Start It Up

Album: The Hunger For More 2 (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks' third studio album, The Hunger For More 2. The song features Kanye West, Fabolous, Ryan Leslie and Swizz Beatz.
  • West's contribution came about after the "Stronger" rapper complimented Banks' abilities on Twitter, calling the G-Unit MC one of the most underrated artists in hip-hop. "The whole Kanye thing happened, it was shortly after the tweet that he wrote, the comment he made about me being underrated and should be in everybody's top five," Banks told MTV News. "We read that statement, and it kind of took off on its own. I definitely appreciated that. Just for him to say that opens up the eyes that have been watching him [to me]. And from there, it made sense to go into the studio with him. Shortly after that, we went into the studio."
  • The track was originally scheduled to just feature Banks and Fabolous but soon expanded to a multiple collaboration. "That was one of the last joints I recorded for my album," Banks explained. "Originally it was me and Fab, then I got Kanye, then Swizz was in the city and so was Ryan. The difference from that track being me and Fab and having Kanye was 24 hours," he added.
  • Banks and Kanye West also collaborated on the latter's track, "Christian Dior Denim Flow."
  • The beat was provided by producer Cardiak. It was the first placement on a major artist's track for the New Jersey native, and was an unexpected break for him. "I wasn't even really shopping the beat like that," Cardiak admitted to The Boombox. "It was just sitting in my computer. I didn't really expect for Banks to pick it like that but when he picked it, I didn't think the song was gonna come out the way that it was."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.