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Tony Yayo

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For the baseball player, see Marvin Benard.
Tony Yayo
Background information
Birth nameMarvin Bernard
Born (1978-03-31) March 31, 1978 (age 46)
OriginSouth Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, songwriter
Years active1995–present
LabelsG-Unit (2003–present)
Interscope (2003–2009)
G-Unit Philly (2009–present)
EMI (2010–present)

Marvin Bernard (born March 31, 1978),[1] better known by his stage name Tony Yayo, is a rapper and member of the hip hop group G-Unit. Tony Yayo was brought up in South Jamaica, Queens, New York and is longtime friends with 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks. He is signed to 50 Cent's record label G-Unit Records and recently signed a deal with EMI to release his second untitled album. He is CEO to the label G-Unit Philly. His stage name is derived from the 1983 film Scarface, referencing the character Tony Montana and the slang word for cocaine.

Music career

G-Unit

G-Unit boss 50 Cent was granted his own record label, "G-Unit Records" by Interscope after releasing his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Soon after the group had established their own record label, G-Unit Records, G-Unit released their first official group album Beg for Mercy in November 2003, which went on to be certified 2x Platinum in the United States of America.[2][3] The album was released whilst Tony Yayo was in prison serving time, but Yayo still featured on the album. The second G-Unit album T.O.S: Terminate on Sight was released in July, 2008 and went on to sell 102,000 copies in the first week.

Solo career

Though his appearances on mixtapes announced his return on the street level, it was not until the release of "So Seductive" that his return received wide recognition. In August 2005, Tony Yayo released his debut, Thoughts of a Predicate Felon.[4]

Tony Yayo has confirmed that work is in progress for his second studio album.[5] No official name for the album has been decided yet. The first single off the album is "Pass the Patron", and it features 50 Cent. The album will be released with G-Unit Records / EMI who will both promote and distribute the album. On March 2, 2011 Yayo released the second single of off his upcoming album called, "Haters". The song features Shawty Lo, 50 Cent, & Roscoe Dash. The single was released onto Thisis50.com after being premiered on Hot 97 by Funkmaster Flex. The single rapidly started to gain success on the urban radio charts and soon debuted on the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B chart. A new track leaked recently titled "Just Like 50" featuring newly signed G-Unit artists Mike Knox and Paris this song could potentially be Yayo's next single off his untitled second album.

Yayo of Haitian descent, has taken part in aid to the Haitian people after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Yayo has worked with different charities and events in support of the relief efforts.[6]

Labels

In 2003 Tony Yayo was signed to Interscope Records, where he released his debut album Thoughts of a Predicate Felon. In 2009, he was later dropped from Interscope Records. After being dropped by Interscope Records it was announced EMI Label Services has signed a deal with 50 Cent’s label, G-Unit Records, in which EMI will distribute and promote releases on the G-Unit roster in North America including Tony Yayo's untitled second album. Lloyd Banks announced this on Friday, August 13, 2010 on MTV News.

Tony Yayo performing at Villanova Hoops Mania in 2005.

Felony jail time

Along with 50 Cent, Yayo was arrested on December 31, 2002 for weapons possession. He had a Glock 20 handgun and a Colt AR 15 in the trunk of his car. When police discovered that Yayo had an outstanding warrant for a previous such charge, Yayo was sentenced for bail jumping and spent all of 2003 in prison.[1] Yayo served time in the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility and was paroled on January 8, 2004.[7] The next day, he was arrested for possessing a forged passport and served time in federal prison until May 25, 2004.[8] When Yayo was incarcerated, G-Unit and Eminem began a campaign called "Free Yayo".[9] The first song Tony Yayo appeared on after getting out of prison is "Runnin'" on The Game's debut CD "The Documentary" in January 2005

Assault charge

On March 24, 2007, Tony Yayo was arrested for allegedly assaulting the 14-year-old son of The Game's manager, Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond. Tony Yayo and 50 Cent were accused of approaching the child, with members of their entourage, and pushing him against a nearby wall. This was when Tony Yayo reportedly slapped the boy several times and said "Fuck Czar Entertainment". Tony Yayo has pleaded "not guilty" and 50 Cent has since proven his innocence with video footage showing him at his Connecticut mansion at the time of the alleged incident.[10]

Tony Yayo made his first court appearance on the morning of April 25, 2007 in New York. The case was adjourned to July 24. Tony Yayo's Lawyer has expressed his belief that Yayo is innocent and commented on the situation in an interview with MTV:

After a thorough investigation, I steadfastly and adamantly state to you that Tony Yayo did not slap anyone," Leemon said. "I am hopeful that when [authorities] complete their investigation, they will come to the same conclusion. Yayo, as a father, understands the allegations and would never do anything to harm a child.[11]

On April 18, 2007, the house of Tony Yayo’s mother was "sprayed with bullets". The attack is believed to be in connection with Tony Yayo’s House Arrest. Yayo references the attack on the G-Unit song Straight Out of Southside, off T.O.S., the group's second album.[12]

On July 24, 2007, Tony Yayo attended a court hearing regarding his alleged assault. The prosecution offered him a nine-month prison sentence if he pleaded guilty which he rejected.[13]

Prosecutors dropped the charges in February 2008.[14] The mother of Rosemond's son sued 50 Cent and Yayo two months later.[15]

Discography

Main article: Tony Yayo discography

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff[16] Himself
2010 Morning Glory[17] Himself
2011 S.W.A.T.: Firefight Carlos
Video Games
Year Title Role Notes
2003 50 Cent: Bulletproof Himself Voice role and likeness
2009 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand Himself Voice role and likeness
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Howard Stern Show Himself
2005 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Himself Season 4: Episode 96
2007 MTV Cribs Himself
2008 50 Cent: The Money and the Power Himself Chose Your Crew Wisely

References

  1. ^ a b Jeffries, David (2005). "Tony Yayo > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  2. ^ Lamy, Jonathan (December 18, 2003). 2003 Ends With a Bang!. RIAA. Accessed 2007-07-10.
  3. ^ 50 Cent Biography: Contemporary Musicians. eNotes. Accessed 2007-07-18.
  4. ^ Tony Yayo-Thoughts Of A Predicate Felon-Release. Accessed 2007-07-29.
  5. ^ Steve Raze (November 5, 2007). Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo: Shooters, Part 2. AllHipHop. Accessed 2007-11-06.
  6. ^ Reid, Shaheem. (2010-01-15) Tony Yayo, DJ Whoo Kid, More Haitian Artists Discuss Earthquake – Music, Celebrity, Artist News. MTV. Retrieved on 2011-07-31.
  7. ^ "Inmate Population Information Search". New York State Department of Correctional Services. Retrieved 2009-09-26. Department ID Number: 03-A-2339
  8. ^ Patel, Joseph (2004-05-25). "G-Unit's Tony Yayo Finally Out Of Prison". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  9. ^ What I Gotta Do. Xxlmag.Com. Retrieved on 2011-07-31.
  10. ^ Rich Rock (March 24, 2007). Tony Yayo Arrested For Teen Assault, Young Buck Release Distracted. SOHH. Accessed 2007-07-29.
  11. ^ Tony Yayo’s lawyer Commenting on Alleged Incident. MTV. Accessed July 29, 2007.
  12. ^ "Home Of Tony Yayo's Mother Sprayed With Bullets". BallerStatus.com. April 20, 2007.
  13. ^ Update: Tony Yayo Rejects Deal In Rosemond Assault Case, "It's Not Even A Good Offer For A Guilty Person," Says Lawyer. SOHH. Accessed 2007-07-29
  14. ^ "Tony Yayo Cleared Of Child Assault Charges". Rap Basement. February 14, 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  15. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (April 9, 2008). "50 Cent, Tony Yayo Named In Assault-And-Battery Suit Involving Jimmy Rosemond's Son". MTV News. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  16. ^ Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff (Video 2009). IMDB
  17. ^ Full cast and crew for Morning Glory (2010). IMDB
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