Introduction
Young Buck is an American rapper who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the hip hop group G-Unit. His real name is David Darnell Brown and he has built a successful career in the music industry spanning over 2 decades.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Young Buck was born on March 15, 1981 in Nashville, Tennessee. From a young age, he was interested in rapping and started writing his own lyrics and freestyling with friends. In the late 1990s, he caught the attention of rapper Cash Money and joined the hip hop collective Ca$hville Records. Young Buck released his debut album ‘Straight Outta Ca$hville’ in 2004 which included the hit single “Let Me In”.
Joining G-Unit
In 2003, Young Buck was featured on 50 Cent’s song “Stomp” and quickly grabbed the attention of the popular rapper. 50 Cent signed Young Buck to his record label G-Unit Records and he was officially made a member of the hip hop group G-Unit alongside Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. Young Buck appeared on many G-Unit mixtapes and collaborative albums which helped increase his profile in the rap scene.
Solo Success with G-Unit Records
In 2005, Young Buck released his major label debut ‘Straight Outta Ca$hville’ which was his first album under the G-Unit imprint. The album was a big success, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It included the hit single “Shorty Wanna Ride” which reached number 17 on the Rap charts.
In 2007, Young Buck released his second album ‘Buck the World’ which debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200. Popular singles from this album included “I Know You Want Me”, “Get Buck”, and “U Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”. At this point, Young Buck had established himself as a successful solo artist under 50 Cent’s G-Unit umbrella. According to reports, Young Buck had sold over 1 million albums globally by 2007.
Departure from G-Unit
In 2008, tensions grew between 50 Cent and Young Buck. After a few public feuds, 50 Cent officially expelled Young Buck from G-Unit in April 2008. Young Buck claimed financial disputes with 50 Cent as the reason for his departure from the group. However, 50 Cent maintained it was due to disloyalty and claimed he was owed money by the rapper.
This departure marked the beginning of legal and financial troubles for Young Buck who no longer had the backing of G-Unit Records. His third studio album ‘The Rehab’ was caught up in litigation issues and faced many delays in releasing new music.
Bankruptcy and Later Career
In 2010, Young Buck filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy as he was facing foreclosure of his home. He only had $100 in his bank account at the time but claimed that his financial woes were due to settlements and legal fees from departing G-Unit.
Young Buck continued to release occasional singles and mixtapes as an independent artist but never regained the same level of success he had under G-Unit Records. He spent time in prison from 2012-2013 on gun charges.
After being released from prison, Young Buck attempted to revive his rap career and settled financial disputes with 50 Cent and G-Unit Records in 2014. He went on tour with G-Unit in 2016 and continued to release music as an independent artist. However, Young Buck has not had a major hit in over a decade.
Net Worth
Due to his bankruptcy and financial problems, Young Buck’s current net worth is estimated at only $100,000 as of 2023. At his peak, his net worth was said to be around $5 million when he was at the height of his fame with G-Unit Records. However, legal disputes and poor management of his finances led to his declining wealth over the years.
While a fraction of his peak net worth, Young Buck has been able to maintain a net worth of $100,000 through independent music releases, touring, and other business ventures. However, most of his current income still comes from music-related activities.
Summary
Young Buck achieved great success in the 2000s as member of G-Unit and a solo artist signed to G-Unit Records. Album sales and hit singles made him a multi-millionaire in his twenties. However, financial disputes, legal issues, and bankruptcy after leaving G-Unit caused Young Buck’s net worth to dwindle substantially. Despite this, he continues to make music and has a current net worth estimated at $100,000 as of 2023.