Editing G-Unit Records (section)

===2003–2005===
Following 50 Cent's signing to [[Interscope Records]] in 2002,<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.blackentrepreneurprofile.com/people/person/50-cent#:~:text=G%2DUnit%20Records%2C%20founded%20in,distributed%20by%2C%20UMG's%20Interscope%20Records.|title=Black Entrepreneur Profile: 50 Cent}}</ref> 50 Cent was granted his own label, G-Unit Records, a year later. G-Unit Records replaced 50 Cent's previous imprint, Rotten Apple Entertainment.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240321174019/https://www.mtv.com/news/y940f1/on-verge-of-blowing-up-50-cent-finds-value-in-his-street-cred On Verge Of Blowing Up, 50 Cent Finds Value In His Street Cred]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20021020221725/http://www.rottenappleent.com:80/main.html Rotten Apple Entertainment Site]</ref> The rap group [[G-Unit]], then consisting of [[Lloyd Banks]], [[Tony Yayo]] and [[Young Buck]], was signed to the label as a group, with each respective member also being signed as a solo artist.  The first album released on the label was 50 Cent's debut studio album, ''[[Get Rich or Die Tryin']]''. <ref name="Allmusic">[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p555598/biography|pure_url=yes}} G-Unit biography]. [[AllMusic]]. accessed July 16, 2007. </ref> The album featured guest appearances from Young Buck, Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks. Heavily anticipated upon release, ''Get Rich or Die Tryin' '' debuted and peaked at number one on the [[Billboard 200]], and has been certified nonuple platinum by the RIAA. The album featured the hit singles "[[If I Can't]]" and "[[21 Questions]]". 50 Cent's success became the foundation for other G-Unit artists to release music.  G-Unit's debut studio album, ''[[Beg for Mercy]]'', was released in November 2003. The album sold 377,000 copies in its first week of release.<ref name="TOSFirstWeek">Katie Hasty. (July 9, 2008). [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044850/lil-wayne-back-on-top-of-the-billboard-200 Lil Wayne Back On Top Of The Billboard 200]. ''BillBoard''. Accessed July 10, 2008.</ref> It has now sold over 2.7 million units in the U.S. and was officially certified double platinum by the RIAA<ref name="BFMUS">Crosley, Hillary (April 24, 2008). [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045760/g-unit-the-game-push-back-new-albums G-Unit, Game Push Back New Albums]. ''Billboard''. Accessed May 10, 2008.</ref> and 6 million copies worldwide.<ref name="BFMWorldwide">[http://www.nypost.com/seven/06292008/entertainment/music/return_of_the_rap_pack_117691.htm New York Post, Return of the Rap Pack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904054524/http://www.nypost.com/seven/06292008/entertainment/music/return_of_the_rap_pack_117691.htm |date=2008-09-04 }}. ''NYPost''. Accessed June 30, 2008.</ref> It has been certified double [[RIAA certification|platinum]] by the [[RIAA]].<ref name="BFMRIAA">RIAA. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151856/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=G-Unit&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Searchable Database - "G-Unit"]. RIAA. Accessed May 10, 2008.</ref>

[[Lloyd Banks]] released his debut album ''[[The Hunger for More]]'' on June 29, 2004 through G-Unit. The album featured guest appearances from G-Unit artists Tony Yayo, Young Buck, 50 Cent (who also executive produced the album), and The Game. Anchored by the success of the single ''[[On Fire (Lloyd Banks song)|On Fire]]'', it debuted and peaked at number 1 on the ''[[Billboard 200]]''.<ref name="harris2006">{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Chris |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1543418/20061018/banks_lloyd.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110233804/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1543418/20061018/banks_lloyd.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 10, 2006 |title=Lloyd Banks Can't Catch Rod Stewart's Classics In Race For Billboard #1 News |publisher=MTV |date=October 18, 2006 |access-date=May 30, 2012}}</ref>  ''The Hunger For More'' was ultimately certified [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] in America.<ref>Winning, Brolin (June 8, 2014). [http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/6532.html Exclusive Interview with Lloyd Banks] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203045907/http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/6532.html |date=February 3, 2009}}. MP3.com. Accessed July 31, 2007.</ref><ref>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH Searchable Database] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |date=June 26, 2007 }}. RIAA. Accessed May 30, 2022.</ref>

After bringing in West Coast rapper and [[Aftermath Entertainment|Aftermath]] signee, the [[Game (rapper)|Game]] in early 2004,<ref name="MTV-The Game">Reid, Shaheem (February 28, 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20050303020207/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1497589/20050228/50_cent.jhtml 50 Drops Game From G-Unit; Shots Fired at Radio Station]. MTV. Accessed July 29, 2007.</ref> [[Spider Loc]] was also signed, around the time of Young Buck's ''[[Straight Outta Cashville]]'' release.<ref name="spi">[http://www.spiderloc.com/bio.html Spider Loc Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109094210/http://www.spiderloc.com/bio.html |date=2008-01-09 }}. SpiderLoc.com. Accessed November 29, 2008.</ref> However, Game and 50 Cent later had a falling out, and 50 Cent became unsure about signing new artists to his "family"—how he perceived G-Unit as a group and record label. Later in 2005, the opportunity came to sign [[Mobb Deep]]<ref>Lauren Gitlin (February 15, 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20060223184257/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9317204/mobb_deep_get_hand_from_50_cent Mobb Deep Get Hand Out From 50 Cent]. [[Rollingstone.com]] Accessed November 29, 2008.</ref> and [[M.O.P.]]<ref>Ahsmi Rawlins (February 21, 2007) [http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=7859 M.O.P. Signs on To Push Sizzurp, Plans G-Unit Debut LP] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313001402/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=7859 |date=2008-03-13 }} ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]''. Accessed November 29, 2008.</ref>

G-Unit Records ended 2005 with the November release of the soundtrack to ''[[Get Rich or Die Tryin' (soundtrack)|Get Rich Or Die Tryin']]''. The album featured appearances from  much of the label's roster. It peaked at number 2 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and would go on to be certified Platinum by the RIAA.<ref>[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Get%20Rich%20or%20Die%20Tryin&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Searchable Database - "Get Rich or Die Tryin"]. Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed May 21, 2008.</ref>