Album Review: G-Unit – Terminate On Sight
G-Unit
T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight)
G-Unit/Interscope Records
3/5
G-Unit’s follow-through in delivering an album that caters to their core fan-base proves to be a move that both helps and hinders their latest project, Terminate On Sight. Aside from the club-friendly synths on the lead single “I Like the Way She Do It,” T.O.S. is virtually void of pop influence; instead, the album is driven by aggressive content and gritty production. But while the familiarity of T.O.S. means 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo are never out of place, it also ends up restricting the group’s ability to tread new ground or expand their sound. The cast of mostly unknown producers featured throughout the LP constantly hover just above mediocrity, with most of the numbers relying upon simplistic drum patterns or repetitive synth arrangements.
Review by Samir Siddiqui
It is when the songs deviate from formulaic approaches that T.O.S. starts to work on a musical level- the sinister “Straight Outta Southside” is the perfect backing to the Unit’s bravado, and a touch of flute on “Piano Man” is a perfect contrast to the otherwise grimy beat. “No Days Off” is an all-around standout, as sombre piano loops compliment the combative verses of the Unit, and despite the lack of lyrical exercises on T.O.S., the title track sees Lloyd Banks displaying his potency for constructing engaging rhyme patterns, with bars like, “Everything was slow motion, but I think I got the potion, ’cause now that they’re over-dosin’, all my doors are back open// and my Cadillac toatin’, ni**a play with me, I smoke ‘em.”
However, several cuts lack the spark that songs like “Let It Go” provide, and the album suffers from stretches of monotony, worsened by the inability of the tracks (aside from the closer) to stand apart from each other. And while songs like “Ready or Not” and “Party Ain’t Over” are serviceable, the overly-casual song-writing prevents them from really making a forceful impact. Where T.O.S. succeeds is in bridging the gap between G-Unit’s mixtape and album material, and in that, the project almost guarantees approval from the group’s large fan base. Still, the LP is a safe, calculated offering that finds G-Unit trying to gather their feet, instead of attempting to out-race the competition.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
The album was amazing, All the tracks are hot but maybe 2 of them.
Go get it. ALBUM IN STORES NOW
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
lol is that young buck in the background with the hoodie on the album cover
i say 2.5 its very repetitive same war type shit its a okay cd only reason y i would listen 2 it is bcuz lloyd banks gunit trash now jus accept it this cd is wack
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Most of the album is actually pretty good. ‘Kitty Kat’, ‘Money Make The World Go Round’ are among my favourites and I hate ‘Get Down’.
Overall – 3.5/5 (Good Look)
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
“agressive content” put 50 in a “space” where he can “actually” deliver to his “demographic” in the “actual” album
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
FUCK OFF#2. THE ALBUM IS HOT. DON’T HATE
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
WTF!!!!^^^^^what do you mean repetitive. What does Lloyd Banks have to offer that 50, Yayo, and Buck deliver on this album. The content is the same but their styles are different as always and now they seem to be opening up the doors to more mainstream producers this time around which takes away from their formula of the yesteryears of music. Everyone does their thing and well on this album and it isnt separating records like Beg For Mercy (which was clearly a ploy to promote Bucks and Banks for the upcoming albums at the time)so they have to do more music together than apart because their a group and we know what they can do separately.
3.5 is good for their album because its not extraordinary but its not that ordinary neither
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
i think the g unit album is good better the that simple rap shit at least the can rap its nothing like that get silly bullshit.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
“agressive content” put 50 in a “space” where he can “actually” deliver to his “demographic” in the “actual” album
LMAOOOO!
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
YOU ALL NEED TO LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HIGH AS HELL. IT IS DOPE. WHY DO YOU ALL THINK GAME PUSHED BACK HIS RELEASE DATE? BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT T.O.S. WAS GONNE KILL HIS LOW SALE
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
The album is officially fire….Realtalk..I sent you an email today, please check your inbox!!
Don’t know if you got it cos you haven’t replied back!
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
GO GIT DAT T.O.S. ITS BANGN SUPPORT REAL MUSIK NOT RICE KRIZPIZ SNAP KRAKL POP SHYT!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Y i gotta listen to the album high just to think its decent??
I hate when niggas say that shit.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
You can sniff and listen to the album. I dont give a fuck how you listen to it but you enjoy any music when you are high. ALBUM IS FIRE NIGGA. FUCK OFF N DONT HATE ON THAT T.O.S.
YOU PROBABLY GOT A COPY YOURSELF
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
ALBUM IS 3.8/5 FOR REAL NIGGAS
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
LMAO @ this e-thug G-Unit soldier.
HELL NO I dont own that album. WHat I look like listenin to actors talk about “agressive content” when they be getting their eye brows waxed lol
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Wow RealTalk only 2/5? Just wow…anyway did you get my email or not?
I don’t know if I should bother chasing anything up for you now since you haven’t responded to me
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
No disrespect to Samir but can we get a different perspective in regards to a album review. It seems juding the last few album reviews Samir may listen to more positive hip hop than hip hop that has a focus on aggressive content. So the album will most likely start out at a disadvantage. Similar to if a teacher told everyone in the class that they start with an A but for whatever reason you start with a B or C.
All in all the review is opinionated like all reviews and if someone else wrote something I would prob disagree with them lol. I don’t disagree with the score by much. I say its a 3.5 out of 5 personally but im still going to cop it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I know hip hop niggas think more on a what have you done for me lately basis. But 50 did give niggas 2 free mixtapes that were straight fire before this album. Not sure what happend to the gangsta grillz mixtape but im assuming he told you why he didnt link up with dramam in “you so tough” lol.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
how am i hating the cd is weak there a difference between hate and opinion and Lloyd Banks has way more to offer than every1 that is currently from Gunit in the song TOS Banks killed it other than that its repetitive and boring the content is the same yeah styles are different but its still repetitive my opinion and the game album was pushed back by Interscope
then again cuz nas album was gonna be on the same day o well that gives Game time 2 make more mixtapes
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
the media P.R propaganda machine that has taken aim at G.UNIt over the last year or so has corrupted wanna be music critics from critically assessing any music G.unit music that comes out OBJECTIVELY only goes to show how feeble minded u are, trained like a monkey over time, free speech my ASS
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I’m not gonna say you a hater like everyone else realtalk but you are very biased my man. You are a Game fan and go out of your way to be at his ‘functions’…l.a.x. will probably be dope but you will overate it just because…if your really real..realtalk then just admit that…
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Yo this album dope all you gotta do is shoot heroine and take an acid tab thenall the joints is fire. Silly dudes.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
The T.O.S album had more better beat then lyric i actaully paid more attention to the beat. But they had alot of great lyric that made me forget about the beat. and i was more entertained by the Album musically then the beat and lyric musically they killed.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
LMAO @ 23.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
@ 22
im fan of wat i think is good music i listen 2 Gunit i copped the TOS cd and its weak 2 me the game is repetitive 2 i dnt go out my way 4 no rapper lol wtf if the shit whack or repetitive than it is
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
3.5 Decent album