G-Unit Records facts for kids

Quick facts for kids G-Unit Records
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	2003
Founder	50 Cent
Distributor(s)	Capitol Music Group Interscope Records
Genre	Hip hop
Country of origin	United States
Location	New York City, New York

G-Unit Records is an American record label. It is owned by Universal Music Group. The famous rapper 50 Cent started the label in 2003.

For many years, Interscope Records helped G-Unit Records release music. In 2014, G-Unit Records started working with Caroline Records and Capitol Music Group. The label also created a smaller label called G-Note Records. This part of the company focuses on R&B and pop music.

The main artist on G-Unit Records is its founder, 50 Cent. The label is also home to the music group G-Unit, which 50 Cent helped form.

The Story of G-Unit Records

Starting Out: 2003–2005

After 50 Cent signed with Interscope Records in 2002, he was given the chance to start his own record label. This happened a year later, in 2003, and he named it G-Unit Records.

The very first album released by G-Unit Records was 50 Cent's own album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The music group G-Unit also signed with the label. This group included Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck. Each member also signed as a solo artist. G-Unit Records took the place of 50 Cent's earlier music company, Rotten Apple Entertainment.

G-Unit's first major album, Beg for Mercy, was a big success in 2003. It sold 377,000 copies in its first week. So far, it has sold over 2.7 million copies in the U.S. and 6 million worldwide. It has been certified double platinum, which means it sold a lot of copies.

Because 50 Cent and G-Unit were so successful, other artists on the label could release their own music. Lloyd Banks, a member of G-Unit, released his first album, The Hunger for More, in June 2004. Other G-Unit artists like Tony Yayo, Young Buck, and 50 Cent appeared on the album. The song On Fire was very popular. The album sold over 433,000 copies in its first week. It reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 music chart and was certified Platinum.

In 2004, G-Unit Records signed The Game, a rapper from the West Coast. They also signed Spider Loc. However, The Game and 50 Cent later had some disagreements. This made 50 Cent think carefully about signing new artists. Later in 2005, the label signed Mobb Deep and M.O.P..

G-Unit Records ended 2005 with the release of the soundtrack for the movie Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Many artists from the label were on this album. It reached number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Platinum.

Growing On: 2006–2009

In 2006, G-Unit Records signed Young Hot Rod. That same year, they also signed Nyce and 40 Glocc. In 2007, Mazaradi Fox joined the label. There were also talks about Detroit rapper Trick Trick signing, but it didn't happen.

In 2008, there were rumors of problems between 50 Cent and Young Buck within G-Unit. 50 Cent announced that Young Buck was no longer part of the group, but he was still signed to the label. Both artists released songs talking about their issues. 50 Cent even shared a phone conversation he had with Young Buck, which showed some disagreements about money. Young Buck later said the conversation was from over a year before. Their disagreements seemed to calm down by late 2008.

In late 2009, 50 Cent released his fourth album, Before I Self Destruct. One song on the album, "So Disrespectful," talked about his disagreements with other artists, including former G-Unit Records artists Game and Young Buck. Also in 2009, 50 Cent worked with Beanie Sigel. This led to talk that Beanie Sigel might sign with G-Unit Records.

While promoting his album, 50 Cent did a radio interview. He confirmed that Game, Young Buck, Spider Loc, and Young Hot Rod were still signed to the label. However, M.O.P and Mobb Deep were no longer with G-Unit Records. Around this time, the label signed R&B singer Governor and Beanie Sigel.

Recent Years: 2010–Present

In early 2010, 50 Cent said he wanted to sign new comedians and authors to the label. He wanted to go beyond just music artists. Atlanta comedian Young Jack Thriller was the first comedian to sign. He started a weekly YouTube show and became a regular on G-Unit Radio. 50 Cent also showed interest in signing European R&B singer Jamelia. He thought it could help her in the U.S. and would be the first female artist signed since Olivia.

Also in 2010, Beanie Sigel said he would not be signing with G-Unit. He and 50 Cent had helped each other, but their business relationship was fine. Meanwhile, Young Buck responded to songs from 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct album. He released five songs aimed at 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, G-Unit, and 40 Glocc.

In an interview with MTV, 50 Cent said he was looking for new artists. He wanted to help them grow. Beanie Sigel later confirmed he would finish signing with G-Unit when 50 Cent returned from tour.

On August 13, 2010, Lloyd Banks told MTV News that G-Unit had a special deal with EMI for North America. 50 Cent said this deal was "strictly with artists Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo."

In March 2011, rapper Shawty Lo said he was talking with G-Unit Records about signing. On June 8, 2011, it was confirmed that he had signed a deal. However, Shawty Lo later clarified that his own label, D4L, would be distributed by G-Unit Records, not that he signed as an individual artist.

Rumors started that Lea Sunshine, a singer, was signing to G-Unit. After touring with G-Unit and appearing on Hot Rod's song, she confirmed on Twitter that she had signed with G-Note Records.

After appearing in Tony Yayo's music video, "Haters," MTV reported that Kidd Kidd had signed with the label. Soon after, Genasis announced on Twitter that he had signed with 50 Cent and G-Unit Records.

In December 2011, 50 Cent signed Jersey Shore star DJ Pauly D to G-Note Records. He was to produce three albums for the label. On December 9, 2011, 50 Cent also released a mixtape called The Big 10. It featured artists like Kidd Kidd, Precious Paris, and Tony Yayo. It also introduced a new artist, Paris.

In the years that followed, 50 Cent had some difficulties working with Interscope. In a 2012 interview, he explained that there were disagreements about how much money artists would get for their albums.

In April 2012, Young Buck started talking with the label again. He had left the group in 2008. Young Buck said they were finally discussing what G-Unit could do for him. He was ready to make music again, whether with G-Unit or not. Young Buck's last album was The Rehab in 2010. These talks might not lead to a new deal, but Young Buck was hopeful.

On February 20, 2014, it was reported that 50 Cent and G-Unit Records left Interscope. They began working with Caroline Records, which is part of Capitol Music Group.

On November 8, 2016, 50 Cent signed Uncle Murda to G-Unit Records.

In early 2018, Kidd Kidd announced he was leaving G-Unit as both a group member and a label artist. Lloyd Banks also left in 2018.

Other Parts of G-Unit Records

G-Note Records

In 2010, G-Unit Records started a smaller label called G-Note Records. This label focuses on R&B and Pop music. Artists signed to G-Note include Governor, who joined G-Unit Records in 2009, and Hot Rod, who first signed with G-Unit Records in 2006. In early 2011, Lea Sunshine signed with G-Note, but she later left. In December 2011, DJ Pauly D signed with G-Note Records, but he has also since left the label.

Artists of G-Unit Records

Current Artists

Past Artists

Music Released by G-Unit Records

See also

In Spanish: G-Unit Records para niños

• List of East Coast hip hop record labels
• G-Note Records