Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo may have new-found freedom thanks to their distribution deal with EMI Records, but rumors of the G-Unit artists signing with Def Jam remain far-fetched. In an interview with MTV, 50 Cent said the legendary rap label wasn't in a position to handle his cohorts financially.
"Well, Def Jam, I'm not even sure what that system — that system is not in a good space right now," he alleged. "They're like $80 million in the hole. Don't tell them I told you!" 50 said laughing.
In August of last year, Banks and Yayo, formerly of Interscope, signed a deal that made EMI their distributor while G-Unit Records assumed all label responsibilities. Banks' subsequent release The Hunger For More 2, which spawned the hit single "Beamer, Benz or Bentley," is serving as the model for all future releases from the camp.

Of course with former G-Unit President Sha Money XL serving as Def Jam’s senior VP of A&R, the rumors of G-Unit doing business with Def Jam will likely continue. In fact, with 50 taking a backseat creatively on Banks and Yayo projects, fans will see more 50-free G-Unit product in the future.

"This go-around is, like, for them to go away from me and do it on their own," 50 said. "They're setting up shop on their own on this project."

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