The wait is finally over as PLK Lloyd Banks has continued to hustle with his mixtape grind and released V5, the 5^th installment of the 5 Or Better Series.

Being consumed with touring, the tape has taken some time to actually surface, but the time is now.

The latest would mark the 5^th official mixtape that Banks has dropped in 2009 alone.

Amidst beef with Rick Ross and 50 Cent and trying to figure out his next move now that his venture with Interscope is winding down, Banks has reverted back to rookie mode to once again showcase his lyrical ability and reclaim his position as one of the top lyricists in Hip Hop today.

Recently performing at B.B. Kings, the rapper took the audience down memory lane with some of his earlier material such as “I'm So Fly”, brought out a special guest and even blessed his fans with news of a third album on the way.

Giving no title for the upcoming project, Rotten Apple dropped back in 2006 so it has been a long time and the mention should be enough to hold people over until further details surface.

Check footage of a recent performance here:

Two more tracks from V5

“If me and your homeboy can come to conclusions then they can get another album out of me.”

Since the fallout of Buck with G-Unit, the Tennessee native has been on his music hustle and has been grinding out for the streets on the mixtape circuit.  Regardless of his evident potential, nothing seems to matter as his heavy grind has not been able to iron out his issues with 50 Cent and has not been able to release another album.

Calling into DJ Whoo Kid's radio station during Kid's birthday, Buck spoke on the past and the hope to find a way to reconcile their differences and move on to future endeavors.

“At the end of the day, it was really all a misunderstanding from the beginning with me and the 50 cent situation.  It just was no communication to get anywhere…He took his actions and did what he had to do with it.  It is what it is, my ni**
a, but if there's room for a ni**a to make something work, I would be less of a man to not be open to it.  I'm bout making money.”

Buck has been able to survive the storm and has stated that he may have come out with cuts and bruises, but pain is necessary for growth as he has come back even stronger and much smarter than he was as it relates to the actual music as well as the business aspect.

“This ain't the same Buck that you seen 3 or 4 years ago.  My mind is better, my physical sh$% is on.  Everything is together my ni**a.  I came in this game to be in this game long term.  I didn't come in to come and go.”

Although he has no qualms with his former group, Buck stated his preference to continue on his own as he was not able to be himself while in the group.  His mixtapes and glimpses in his second album Buck The World, show a different side to the rapper and the fact that he may not have fit into the mold, which also made him a standout in the group.

It is necessary, however, that 50 and Buck has an actual one-on-one with another face to face and discontinue the discussions over the phone.

“In certain situations, I feel like I'm right and he's wrong and vice versa.  We just need to have a real ni**a conversation face to face.  This phone sh%& don't work.  I don't mind coming to a ni**a and looking a ni**a in his eye.”

As time has progressed, the beef on wax has trickled down to reality with the recent escalation of violence among the youth, particularly the Black community.  Accept it or reject it, Hip-Hop is becoming the role model so instances such as these to make peace should not be taken for granted.

As Lil Wayne did back in 2007, Banks has been heavy with the mixtapes with 4 officials under his belt since the beginning of 2009. Prepping a new mixtape, titled V5, the G-Unit soldier is going into full throttle as he has stated the next tape will be a double disc. No release date has been given, but the rapper has assured people to be on the lookout for it very soon.

Speaking with Whoo Kid on Sirius Satellie Radio Banks opened up on his work ethic in the booth whether it is just him handling his business alone or on group projects alongside Yayo and 50. For those new to the music, G-Unit is known for making the mixtape circuit as popular as it has become now when they were first beginning their climb in the industry.

"I mean, that's back to where it started. Once we get in there, it ain't really much talking going on, to be honest with you. It's always been a good competition with us, it's only competition. I mean, we don't really need nobody else you know what I'm saying, because nobody else was here in the beginning. We're locked in that room and it's on and popping, automatic pilot. Probably about eight songs done a night, two days, that's a mixtape."

Along with the upcoming mixtape, Banks has also issued an open invitation to work with more lyrical rappers outside of his camp. Recently dropping a verse on Maino's “Bandana”, fans can look forward to the punch-line king coming to arms alongside Juelz Santana and other unnamed New York rappers which should be coming in the near future.

Back in the days, the world was fully aware of how nice Banks was, but it also felt as though he preferred to stay in the background. Now trying to establish his own lane, fans should get themselves prepared for the lion to come out the cage and feel the ferocity of a rapper that has been playing possum.