REVIEW

Music Review: G-Unit - T.O.S.: Terminate On Sight

Written by Jordan Richardson
Published July 03, 2008

Ideal ammunition for middle class suburban kids in their dad’s Escalade and perfect cannon fodder for anyone with an active interest in hip hop, G-Unit is back with a pseudo-vengeance on their first album in five years.

T.O.S.: Terminate On Sight is the follow-up to 2003’s Beg for Mercy and it is an antagonistic shred through the current beefs and issues on the crew’s mind. As is usually the case with hip hop millionaires, however, those beefs and issues tend to be less than gripping. 50 Cent may have been shot a number of times, but his lyrical weight fits more within gated communities than it does with the hard streets of Queens.

G-Unit is down a member on T.O.S. Young Buck has apparently committed the principal sin of fraternizing with known Gorilla Unit “enemies” like Lil Wayne. Buck also apparently had the nerve to complain about not receiving royalty cheques and, like a true Boss, 50 Cent cut him loose. The problem with T.O.S. is that it was cut before Buck was cut and, as such, features five tracks with the most talented member G-Unit ever had.

50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks are left with the rest of T.O.S. and it is a featureless attempt ingrained in second-rate pop-rap rubbish. It’s filled to the lip with bogus millionaire vs. millionaire beefs for the purpose of hype and a number of songs about how hardcore the Unit wishes they were. They even lift lines from Wu-Tang to boost their fictional integrity (“Money Make the World Go Round”).

Thankfully the production is pretty tight, as the minimalistic approach has always served these guys best. Swiss Beatz supplies some magic on the best track “Get Down,” which by and large sounds like it belongs on another record with better rappers.

And there are rare bright spots, like the album’s lead track “Straight Outta Southside” or “You So Tough.”

Overall, though, T.O.S. is just another lukewarm entry for Mumbles and the Gang to labour through. “Rider Pt. 2” is about as mind-numbing as it gets and the title track is grating and dim-witted. It’s as though G-Unit is almost humiliated to cut some of these tracks. If they weren’t, they should have been.

T.O.S. finds a conked-out group of mediocre rappers stringing together a chain of suburban soft-core rap. This isn’t gangster rap; it’s soccer mom rap.

After having been owned by Kanye on the charts, Fiddy sounds distracted and befuddled and his crew isn’t much better. As bad as 50 Cent can get, the grand comfort with G-Unit is that there’s typically someone right behind him to come off worse.

Jordan Richardson likes to review movies as the Canadian Cinephile here and enjoys reviewing music of all genres as the Canadian Audiophile here.
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Music Review: G-Unit - T.O.S.: Terminate On Sight
Published: July 03, 2008
Type: Review
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: Rap, Music: Pop, Music: Hip-hop, Review
Writer: Jordan Richardson
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Comments

#1 — July 4, 2008 @ 02:14AM — Richard Jordanson

"The problem with T.O.S. is that it was cut before Buck was cut and, as such, features five tracks with the most talented member G-Unit ever had."

hahah no one would have ever heard of Buck if it were not for 50. and buck most talented ever??? lol, ever heard of: The Game???

#2 — July 4, 2008 @ 02:35AM — Jordan Richardson

Did The Game and G-Unit ever record a single track together, though? Kind of a technicality, I think, but you do have a point if you want one. That's like saying Bang 'Em Smurf and Domination were members of G-Unit.

#3 — July 4, 2008 @ 02:42AM — Eric

this guy is one of those people who hate G-Unit for there sucess and is waiting for them to fall but guess what. They are the hottest rap group out there and have been since 2003. He dosent know what he is talking about this album is better than the 1st. (the first was good too)

#4 — July 4, 2008 @ 03:42AM — Slugg

FIRE ALBUM FUCK THE REVIEW THIS SHIT IS STREET MY NIGGA HARCORE FO SHO FUCK THE HATERZ GO BUMO UR LIL GAYNE AND NAS U PUSSYZ!!!!!!! G UNIT

#5 — July 4, 2008 @ 14:11PM — fizzz

good review...this is comin from someone who liked beg for mercy...i agree with everything well done

#6 — July 4, 2008 @ 14:26PM — Jordan Richardson

I actually liked Beg for Mercy too. Pretty good pop-rap album. "Poppin' Them Thangs" is still one of my favourite tracks.

#7 — July 4, 2008 @ 14:36PM — Geezy

All you guys hating on the UNIT are gay, broke and insignificant to RAP MUSIC. Buck is a real nigga. 50 is realer.

#8 — July 4, 2008 @ 14:40PM — Jordan Richardson

All you guys hating on the UNIT are gay

I can't even begin to tell you how hard I laughed at this. Thanks, Geezy! Happy 4th!

#9 — July 4, 2008 @ 15:29PM — OHNO

BITCH NIGGAS DO BITCH THANGS N DATS WHAT YALL HATERS DOIN SO NOW NIGGAS DONT LIKE 50 Y HE RICH U NOT WHAT CHANGE WIT HIS FLOW SINCE GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN NOTHIN U CAN TAKE ALL 3 OF HIS ALBUM N C FA YOSELF N T.O.S. GON SELL YALL NIGGAS TAKIN SIDES CAUSE WHAT HE DID 2 BUCK DAT WAS A SMART MOVE N THIS CUMIN FROM A REAL NIGGA CAUSE YALL WOULD OF SAID HE WAS GRIMEY FA KICKIN HIM OUT WIT OUT KNOIN WHAT 4 HE SHOWED YALL Y HE KICK HIM OUT

TERMINATE ON SIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#10 — July 4, 2008 @ 15:37PM — duane

What?

#11 — July 4, 2008 @ 17:10PM — gunit nigga

the guy who wrote this review is a hater fuck him this album was hot and gunit came hard

#12 — July 5, 2008 @ 13:05PM — Sammie

I listened to one of the singles on the TV "I like that" or something to that effect and was surprised at how mediocre it was .. it sounded like a song I would have heard from some dude on the internet makinig songs... 'Major' recording artists should usually have 'Major' talent.

It's funny because all (except Yayo) put out OK to good solo albums - maybe it's time to forget about G-Unit as a group and focus on Solo's and maybe have a 'feat' here and there on Solo discs.

The other problem I have with this 'group' is that Solo or ensemble they never really grow it's always the same thing... always...

Dre, Eminem, Snoop they all grew as artists from disc to disc ... same with Nas or Jay-z ... that's the key to not becoming crap.

#13 — July 5, 2008 @ 13:16PM — Bigmeat

i want to see all the guy come out and make a album man. then u can really see how it feels for a rap artist to write his music and pay loads of money to record it, only to be killed by your reviews.The album is good i'll give it a 75% so writing bad reviews means you either hate 50cent/G.unit or your a hater .so come out with your own album and let us see how it does with critics man Jordan Richardson bet u couldn't tell me how many bars has a verse stupid fuck

#14 — July 5, 2008 @ 13:39PM — Jordan Richardson

Nice name, Bigmeat. Very classy.

I actually don't think anyone from G-Unit cares if they're "killed" by any reviews. They make plenty of money, have plenty of fans, and will do just fine with or without my review or any other review. You're giving critics far too much credit.

I don't "hate" G-Unit, although I am amused by the amount of "hater" comments that come with the territory. I simply prefer better music, like Immortal Technique, Wu-Tang, Cannibal Ox, Aesop Rock, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jedi Mind Tricks, MF Doom, and even Kanye. G-Unit isn't even close to those cats.

Also, "how many bars has a verse?" Do you mean to ask how many bars are in a verse? If so, usually 16. If not, I have no idea what the hell you're asking.

And why would I come out with my own album?

#15 — July 5, 2008 @ 17:50PM — Bigmeat

okay dude i see u familiar with hip hop!come out with your own album and let us review it and tell if it hot or not

#16 — July 5, 2008 @ 17:54PM — Bigmeat

thx man about the name i mean n how much u think they going to sell in the first week

#17 — July 6, 2008 @ 17:14PM — Trickz

is this review for real??? I loved the album

#18 — July 7, 2008 @ 01:45AM — Kris

you don't gotta be a fan to not be a hater. You had your mind made up before you heard it. all of your random comments that have nothing to due with the album are what show you are a hater. your review sucked because of how biased it was. I havent been a fan of them since 2004 but I liked the album because it was a gritty uncommercial album. If you don't want to be a sucky reviewer compare them to themselves or others in the same mold not blabber on about why they don't compare to your heroes.

#19 — July 7, 2008 @ 14:21PM — joe

chill ya haters got it all wrong, dis album is crack!!!

#20 — July 8, 2008 @ 22:34PM — Yo

50 Cent is washed up its official, from where i am from everyone makes fun of the new single she know i like it like that or w/e its a joke. And noone i know bothered wit the album. Its all about Nas, Lil Wayne, Kanye, Andre 3k when ever he drops suthin, wu tangs new album is fire, common, lupe fiasco, these guys are the faces of hip hop

#21 — July 9, 2008 @ 10:21AM — your nasty daddy

The album is dope nigger ... real hard shit .. just like I wanted it to be... I need no more than this shit .. I could listen to other shit .. but this is the real shit ... There is only 1 real shit ... and this shit is my shit ...

sales do not say much when u consider how many lil girls buy Wayne .. they dont get the msg that the Unit's sening out ... and Yep they're still hard ... they wouldnt plug you personally (well Banks would, but ok), they have tha papper for that. heehee /..

In front of hot'97 ... remember .. you better do ...

G-G-G-Gee you net..

#22 — July 9, 2008 @ 10:35AM — your nasty daddy

The last think on:
Why it's not something different? ...

We dont want nothing else... even when it would be somethin completely else, most of you (bitches) would say it's crap ...

The shit aint called - Fall in love on sight, but TERMINATE ON SIGHT ////

Yeah, Ima HATER . sooooo what ... ? I hate motherfuckers claiming shit aint shit, when this shit is some real shit ...

#23 — July 9, 2008 @ 16:09PM — Jordan Richardson

As if I didn't need more reasons to be a "hater," there's the 50 Cent: Blood On the Sand video game.

No, it's not a joke.

#24 — July 9, 2008 @ 16:20PM — tunla

I don't know why you niggers are mad about 50cent and Gunit...This guys has put an huge mark on the face of hip hop that no one can forget like NWA and Wu Tang...Well with your beefs and disses they are still getting $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ than your prefered cats.

#25 — July 10, 2008 @ 05:05AM — your nasty daddy

hey Jordan, you bitch .. I have to tell you that this is the 2nd game from 50 ... I hope that makes you happy .. cause I laugh at you now .. hahaaaa .. pussy

50 is expandin to all regions... music,movies,gaming,clothes,vitamin water,parfumes. A park in queens will be named after 50 (Curtis Jackson park -- that is mad skillzzz of business)

as Ludacriss would say >> REAL LIFE MONOPOLY , PROPERLY !!! <<

GOD DAYUM that new album is the shiiiit.

#26 — July 10, 2008 @ 10:51AM — Jordan Richardson

Yes "your nasty daddy," I'm well aware of 50 Cent: Bulletproof. It sucks. Bad.

You might revel in the sort of 50 Cent "monopoly" you speak of. Hell, you might even have 50 Cent bedsheets on the bunk-bed you share with your little brother. But for the rest of us regular people, shit like this is just flat out disturbing.

#27 — July 12, 2008 @ 08:24AM — tagu mayne

G unit 4 lyf bitch, these lions dont need any1 2 b on their track 4 it 2 sound hard lyk that cat weezy, fuck u haters! t o s rules

#28 — July 13, 2008 @ 10:46AM — Mary Jane

I love every album g unit ever came out with and i loved T.O.S too!

#29 — July 15, 2008 @ 12:10PM — HotSoupBKNY

You have to understand that there are diferent types of hip hop,A person who likes Roots and that type of concious rap I.E Talib,Kanye etc.Might not appreciate nor understand that music has lanes,none better than another just different,a person's preference doesnt determine the quality of a project.I think this review was given by someone with a personal preference and not rounded enough to understand that you can't put Tribe called quest in the same lane as Public Enemy,both very good but very different.You have to be experienced enough in this hip hop game to be a critic..

#30 — July 15, 2008 @ 12:15PM — Jordan Richardson

That's a load of nonsense.

I like Dr. Dre, N.W.A., some Eminem, and some of 50's solo stuff. I also like Ice Cube, Slick Rick, Too Short, and Kid Frost. And I was listening to KRS-One, Ice-T, and Beastie Boys before that.

So don't start with the "personal preference" bullshit. This album sucked, plain and simple. It's not good hip-hop, regardless of the "lane."

#31 — July 15, 2008 @ 14:44PM — HotSoupBKNY

Now your sound knocked off your square,square..lol.1st of all you said Yung Buck was the best element in the group,just from that alone I know you don't know hip hop and your a country bumpkin,lol,2nd of all and I quote "I simply prefer better music, like Immortal Technique, Wu-Tang, Cannibal Ox, Aesop Rock, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jedi Mind Tricks, MF Doom, and even Kanye. G-Unit isn't even close to those cats".why would you even mention these dudes if you understood that this isnt that lane of music,do I have to school you "critic"?...I heard the album,and unlike you "critic" I know music,name 3 hot singles from any of those dudes(besides Kanye)on the same album? Well check the radio Rotation "critic" this album has 3 singles Knockin all at the same time.How many albums that you know do that..Talib? no....The Roots ...no Mf doom....no I think you need to pop back in Jedi mind Tricks (who ever the fuck they are)LOL,and learn to use the force "critic"...do your home work..The album might not be classic but It beats the shit outta Cannibal Ox,(who ever the fuck that is)..lol

#32 — July 15, 2008 @ 14:58PM — Jordan Richardson

Singles are good for pop music and that's what G-Unit is. The majority of music I listen to isn't built for singles or radio/video airplay, although there's plenty of good pop out there. If you want to play "count the singles" all day long, we can start talking about how many Spice Girls singles were on Spice or how great the Backstreet Boys are because they have lots of singles. In other words, singles don't mean shit in terms of quality albums.

As for not having heard of Jedi Mind Tricks or Can-Ox, I suggest you get an education before you claim G-Unit is superior. That's just ignorant and you know it.

why would you even mention these dudes if you understood that this isnt that lane of music,do I have to school you "critic"?

I didn't mention any of them in my review of the album. I mentioned them when someone said that I don't know hip-hop. I do prefer listening to those cats. Is that a problem? How does that make me unable to review G-Unit? Because I like Young Buck? Now you're just reaching, my friend. Your prior criticism fell apart in your hands, so you've moved on to something else.

Stop inventing imaginary criteria for good hip-hop groups and listen to some real music. It'll do you some good and you'll stop having the bizarre need to prove to everyone that G-Unit is good because they've got "singles."

#33 — July 15, 2008 @ 16:24PM — HotSoupBKNY

All music is built on Singles square not just POP...Country,Hip Hop,R&B take your choice..If you think real music doesnt consist of Multiple singles,your as seasoned as Can-Ox....by the way I havent heard of those dudes for a reason.....Thier WACK!!!!,lol,and I probably won't ever hear those names in Hip hop.This whole count the singles shit your talking is a cop out because your "favorites" have none,so ofcourse lets not count those now..lol Idiot..It's very difficult to make a Album the way T.O.S is built and still have singles playing heavily...Oh sorry if we're all not backpack ipod dorks playing underground groups that no one has and won't ever hear of..I highly doubt I have to "educate" myself with Jedi mind tricks,LOL..My review is reviewing you and your lack of knowledge of the Industry and the Business of music.So continue to place your limited opinion on music on these less than important blog sites..I'm not hear to prove anything but I have proved that your a novist at this Hip Hop Thing....By the way,I'm a fan of no one but I know music and the Album isnt garbage but the review is...1 yourself..

#34 — July 15, 2008 @ 16:32PM — Jordan Richardson

Whatever gets you through the day, man (lol).

#35 — July 19, 2008 @ 18:24PM — nealis101

buck the most talented in the unit u kiddin? banks kick the best rymes by far and 50 is without doubt the best on the hooks apart from that i agree with the review the album sucked a fat dick REPPIN THE BIG LDN

#36 — July 19, 2008 @ 18:31PM — nealis101

by the way hotsoup bkny mos, def immortal tec, talib and the wu r at a hundred levels higher than g-unit they do it 4 the music not the sales u should learn ur stuff b4 u speak on the top talent in the game 2day

#37 — July 20, 2008 @ 07:12AM — Is this dude serious?

Come on man, why you talkin mad shit Jordan? You sound seriously biased, and covering it up through claiming you liked Beg for Mercy is completely irrelevent. Lemme give ya'll a real review.

This album is HOT.

I like 50 but it doesn't bias my decision, Curtis wa straight trash and he came back hot with TOS. Young Buck was the shit on this album, and Game was by far the best member he ever had. It sounds like you're just pissed off at 50 Cent and you chose to act like a douche and give a dude shitty reviews. These tracks are comin' hard with lyrical ability and a few punchlines to top shit off. None of this shit sounds the same, they mix it up along with themes for each song. Get real Jordan. This interview ain't shit.

Btw, i'ma be lookin' out for L.A.X in stores, try to review that new bluegrass album out in stores and PLEASE stay away from rap.

#38 — July 20, 2008 @ 07:17AM — Is this dude serious?

And QUIT that revolutionary bullshit. This is GANGSTA rap, yes, suburban kids bump GANGSTA RAP; because they want to be GANGSTA. I'm not saying G Unit is GANGSTA, but the album? The album's FIRE.

#39 — July 23, 2008 @ 23:29PM — NO-NAME, LAME CRITIC-CRITIC

Wow, Jordan Richardson... that don't even sound like the name of someone who should be reviewing hip-hop. You shouldn't even be reviewing the no-name, lame hip-hop artists you were comparing to g-unit.

#40 — July 23, 2008 @ 23:45PM — Jordan Richardson

But Curtis James Jackson III, Jayceon Terrell Taylor, Christopher Charles Lloyd, Marvin Bernard, and Marshall Bruce Mathers III....these are all "hip-hop names?"

I've seen a lot of lame critiques before, but yours has to take the cake.

#41 — July 24, 2008 @ 23:43PM — brikkscitysfinest

Listen cridic. I hope this is not urr full time job.and if it is .urr boss should fire urr lame ass. I realy hope this is urr hobby.clearly u know nothing about Hiphop,nontheless G-unit.and just bcuz u know n blabed tha rappers government names,that doesn't make u an expert.In my hood that makes u a snitch..I can hear,read n smell tha hate from my home town nwk n.j.young buck the most talented of the g unit u most have bump suburbian head in sea shell..Lloyd BankO is the most talented next to 50cent. If it wasn't 4 50cent,u would of never heard the lights of tony yayo,Lloyd Banks,young buck or even the game.if it wasn't 4 fifty, game wouldn't have gotten all the hype he got.props to boy 50 4 making an empier even the best know-jay z- u can't knock tha hustle.im happy that game is not in g unit anymore he didn't sticc to G code therefore he should b in G unit. and no jordan tha G does not stand 4 g unit,only real n****know about the G code..and as far as buck I feel for him he a real n****,but just bcuz ur a real n***** that doesn't mean u have brains. Why is buck still in g unit records??bcuz 50 plans to make some guuaapp from him wen he drops tha mic.also just bcuz urr a cridic,that doesn't mean u know wat tha fucc urr talkin about,right jordan? anyway G-unit started as a trio an they should end as a trio. The album T.O.S is tusnami crazy go get it..ill hit u harder than the crakk jordan smoked b4 he wrote his review.don't listen to jordan tha duck quack.. quack!! Hi Hater!!

#42 — July 30, 2008 @ 00:16AM — jT

Just bought the album today. Listened to it, one word....Gangstuh!!! Havent heard ganstuh shit for years. Thanks to G-Unit for makin this album. Haters are haters..."let them hate and see the money pile up!!". GGGGG Geee unit!!!

#43 — August 6, 2008 @ 01:47AM — boo boo

those are their real names not their "hip hop names" thats why they come up with the other names there dick jordanson

#44 — August 13, 2008 @ 06:05AM — Scams

I have to agree the review is wack

The Buck comment sums up the knowledge of the critic cos Buc is doo doo. Like his voice & his flow but he is lyrically weak. I agree that Curtis and most of the other solo efforts apart from Get Rich Die Tryin are luke warm but this album is a return to hard beats & hard ryhmes, a return to super groups such as NWA, Doggpound, Wu & Lox, Unlike the real JORDARN you dropped the ball.

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