BOOSTED by the huge hit single “On Fire,” young Queens rapper Lloyd Banks burned up Bill board’s Top 200 Albums chart this week with his debut disc, “The Hunger for More.”
The 22-year-old gangsta rapper is a part of the neighborhood crew G-Unit, whose most famous member is star rapper 50 Cent. The group’s “Beg for Mercy” album was a smash hit last fall.
Like 50 Cent, who’s signed to Eminem’s label, Banks has close ties to Dr. Dre and Eminem, who makes an appearance on “The Hunger for More.”
The record is filled with other big-name rap connections: 50 Cent serves as executive producer; Eminem and Timbaland are just two of the name producers who worked on various tracks; and 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg make appearances.
“It’s success by association, in addition to Banks’ talent as an MC,” says Rashaun Hall, a rap/hip-hop writer at Billboard.
Other new albums in the top 10 include: Brandy’s “Afrodisiac,” at No. 3; Lil’ Wayne’s “Carter,” at No. 5; the Cure’s “Cure,” at No. 7 and the Dave Matthews Band’s “The Gorge,” at No. 10.