Rotten Apple (Lloyd Banks album)

Rotten Apple is the second album by G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks. It was released on October 10 2006 and sold 143,000 copies in its first week. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts. The title of the album is a play on the New York City nickname "The Big Apple".

Background
The album featured guest appearances from 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, Scarface, Mobb Deep, 8 Ball, Rakim, Keri Hilson, and Musiq Soulchild. Production was provided by Eminem, Needlz, Sha Money XL, Younglord, Ron Brownz, Havoc and 9th Wonder. Banks also wanted to show the darker side of New York City, and allow listeners to hear what it was like growing up in South Jamaica, Queens.

Reception
The album received mixed reviews. Rolling Stone's Evan Serpick gave it 3 out of 5 stars and said that "Eminem, Mobb Deep’s Havoc and a host of G-Unit regulars produce an album’s worth of chunky, ominous beats to fit Banks’ foul mood, but it runs a little thin over sixteen tracks".

But XXL Magazine gave it a L/XXL and said "Not falling far from 50 Cent’s platinum-rooted tree, Rotten Apple is fertilized with potent doses of sonic strength and catchy hooks. But overall, it isn’t the new massacre that’ll shake New York hip-hop down to its core." Also All Music Guide's David Jeffries gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars and said that "The highlights are way high, but the album as a whole is fans-only."

Sales
U.S. sales: 329,000 (by June 13 2007)
 * Canada sales: 50,000+