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What's up?
As far as my physical, I'm a little under the weather. I just came back from the hospital. I got a little strep throat from traveling.
You've been on the road a lot lately.
Yeah. Actually just came back from Los Angeles from shooting the video. I've been going back and forth like crazy. Other than that, everything is good.
Why did your album, The Rotten Apple, get pushed back?
People see it as being pushed back, but I was actually forcing the issue because I wanted people to know I was coming. Realistically, the video wasn't even shot yet. I wanted to start my mixtape campaign and everything had to come together. I wanted to pace it out. When you've been gone for two years, it takes more than two months to convince everyone you're on you're a-game.
Did you have to convince 50 and Sha you weren't ready?
It's a collective. It matters what an artist thinks and you have to have the preparation. Last time I came out, I had two mixtapes out in the streets. Things have to be put in the right place. You have to have a certain amount of radio play and videos because I'm aiming for the stars. The official album date is October 10.
What are you going to do with the extra time?
It's really not extra time, now it's enough time. After the premiere of the video, I'm going to shoot another video. It's going to be on Access Granted. I'm leaving at the end of the month for a promo tour. There definitely isn't any time to rest. This is a full-court game. It's going to be non-stop work until the album actually comes out, and once the album does come out, I'm going to do shows and do what I do best.
Has it been hard having to wait this long for your sophomore album?
It's hard because when you love hip-hop, you want to be out there as much as possible. On the same token, when you have very successful albums, they last longer. I just came home from touring. When you have songs out, you can tour the States and go out of the country and perform in markets that I've never touched before. I'm just now coming off of that high. From this point on, my goal is to get the material out. If this album is just as successful as the first one, I'm going to be touring even longer. I love the music and I love to be out there and I can't wait to hear the response to this album.
How's the response been so far?
I put out enough for people to have an idea of what to expect for the album. I put out the first mixtape and I have the next mixtape coming out in the next couple weeks. That should really prep them. I'm really not into the critics and the reviews. They didn't make or break me on the first album. I wasn't really happy with the reviews on the first album. Even though it sold two-million records, I didn't get my just due. You have a lot of people in your corner, but a lot of people hate when you say certain things. That's what keeps me in hip-hop. It's a competitive sport. If it wasn't for those people, it wouldn't feel so good when you succeed.
Why were there negative reviews for Hunger for More?
Because I told them I was going to do it. People don't give us room to breathe. The G-Unit movement is one of the biggest movements ever. 50 sold 11-million records his first time out, the group album sold four-million, and I sold two-million. They associate us so much as a group that they don't give us room to breathe as individuals. They looked at it as the whole group was doing good without looking at how much time I had to put into my project. I write all of my material and these are all things that people overlooked.
I hate to bring this up, but look at the Game project. He didn't write his project. That's the difference. People are going to have a reference to know who Lloyd Banks is because I wrote every record. I think people overlooked that part and long sessions in the studio and hitting the studio after shows and hitting the studio on the tour bus after shows. I should put it on DVD this time around so they understand the grind and that every man stands for himself.
They say you have your whole life to make your first album and no time to make your second. Is that true?
That's one of the realest things I ever heard. You do have your whole life, but at the same time, you can't get your whole life out in sixty minutes. I was recording my last album at 21 years-old. I'm 24 years-old now. It's not that big of a difference, but it is a difference. You grow as an artist and see different things around the world. I stepped up my wordplay a lot. The biggest difference now is me having the opportunity to have a studio in my own house. I have the time to be a perfectionist. The second album is very well put-together. I was able to sit down and go through things and I could listen to hear who I should feature. I had the time to be a perfectionist the way Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent do. I think it's a blessing I had so much time to work on this project.
Is the rumor that one of your girlfriends stole your album master and leaked it online true?
First off, I don't have a girlfriend and I've never had a girlfriend. I've always had the bachelor lifestyle and I meet a lot of people. I lose all types of things on the road, from jewelry
