Lloyd Banks - Rotten Apple

Could've Been Better!

A great deal at an excellent price but I was a little disappointed! I thought the 1st album was a lot better! August 31, 2008

I hungered for more...

Of the slew of rappers in music, Lloyd Banks has always stood out to me. This is ironic because I have heard his music on the radio and television, but never listened to any of his albums entirely. So, why does he stand out? He's cute in a strange way and I like his voice. Also, although he's apart of G-Unit, he seems to be more mature than most of the other members of that group of males. I picked "Rotten Apple" up because I saw him on 106 & Park talking about it. After listening to it, I'm disappointed. I was expecting music that I could add to my iPod and jam to, but, sadly, I found none. There are several decent songs here, but that is all you are going to find. Banks doesn't rap quickly, he raps in a laid back manner. The lyrics are ok, but he said nothing that has stuck with me. The production, for the most part, is the typical G-Unit sound. Slower numbers, mid-tempos and up-beats are all found here, and there are one or two good beats, but again, that's all. The guest appearances are good. I enjoyed them.

Lloyd Banks usually delivers his songs in the same way, and that sent me into a slight state of boredom as I was listening to "Rotten Apple." However, in the chorus of "Stranger", Banks is rapping in a very low tone; I like that namely because it was a change of pace for him. As a whole, "Stranger" is a pretty weak offering with its dry production and average lyrics. His delivery on "Survival" is nice. The first few songs on the album set the tone for the entire record and this is a decent song. Musiq offers his talents on "Addicted", which is one of the best numbers here. Banks's delivery and lyrics are good as so is the beat.

I still like Lloyd Banks. He has improvement written all over him. All that is left for him to do is...improve. Recommended to G-Unit supporters.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "Addicted"
2. "Survival"
3. "Cake"
4. "Help"
5. "NY NY"
February 24, 2008

Where's William Tell when you need 'im?

There are different theories as to why Lloyd Banks' sophomore album Rotten Apple didn't sell very well. One is that it just isn't that great, but I wonder if anyone else is in the same boat that I am: until a couple of months or so ago, I didn't even know it existed.

As usual, I agree with Pablo's review. I thought The Hunger for More was overrated, although it did produce some good songs like "On Fire", "I'm So Fly" and "Warrior Pt. 2". But THIS album is pretty unoriginal: all Lloyd really talks about is shootin' people up (labelmate Prodigy would later follow that example with HIS album, Return of the Mac). Speaking of P, he shows up on "Get Clapped", and he makes a very disturbing comparison of gun-totin' to shaken baby syndrome.

Gun talk continues in "Survival" and "NY NY". There is also an obligatory song for the ladies, the Keri Hilson-assisted "Help", that comes off pretty okay. And guest stars' appearances are hit-or-miss. I don't understand why Musiq Soulchild is on this album, but his hook adds nothing to an already average "Addicted". And while Lloyd, Young Buck and 8Ball sound decent on "Iceman", Scarface blows them out the water (although his verse doesn't work well with the production).

Some people might say that Rakim sounds good on "You Know the Deal", but he really isn't in the song: it's just a sample from an old Eric B. & Rakim track. And choruses tend to fail as well, like "Playboy 2" and also "Stranger", which is indeed stranger because Lloyd is rapping the hook in an unusually low voice. The title track really isn't about anything, and "The Cake" has a lyrical faux pas: "I need the bread/Lil n's need Christmas." Huh?

In the end, this album is only for diehards because Rotten Apple is the most accurate title ever.

Anthony Rupert December 23, 2007

Decent

this album has a few classics (Survival, Cake, ICEMAN) but those are the only high points of the album. there is a lot of filler on this album like "One night stand" and "get clapped" is just an awful song with Prodigy (Suprisingly). this is still a decent unit album and is worth buying used at a record store November 23, 2007

great follow up

so it didn't sell like his 1st did. well that because this one is more grimy than the 1st, and "Hands Up" and "Help" weren't as well recived as "On Fire" and "Karma" were. ether way this album is dope, really represents for the grimy NY streets. Banks and Buck are the only 2 in G-Unit worth lookin for so don't sleep on their sophomore albums!!! September 23, 2007

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