Tony Yayo sat down with Shannon Sharpe for an unfiltered conversation on Club Shay Shay, opening up about his life in hip-hop, his Haitian roots, and the brotherhood that defined G-Unit.
Fresh off touring Europe with Chris Brown, Yayo began by comparing life overseas to the U.S., noting differences in culture, safety, and lifestyle. While praising Europe’s food and liquor, he reflected on how places like Washington, D.C., feel increasingly unsafe for residents today.
Raised in the Southside of Jamaica, Queens, which he calls the best borough in New York, Yayo traced his early years back to strict parents and a household shaped by Haitian values. Following his parents’ divorce, he gravitated toward the streets, eventually turning to drug dealing. He recalled being robbed for a Starter jacket, his mother’s home being shot more than 20 times, and even losing $100,000 his mother threw away. The name “Tony Yayo,” he shared, came from Scarface.
The G-Unit veteran reflected on his group’s history, revisiting the era when hip-hop police branded them “the most dangerous rap group in the world.” He recalled riding in a bulletproof truck riddled with bullets and seeing close-range violence, including the murders of PnB Rock and Pop Smoke. Despite past feuds, Yayo emphasized loyalty, saying he holds no resentment toward DJ Khaled for supporting Fat Joe during tensions with 50 Cent.
He credited Eminem for helping propel his career, describing him as his “favorite white boy in the world,” and saluted Dr. Dre as one of the greatest producers. Yayo spoke about Eminem’s attention to detail in music, how his cosign boosted Joe Budden, and remembered Kanye West’s presence before fame. He also revealed that 50 Cent often turned down million-dollar deals.
Yayo shared stories of being starstruck around icons like Mike Tyson, Venus and Serena Williams, Wesley Snipes, Samuel L. Jackson, and the Kardashians. Tyson, he said, encouraged him to broaden his perspective, even introducing him to caviar.
He reflected on performing with Cash Money, nearly signing J. Cole and Nicki Minaj to G-Unit, and his admiration for Atlanta’s hip-hop scene through figures like Outkast, Jermaine Dupri, and Lil Jon. He praised legendary MCs including Biggie, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, Ghostface Killah, LL Cool J, KRS-One, and Heavy D, while arguing that Biggie was a stronger songwriter than Ice Cube.
Yayo weighed in on drill music and today’s street culture, pointing to rappers like King Von and BloodHound Lil Jeff as examples of artists openly documenting criminal activity in their lyrics. He criticized the growing trend of young artists flaunting guns with switches on social media.
He also discussed the fallout from Tekashi 6ix9ine’s case, Fat Joe’s support of Gunna’s music, and speculation about whether Gunna and Young Thug might reconcile. Comparing the current Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle to historic rivalries like Nas vs. Jay-Z and Tupac vs. Biggie, he added that, in today’s industry, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift stand out as the only artists consistently making significant streaming revenue.
From his time in Rikers Island alongside Diddy’s bodyguard to meeting Donald Trump after jail, Yayo described a life marked by extremes. He highlighted his charity work with the New York Knicks, his real estate investments, and early opportunities like being the first guest on Hot Ones. He also recalled being stabbed, losing friends, and being starstruck by stars like Nas, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, and John Cena.
Through it all, Yayo credited 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Eminem for teaching him the importance of financial discipline, while staying rooted in the lessons he learned growing up in Queens.
