On this day, Nov. 14, in hip-hop history...

G-Unit Records
G-Unit Records
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2003: After the seven-time platinum success of Get Rich Or Die Tryin', 50 Cent and his co-conspirators at Interscope/Aftermath/Shady were looking to capitalize on the Queens rapper's overwhelming popularity. Enter 50's crew, G-Unit, and the release of their debut album, Beg For Mercy, the first album on 50 Cent's freshly minted G-Unit Records imprint.

G-Unit, consisting of a lethal collective of burgeoning street rappers—including Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck and 50 Cent himself—instantly became one of the hottest crews in hip-hop at the time. Beg For Mercy, G-Unit's debut release, was loaded with hit records including "Poppin Them Thangs," "Stunt 101" and "Wanna Get To Know You," that burned up the charts for months after the albums release. The album served as an introduction to most of the crew to the national public and led to a string of platinum-selling albums for the gangster rap clique in the years that followed.

While the crew would dissolve amongst in-fighting and very public beef in the decade after the album's release (and 2014 reunion for the XXL cover story), Beg For Mercy is symbolic of the era that it was released in. 50 Cent was the hottest act in hip-hop and brought his crew along with him to enjoy in the spoils. Beg For Mercy is one of the greatest crew records in hip-hop history.

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