David Darnell Brown (born March 15, 1981[1]), also known as Young
Buck, is an American Southern rapper. Buck is a former member of
the New York City-based hip hop group G-Unit.
Around the age of twelve, Brown was a gangsta turned rapper, Brown
began rapping because he was inspired by a Miami friend named McClea,
jealous of McClea's talent and wanted to beat him no matter what
he had to give up, at the same time McClea moved to Tallahassee,Fl
Brown began recording in a real studio. Shortly thereafter, he was
given an opportunity to perform to Brian "Baby" Williams,
co-founder of Cash Money Records.
Young Buck is currently affiliated with 5-2 Hoover Gangster Crips
After several years on and off of Cash Money Records, Brown and
fellow rapper Juvenile decided to leave the label for good in 2000[2]
and went to UTP Records, where he stayed until 2003.[3] His deal
with UTP later led to a meeting with New York rapper 50 Cent who
later signed Buck to G-Unit Records, under Interscope Records.
[edit] G-Unit
50 Cent gave Young Buck a feature on his commercially successful
debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' on the track "Blood Hound".
After this, he appeared on G-Unit's debut album, Beg for Mercy, which
certified 2x Platinum.[4][5] Young Buck then released his debut album,
Straight Outta Cashville, in 2004, with its follow-up, Buck the World
being released in 2007.
On April 7, 2008 in an interview with Miss Jones on New York's Hot
97, 50 Cent stated that Young Buck was no longer a member of the
group G-Unit but was still signed to G-Unit Records.[6]
[edit] Solo career
After Young Buck was dismissed from the group, he began to build
his own group "The Uncle Bucks". This was reference to
his childhood hero and real life uncle, Uncle Buck. He released numerous
tracks attacking not only the group, but their associates and, more
specifically, group leader 50 Cent. 50 Cent and G-Unit also responded
with many tracks, including one particular instance in which 50 Cent
released a phone call he had recorded with Young Buck, which featured
the Tennessee native weeping and apologizing for numerous things.[7]
After this happened, Young Buck responded, stating that the call
was a fake, that happened one year prior to its release, and claimed
that only police record phone calls.[8]
After a lengthy battle between Young Buck and his former G-Unit
comrades, the feud seemed to settle down, with Young Buck stating
that he owed one more album for G-Unit Records which would be released
in 2009, then titled The Rehab.[9] In other interviews, he's stated
that he does not have a problem with 50 Cent or G-Unit anymore, but
is currently doing his "own thing". He also stated that
although he's still signed to G-Unit Records, he's trying to get
out of the contract, and he's no longer signed to Interscope.[10][11]
On September 13, 2010 an interview with Shade 45 radio host Angela
Yee, 50 Cent stated that Young Buck is still signed to G-Unit Records.[12]
[edit] Financial problems
Brown filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in August 2010,[13]
shortly after an IRS raid on his home. His bankruptcy lawyer later
told The City Paper that he was planning to sue Curtis Jackson (50
Cent) and other parties over the record contract dispute.[14]
The IRS made plans to auction off Young Buck's seized property on
October 28, 2010,[15] but his legal counsel filed suit to halt the
sale, while simultaneously re-filing a revised bankruptcy petition
that no longer referenced a $5 million legal claim against 50 Cent
and other parties associated with G Unit.[16]
In the lawsuit, viewable at this link, Young Buck said the studio
equipment taken in the raid was "directly tied to" his "ability
to generate income in order to reorganize the estate." He stated
that the seizure of property that belonged to his children had "created
great stress in the home" and "within the common law marriage
of the debtor plaintiff." He told the court he needed to get
back the property belonging to the family.
Young Buck's attorney was able to convince the court that he would
be selling real estate worth $638,500 to begin paying the back taxes
due. At a hearing on October 26, 2010, plans for the IRS auction
were at least temporarily stopped. Young Buck announced the outcome
with a Tweet:
[edit] Cashville Records
In 2006, Young Buck began preparation on creating a record label
named "G-Unit South". However, Interscope was not to be
the distributing label, so he could not use the "G-Unit" name,
which is when he decided upon using the name "Cashville".[17]
After numerous artists were signed, including Outlawz and C-Bo,
a deal was secured with RED Distribution.[18] In 2008, after he was
dismissed from the G-Unit group, Young Buck began putting more effort
into his label stating that even without a major label deal, he will
still be relevant in the music industry.[10]
[edit] Albums
[edit] Debut album
Main article: Straight Outta Cashville
After being with G-Unit for a little over a year, Young Buck released
his debut album, Straight Outta Cashville, a portmanteau reflecting
the name of Young Buck's home city, Nashville, Tennessee.
Straight Outta Cashville has been certified platinum by the Recording
Industry Association of America[19] with over 1.1 million sales in
the U.S.[20] and 2.3 million Worldwide.[21][22]
[edit] Second album
Main article: Buck the World
Young Buck's second album, Buck the World was released worldwide
on March 27, 2007.
Buck the World debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on
the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with sales of 141,083 in the
first week.[23]
[edit] Third album
Main article: The Rehab
The Rehab was released on September 7, 2010. Buck made an exaggerated
claim which he said that The Rehab will sell a million copies in
his first week to buy himself out of his contract with G-Unit Records.[24]
The Rehab sold 6,400 in its first week.[25]
[edit] Controversy
[edit] VIBE Awards incident
On November 15, 2004, Jimmy James Johnson approached Dr. Dre at
the VIBE Awards and reportedly asked for an autograph before Dr.
Dre was about to go on stage. After Dr. Dre declined, Johnson punched
him in the back of the head before running towards the nearest exit.
A brawl ensued with several uniformed police officers attempting
to break up the fight. Chairs were thrown, and it was alleged that
Young Buck stabbed Johnson in the chest with a knife.[26] After video
evidence was uncovered from the awards ceremony, the Santa Monica
Police Department issued an arrest warrant for him.[27] In a preliminary
hearing, it was ruled that there was enough evidence to proceed with
a jury trial. However, in December 2005, a deal was reportedly struck
that would see Young Buck avoid trial.[28]
[edit] The Game
Main article: G-Unit vs. The Game feud
After The Game was kicked out of G-Unit for being disloyal, Young
Buck as well as new West Coast G-Unit act rapper Spider Loc who had
signed to G-Unit Records in September 2004, called him to task for
dissing the group and label. The Game then released a track entitled "240
Bars" which insulted both Spider Loc and Young Buck. Young Buck
then released a track called "The Real Bitch Boy", which
featured Spider Loc and used a beat from The Game's track, "Where
I'm from". In the song, Young Buck talks about how he did not
even know The Game when he mentions The Game's name on "Poppin'
Them Thangs". Also, Young Buck talks about The Game being a
male stripper and also how 50 Cent helped The Game to be successful
with his album The Documentary.
The feud has continued to escalate, with there being an exchange
of many tracks. In February 2007, The Game and Young Buck got into
a non-physical altercation at a club, during the NBA All-Star Weekend
in Las Vegas. The last time that they were seen together was when
The Game was part of G-Unit.[29]
After being dismissed from G-Unit, Young Buck appeared on a remix
to The Game's song Game's Pain,[30] as well as appearing in the music
video to the song My Life, which featured another former rival, Lil
Wayne.[31] A mixtape by The Game and Young Buck was also confirmed,[32]
though as of 2009, it has not materialized.
[edit] Lil Wayne
Young Buck released a song featuring Tony Yayo called "Off
Parole" which insulted Lil Wayne. Young Buck said that Lil Wayne
could not be angry, because Young Buck spoke the truth. Young Buck
also said "You think you got a problem with Juve and B.G.; you'll
have a true problem with me", referring to the Cash Money-Juvenile/B.G
feud.[33][34]
One of the reasons 50 Cent stated he was dismissing Young Buck was
what he called "inconsistent behavior" which included appearing
on stage with Lil Wayne, then seemingly dissing him on records with
G-Unit.[8] After he was dismissed, Young Buck appeared in the music
video "My Life" by The Game, which featured Lil Wayne in
the vocals.[31]
[edit] DJ Khaled
During an interview on Rap City, DJ Khaled was asked to choose three
classics out of a total of eight albums. He chose every album except
Get Rich or Die Tryin'. DJ Khaled stated:
I'm all about unity, but if you're not down with unity, I can't
help you with that.[citation needed]
In response, Young Buck released a track entitled "Personal
(Unity)" towards DJ Khaled and Terror Squad. In the song, Young
Buck refers to many people on DJ Khaled's second album, We the Best.
During a "TRL" show which 50 Cent was hosting on September
12, 2007 Young Buck repeatedly mocked DJ Khaled by repeatedly shouting "50
we the best. Listennn!" in reference to DJ Khaled’s behaviour,
which he exhibited on the same show previously.[35]
Two days later on the same show, 50 Cent was offered the choice
of listening to one of his rivals say something about him in a clip
from Rap City. He had the choice of Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Ja Rule,
and The Game, and chose Khaled's clip, in which Khaled said he did
not consider Get Rich or Die Tryin' a classic.
Young Buck later addressed the issue on the mixtape G-Unit Radio
Part 25-Sabrina's Baby Boy. He insults DJ Khaled on multiple tracks.[36]
[edit] 50 Cent
After numerous rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit, 50 Cent
officially dismissed Young Buck from the group, in 2008. He later
assured that he was still signed with the label.[6] Numerous slander
songs then arose on the internet from both camps, with Young Buck
appearing in a music video of former rival The Game.[37][38]
50 Cent then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and
Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling
out; 50 Cent was owed money by the Southern rapper. Young Buck later
stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak.[39]
The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each
other, with the feud settling down by 2009, although on Buck's album
The Rehab, he disses 50 on a track titled "Hood Documentary".[9]
[edit] Discography
Main article: Young Buck discography
[edit] Studio Albums
Straight Outta Cashville (2004)
Buck the World (2007)
[edit] Independent Albums
The Rehab (2010)
[edit] Demo Albums
Born to Be a Thug (2002)
T.I.P. (2005)
[edit] Mixtapes
G-Unit Radio Series (2003–2008)
Best Of G-Unit Radio (Young Buck Edition) (2006)
Chronic 2006 (2006)
Welcome To The Traphouse (Hosted By: Dj Dramma)" (2006)
Case Dismissed! (Intro of G-Unit South) (Hosted By: Dj Dramma) (2006)
G-Unit Radio 24-The Clean Up Man (Hosted By: Lebron James) (2007)
Mr.Ten-A-Key (Product Of The South) (2007)
StarBucks (With: AllStar) (2007)
Still Ten-A-Key (2008)
Rumors (2008)
Laugh Now Cry Later (With: The Game) (2008)
Cashville Takeover (With: Cashville Records) (2008)
Back For The Streets (With: The Future) (2009)
Back On Buck Shit (Hosted By: Dj Smallz & Dj Scream) (2009)
Only God Can Judge Me (Hosted By: Biggie Rankin) (2009)
601 To The 615 (With: Boo Rossini(of CTE)) (2010)
Back On My Buck Shit Vol.2 Change of Plans (Hosted By: Drumma Boy) (2010)
Back On My Buck Shit Vol.3 (Hosted By: Drumma Boy) (2011)