By: Mike Madavi
Anyone reading hip-hop music blogs within the last month has been subject to a barrage of reports and opinions regarding Memphis rapper and former G-Unit member Young Buck. The last few weeks have served as the culmination of a long escalating feud between Buck and G-Unit, but mostly 50 Cent. The dispute regards mostly who Buck is technically signed to as an artist and where he will be releasing any new material. It would seem Buck is no longer in G-Unit as a member, but is still being contractually held to their label.
Young Buck first made it on to G-Unit after a stint on Brian “Baby” Williams’ Cash Money Records, deciding to leave the label (along with Juvenile) for UTP records, where he would stay till 2003. His deal with UTP eventually led to a meeting with 50 Cent, who then signed Buck to G-Unit, under Interscope Records. Buck was granted prominent features on 50’s debut, the ultra-mega successful Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and G-Unit’s double platinum debut Beg For Mercy. In 2004 Buck released his own debut, Straight Outa Cashville, and its follow up Buck The World in 2007. Both were considered very successful and Young Buck became well known in mainstream hip-hop airplay.
However, things were about to make a turn for the worst. In April 2008, 50 Cent announced on Hot 97 that Young Buck was kicked out the group, but was still contractually signed to G-Unit. Since that time, Buck has been unable to release any commercial music, but has, however, released numerous “beef” and slander tracks that hate on 50 Cent and G-Unit as a group. G-Unit, of course, returned fire, with one notable instance where 50 released a phone call he recorded with Buck, supposedly depicting the excommunicated rapper weeping and apologizing. The battle became heated and lengthy, essentially boiling around the fact that Buck was still contractually obligated to G-Unit to release one more album under their label, entitled The Rehab. The album was set to be released numerous times, constantly being delayed for some reason or another.
In recent memory, the feud seems to have settled down with Young Buck forming his own label Cashville Records and signing with Real Talk Entertainment in 2010, but the matter of the last album still stood. The Rehab, despite production completion, had yet to be released and G-Unit was still owed a final album. Under this contract, Buck was not able to release any new commercial music until that debt was settled. To make matters worse, in a shocking twist, U.S. Federal Agents raided Buck’s home on August 2nd, 2010 to seize any valuable assets from the rapper due to years of unpaid taxes, which accumulated to about $300,000. Buck was forced to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy on the 5th of August, with possible plans to sue 50 Cent and G-Unit, according to his attorney.
While this may be seen as a tragedy, one positive outcome of Buck’s IRS problems is not so obvious: filing for Chapter 13 apparently releases him from all debts to G-Unit provided he makes his monthly IRS payments, possibly freeing him from the contractual obligations to the label which has prevented him from releasing any new music; he’s either really lucky or has a great lawyer. Regardless, Buck has finally released The Rehab on Real Talk Entertainment on Sept 7th before any of the tax business came about, finally giving an eager public what they have been waiting to hear for years. Young Buck called The Rehab a “street album,” and said that he plans on releasing another brand new full-length album after he releases this album, which he refers to as a mixtape with new production over old beats. The track “Hood Documentary” is a diss-rap directed at 50 Cent, and a fiery lead single that has caught the attention of hip-hop blogs all over the internet.
Today we are proud to announce that The Rehab is finally available for purchase after years of delay and struggle. With the huge amount of recent media attention swirling around Young Buck and his legal disputes, this record is not to be missed. All eyes are sure to remain on Buck in the next few weeks to see how his soap opera ends.
Artist: Young Buck
Title: The Rehab
Label: Real Talk Ent.
Genre: Hip-Hop : Rap
UPC: 858388002051
Territory: World
Release Date: 09.7.10
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Tags: 50 Cent, Cashville Records, G-Unit, Real Talk Ent., Young Buck
