Young Buck

David Darnell Brown (born March 15, 1981), best known by his stage name Young Buck, is an American rapper.

He heads his own record label, Cashville Records (formerly G-Unit South), and was a member of the former hip hop group G-Unit.

Brown was born in Nashville, Tennessee.

Around the age of 12, he began rapping.

A few years later, he performed for Brian "Baby" Williams, co-founder of Cash Money.

Young Buck joined Cash Money in 1997 but left for Juvenile's UTP in 2000.

In 2000, Young Buck was shot multiple times during a home invasion at his home in Nashville.

The assailants were in search of narcotics.

Buck required a blood transfusion at Vanderbilt hospital as a result of the life-threatening injuries.

His first recording with G-Unit Records was on the 2002 recorded song Blood Hound for 50 Cent's February 2003 debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

That same year, Young Buck became a member of G-Unit.

He released two albums with UTP, Born to Be a Thug and The Compilation, before leaving the label in 2003 to join 50 Cent's record label G-Unit.

He also appeared heavily on rap group G-Unit's 2003 album Beg for Mercy.

He replaced G-Unit member Tony Yayo who had been jailed on gun possession charges after recording only two songs for the album.

His G-Unit Records debut album Straight Outta Cashville was released on August 24, 2004.

The album's title alludes to the N.W.A album Straight Outta Compton and is a neologism for Nashville (his hometown).

The album produced three singles: "Let Me In", "Shorty Wanna Ride", and "Look at Me Now".

The album received little promotion after November.

Young Buck was arrested for assault after the VIBE award incident and wasn't able to promote the album for four months until the case was dropped.

The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA.

He joined the rest of the label's roster on the 2005 collaboration album Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

His second solo album Buck The World followed in 2007.

In April 2008 he was expelled from the rap group G Unit, remaining with G Unit Records as a solo artist.

50 Cent faulted him for making provocative public statements he would later retract in private, for missing recording sessions, and for drug abuse.

Young Buck released a "diss" track insulting 50 Cent and G Unit, 50 Cent responded by releasing a taped phone call in which an emotional Buck was heard crying and asking 50 Cent for help and advice, Buck replied with another "diss" track.

In October he wished to leave G Unit Records but still owed the label two albums and his third album The Rehab was still unreleased.

In 2009 he said he still owed one album, The Rehab was released independently in 2010.

Brown filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in August, 2010 shortly after an IRS raid on his home.

His bankruptcy lawyer later told The City Paper that he was planning to sue Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) and other parties over the record contract dispute.

The IRS made plans to auction off Young Buck's seized property on October 28, 2010, but his legal counsel filed suit to halt the sale, while simultaneously re-filing a revised bankruptcy petition that no longer referenced a $5 million legal claim against 50 Cent and other parties associated with G Unit.

In the lawsuit, Young Buck said the studio equipment taken in the raid was "directly tied to" his "ability to generate income in order to reorganize the estate."

In December 2011 he was still under contract to G-Unit Records and about to lose his assets including his stage name in bankruptcy court, having been unable to record since 2008.

He claimed he was close to signing with Cash Money; The Tennessean confirmed a proposed deal that would release him from his G-Unit contract and leave him signed to Cash Money.

Cash Money Records CEO Birdman though denied that any deal was in the works.

In August 2012, Buck stated in an interview with XXL he was no longer signed to G-Unit Records and he would be a free agent when he is released from prison.

On June 1, 2014, Young Buck was seen at the Summer Jam Concert with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.

It was confirmed later that the group had reformed, adding Kidd Kidd as a new member.

The group released their debut EP The Beauty of Independence on August 25, 2014.

Young Buck is again making new music with G-Unit and released his mixtape Before The Beast which contains seven songs featuring Kidd Kidd, Lil Boosie, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and additional artists.

After releasing the mixtape, he released G-unit's second EP The Beast Is G-Unit, which sold approximately 20,000 copies in its first week.