Lloyd Banks is no stranger to success. Back in 2004, he released his debut album, The Hunger For More, that racked up a million in sales and added another platinum plaque to G-Unit's then-already impressive run. Though Lloyd Banks instant success made the Punch Line King a legit mention among the game's top MC's, the recognition did little to overshadow his mentor, 50 Cent. Also Banks' sophomore effort, Rotten Apple recieved underwhelming attention, and Interscope Records dropped him a few years later. Now, determined to stand outside of 50' s shadow, Blue Hefner returns with his third disc, The Hunger For More 2, the sequel to his stellar debut. Rejuvenated and refocused--the hunger is felt on the Tony Yayo-assisted "Take 'Em To War". Banks comes out firing, spitting on the hook, "Fuck talkin'/ Let's take 'em to war/ Drama after drama/ Til they layin on the floor/ What the fuck do you take me for?/ Eye for an eye/ Time to even up the score/ I rather be not here than hungry/ I'm sick when I'm not near my money/ They want me to lose/ But I'ma win/ I made it there before/ And I'ma make it there again". Unlike his mentor, Banks has extended an olive branch to artist who were once targets or associated with many of 50's battles. Case and point, Styles P (of the Lox) pops up on "Unexplainable", Juelz Santana (of Diplomats) is featured on the album's first single, "Beamer,Benz or Bentley", former Murder Inc. crooner Lloyd, lends his vocal chops to the radio friendly "Any Girl", and Kanye West can be heard on the album's posse cut "Start It Up". The latter also features Swizz Beatz, Ryan Leslie, and Fabolous. Banks is backed by relatively unknown producers, who deliver the perfect back drop to match Lloyd Banks' aggressive bars. The good thing about HFM2 is that 50's presence is almost nonexsistent (he only appears on the hook to "Big Payback (P's and Q's)") this was done intentionally to showcase Banks as his own artist. The bad thing about Banks latest disc, is the bloated guest list, but the good thing about this is that Banks holds his own, and never really gets outshined on his own song. HFM2 is above all else, a solid comeback from one of the game's best.
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