Beg for Mercy

Beg for Mercy is the debut studio album by G-Unit. The album was released on November 14, 2003, nine months after 50 Cent's successful debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

Beg for Mercy
Studio album by
G-Unit
ReleasedNovember 14,[1] 2003[2]
Recorded2003
GenreGangsta rap
Length68:37
Label
Producer
G-Unit chronology
God's Plan
(2002)		 Beg for Mercy
(2003)		 T·O·S (Terminate on Sight)
(2008)
Singles from Beg for Mercy
  1. "Stunt 101"
    Released: September 23, 2003
  2. "Poppin' Them Thangs"
    Released: November 4, 2003
  3. "Wanna Get to Know You"
    Released: January 13, 2004
  4. "Smile"
    Released: April 8, 2004
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic62/100
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Entertainment Weekly(B) link
Robert Christgau(dud) link
RapReviews.com(7.5/10) link
Blender link
E!B link
PopMatters(favorable) link
Rolling Stonelink

For this release, G-Unit was composed of rappers 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck, with support from Tony Yayo, who was an original member but was in prison at the time of the album's recording and release. The Game was inducted into the group after recording sessions were already finished.

Background

"I've been promoting G Unit since before I even had a record deal," says 50. "All the music I put on the mixtape circuit was 50 Cent and G Unit."[3]

As the album was recorded, Tony Yayo was sentenced to jail on charges of gun possession and bail jumping, and so he makes only two appearances on the entire record, on the tracks "Groupie Love", and "I Smell Pussy". His image, which is from a photo taken from the photo shoot for Get Rich or Die Tryin', is seen on the brick wall of the album cover as he could not be photographed due to the jail sentence.

At the time of the album's release, rapper the Game was just placed in G-Unit, therefore he is not photographed, nor does he make an appearance on the album. He does however make cameos in the videos for singles "Wanna Get To Know You" & "Poppin' Them Thangs". He is also mentioned in the lyrics of "Poppin' Them Thangs" when Young Buck raps, "You ain't no Crip like Snoop, / You ain't no Blood like Game."

Commercial performance

In its first week of sales, Beg for Mercy sold 377,000 copies. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, behind 2Pac's Tupac: Resurrection, & Jay-Z's The Black Album. Its bow was moved up from November 18 to thwart piracy, as was Beg for Mercy.[4] Beg for Mercy then sold 330,000 copies in its 2nd week to peak at No. 2 on the Billboard 200,[5] while moving another 195,000 units in its 3rd week.[6] By April 2008, it had sold over 2.7 million units in the U.S.[7] and 9.8 million copies worldwide,[8][9] and has since been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.[10]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."G-Unit"
Hi-Tek3:29
2."Poppin' Them Thangs"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
4:00
3."My Buddy"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
3:44
4."I'm So Hood"Jackson
  • DJ Twins
  • Eminem
  • Luis Resto
2:25
5."Stunt 101"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
Mr. Porter3:52
6."Wanna Get to Know You" (featuring Joe)
Red Spyda4:25
7."Groupie Love" (featuring Butch Cassidy)
Midi Mafia4:14
8."Betta Ask Somebody"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
Jake One3:53
9."Footprints"
  • Jackson
  • Brown
Nottz4:21
10."Eye for Eye"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
Hi-Tek3:55
11."Smile"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
No I.D.3:38
12."Baby U Got"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
Megahertz4:03
13."Salute U"
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
7th EMP3:00
14."Beg for Mercy"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
2:38
15."G'd Up"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
  • Dr. Dre
  • Scott Storch
4:47
16."Lay You Down"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
DJ Khalil4:03
17."Gangsta Shit"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Brown
Needlz4:12
18."I Smell Pussy"
  • Jackson
  • Lloyd
  • Bernard
Sam Sneed3:58
19."Collapse (G-Unit Freestyle)" (Bonus Track)JacksonEminem1:37
Total length:1:10:14
Samples (Liner notes)
  • "G-Unit" contains samples of "Million Dollars" by Triumvirat
  • "My Buddy" contains samples of "Agony or Ecstasy?" by Ennio Morricone, and audio excerpts from the film Scarface.
  • "Wanna Get to Know You" contains samples of "Come Live with Me Angel" by Marvin Gaye.
  • "Groupie Love" contains samples of "Simply Beautiful" by Al Green.
  • "Betta Ask Somebody" contains samples of "Blue Leopard" by Pierre-Alain Dahan.
  • "Footprints" contains samples of "Walk with Me" by Martha Bass.
  • "Eye for Eye" contains samples of "Hello Love" by Eden Raskin.
  • "Smile" contains samples of "I Too Am Wanting" by Syreeta
  • "Salute U" contains samples of "Brandenburg Concerto #1 in F Major (Allego Moderato)" by Johann Sebastian Bach
  • "Beg for Mercy" contains samples of "Back Down" by 50 Cent
  • "Lay You Down" contains samples of "Doctor Marvello" by Klaatu
  • "I Smell Pussy" contains samples of "The Greatest Sex" by R. Kelly

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[36] 2× Platinum 200,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Platinum 300,000*
United States (RIAA)[2] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "G-Unit Album Preview: 50 and the Crew Stick to the Streets". MTV.
  2. "American album certifications – G-Unit – Beg for Mercy". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. "Rap News Network - G-Unit Biography". Rapnews.net. Archived from the original on 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  4. Jay-Z's back in 'Black' as album bows at No. 1. ('The Black Album' debuts at top of charts), 2003-11-20
  5. Wiederhorn, Jon (2003-11-26). "Britney Moans Her Way To The Top Of The Albums Chart News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  6. Wiederhorn, Jon (2003-12-03). "Jay-Z's Farewell Album Hasn't Said Goodbye To The #1 Slot News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  7. Crosley, Hillary (April 24, 2008). G-Unit, The Game Push Back New Albums. Billboard. Accessed May 10, 2008.
  8. New York Post, Return of the Rap Pack. NYPost. Accessed June 30, 2008
  9. Jeffery-Coker, Mesai. Featured Interview: Tony Yayo. Rap Fanatic magazine. Accessed August 31, 2007.
  10. RIAA Searchable Database - "G-Unit". RIAA. Accessed May 10, 2008.
  11. "Australiancharts.com – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  12. "Ultratop.be – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  13. "G Unit Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. December 18, 2003. Archived from the original on December 23, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  16. "Lescharts.com – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  18. "Irish-charts.com – Discography G-Unit". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  19. "Italiancharts.com – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  20. "Charts.nz – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  21. "Norwegiancharts.com – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  22. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – G-Unit – Beg For Mercy". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  25. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  26. "G Unit Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  27. "G Unit Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  28. "UK Year-End Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  29. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  30. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  31. "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2003" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2004". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  33. "UK Year-End Chart 2004" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  34. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  35. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  36. "Canadian album certifications – G-Unit – Beg for Mercy". Music Canada.
  37. "British album certifications – G-Unit – Beg for Mercy". British Phonographic Industry.
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