Childhood & Early Life
Young Buck was born on March 15, 1981 as David Darnell Brown in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jealous of his friend, Clay Cole, who excelled at rapping, young Brown chose to take up rapping professionally. His main aim was to beat his friend Cole, and he was ready to pay whatever price it took in the process.
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Career
With Clay relocating to Tallahassee, Florida, Buck took to recording at the studios. He was only 14 years old then. Two years henceforth, he was given an opportunity to perform for Brian ‘Baby’ Williams, co-founder of Cash Money Records, for the first time.
He then went on a world tour with Birdman and together with the latter, did several shows. Despite being signed by the label, he never appeared on any of its albums. Furthermore, he did not release his own song under the label.
His association with Cash Money Records lasted for several years post which he together with rapper Juvenile left the label in 2004 and instead joined the latter’s label, UTP records. He joined the UTP Playas rap group as well.
In 2004, he released his debut studio album, ‘Straight Outta Cashville’. The album was very well received by music lovers as it peaked at the top position on the charts, selling more than 2.3 million copies worldwide. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
It was while working for the UTP Records that he first met New York rapper 50 Cent who later offered him a position at the G-Unit Records, under Interscope Records. Meanwhile, while he was at UTP Records, he released two independent albums, ‘Born to Be a Thug’ and ‘The Compilation with UTP’
In 2003, in collaboration with G-Unit, he came up with the album, ‘Beg for Mercy’. The album gained momentum in its first week of release, peaking at the number 2 position on the Billboard 200 in its second week. Worldwide, the album sold over 6 million copies and has been certified two times platinum by RIAA.
In 2005, he left UTP Records. Rapper, 50 Cent, who had made quite a name for himself with his G-Unit outfit, looked to broaden his empire and thus welcomed him as the newest member of the rap group, G-Unit. The same year, he released a collaboration album, ‘GetRich or Die Tryin’
In 2007, he came up with his second studio album, ‘Buck the World’. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums chart, with sales of 141,083 in the first week.
His association with 50 Cent and G-Unit was not all rosy and involved numerous rifts. Following his dismissal from the group, he released several tracks against 50 Cent, G-Unit and their associates. The latter followed suit soon and came up with multiple tracks and a recorded phone call which the former claimed to be fake.
Ever since his feud with G-Unit, he has run into financial troubles and recently escaped an attempted drive-by shooting in his hometown.
In 2010, he released an independent album ‘The Rehab’, which was a street album and supposedly his third official album on Real Talk Ent. The album sold merely 7000 copies in its first week. It has been his last album till date
In 2012, he claimed to have resolved the ties with G-Unit and was looking forward for a negotiation eventually leading to unison.
