success. It could be more money. Or Respect. More power. More understanding. All those things lead up to that hunger for more, because my more isn't everybody else's more. I feel like I made it already, because I got already what everybody on the corners of the neighborhood I grew up in is striving to get."

The album has since sold more than 1.5 million copies.

(Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Banks released the album "Rotten Apple" in 2006 on Interscope Records, and it reached #1 on both the US Rap and US R&B charts and #3 on the "Billboard" 200. In 2009, Lloyd was dropped from Interscope Records but stayed on with G-Unit Records, which released his next album. He released a mixtape on his 27th birthday in 2009. It included the diss track "Officer Down," geared towards Rick Ross. He also released another mixtape that year called "V5." In 2010, a year later, Interscope Records reached back out to try to re-sign Banks. Lloyd didn't go for it and put his third album out under G-Unit Records.

Banks released the album "H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More 2)" in 2010 on EMI. It reached #4 on the US Rap chart and #6 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Lloyd was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2005 ("On Fire"). He has also appeared in the films "Morning Glory" and "Sleepless." His other popular singles include "I'm So Fly," "Karma" (featuring Avant), "Hands Up" (featuring 50 Cent), "You Don't Know" (with Eminem, 50 Cent, and Cashis), "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley"  (featuring Juelz Santana), and "I Don't Deserve You" (featuring Jeremih). "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley" charted at #46 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. In 2010, Banks released the single "Any Girl" featuring R&B singer Lloyd.

In 2011, he was featured on the remix of Queen Rapper's single "Ride the Wave" featuring Juelz Santana. During a concert at BB King's in New York City on August 2, 2015, Banks addressed his long-awaited "Cold Corner 3" and expressed his disappointment at the current state of hip-hop. He said that the project would be released commercially and would be available for pre-order. However, he stated that if he was not satisfied with pre-order numbers, the album would not be released. He has not released another album at the time of this writing.

Personal Life

On September 10, 2001, Banks was shot twice in the back and the stomach after leaving a nightclub in Southside Jamaica, Queens. He ran to the nearest hospital after suffering the injuries. He woke up the next morning to the news of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and watched the Twin Towers collapse to the ground from his hospital bed.

In 2006, felony gun charges against Banks were dropped after officers had pulled Lloyd and Young Buck over in a van the previous year. The officers had found a loaded handgun and another weapon in the van. Banks has also been charged with counts of aggravated assault, robbery, and forcible confinement. He has been involved in a feud with fellow rapper The Game.

Banks's album "The Big Withdraw" was leaked on the internet after he had a ménage à trois encounter with two women and left the album behind. The leaked version of it contained 23 tracks.

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