The Hunger For More
by Lloyd Banks
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 53
  3. Negative: 8 out of 53

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  1. wadew
    Jul 10, 2004
    5
    As I listened to this CD one thing became apparent to me real quick: this was going to get tired REAL FAST. For all the hype this kid got throughout the past few months, this CD is barely worth the paper the media it was recorded on. Firstly, Banks lacks charisma, passion, and drama; qualities that both eminem, 50, obie trice, and most notably of all tupac, all posess. Without the passion As I listened to this CD one thing became apparent to me real quick: this was going to get tired REAL FAST. For all the hype this kid got throughout the past few months, this CD is barely worth the paper the media it was recorded on. Firstly, Banks lacks charisma, passion, and drama; qualities that both eminem, 50, obie trice, and most notably of all tupac, all posess. Without the passion even the most intricately laid word-schemes fall on deaf ears. I quite frankly was not impressed by banks' presence; he focused too closely on punchlines that desperately try to be witty (there's a lot of those on "work magic"). But what frustrated me most of all about this MC's style is that half of the time I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING - his speech is so slurred that half of his verses get lost in his mumbling. It seems as if he's trying to copy 50's style too darn much. This lackluster album also had another chink in its shining armor - very little material! The album features only 14 songs each lasting no longer than 3 minutes on average, which basically gives us just 2 verses to vibe to. The prime example of this is the hit single "on fire" where Banks barely tries to make a hit out of a very nicely produced track with a miserable two-verse performance. It is a known fact that any given track on an album should contain at least three verses; otherwise its a waste of production. To add to Banks' lazy and cavalier attitude, he featured the half of the entire Gunit/Shady/Aftermath roster on his album leaving us with barely a taste of the 21-year-old "rap phenomenon". Instead, precious recording time went to mediocre artists like Young Buck and Tony Yayo (both Gunit members). On the plus side, the beats were quite enjoyable. I especially revelled in the pure, unstoppable rhytm of "ain't no click", "warrior 2", and "on fire" as well as many others. The production is essentially what made this album stand out of the crowd, but it could have been allocated to a better rapper. Hopefully Banks will realize the error of his ways before his next solo release. … Expand
  2. LaurenceH
    Jul 27, 2004
    4
    "Banks raps like every verse depends on his career." True. He feels stressed at the point the CD seems rushed. VERY rushed.
  3. ChrisH
    Jan 12, 2007
    6
    One of the last really solid G-Unit albums, and a better album than "Beg for Mercy" or Young Buck's or Tony Yayo's albs. (Though "Stunt 101" and "Poppin' Them Thangs" were better than anything on Banks's album).

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Most Discussed Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Los Angeles Times
    63
    Though not one of the songs on the album stands out in terms of head-popping new production -- there's not a hit that will transcend the hip-hop hard-core -- each cut is utterly bulletproof, and Banks' lyrics provide a few new twists. [18 Jul 2004]
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  2. Billboard
    70
    Despite these minor flaws, "The Hunger for More" serves its purpose in establishing Banks as a new voice in hip-hop.
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  3. E! Online
    67
    The one thing Banks lacks is Fiddy's natural charisma--he's also about eight bulletholes short in the "life-experience department."
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