Tony Yayo, born Marvin Bernard on March 31, 1978, is an American rapper known for his time with the hip hop group G-Unit. He released his debut album in 2005 and recently made a comeback with The Loyal Mixtape in 2023. His stage name is inspired by the movie Scarface.
Profile Summary
| Full Name: | Marvin Bernard |
| Date Of Birth: | March 31, 1978 |
| Place Of Birth: | Queens, New York City, U.S |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation(s): | Rapper, Songwriter |
| Labels: | Interscope, G-Unit |
| Net Worth: | $4 Million |
Early Life And Education
Marvin Bernard, born on March 31, 1978, in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, came from Haitian immigrant parents.
He quit school at fifteen to deal drugs for his family’s support, and his parents split a year later. Growing up, he formed lasting friendships with Lloyd Banks and 50 Cent.
Career
After serving time for drug charges, Bernard, using the name Tony Yayo, joined forces with 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks to create G-Unit. Despite challenges, the group released successful mixtapes and albums, marking their place in the rap scene. However, due to internal conflicts, G-Unit disbanded in 2014 but briefly reunited before disbanding again in 2022.
Tony Yayo faced a setback in his rap career with a jail sentence from early 2003 to mid-2004. While incarcerated, his friends in G-Unit and Eminem launched a “Free Yayo” campaign, gaining attention even at the 2003 Grammy Awards.
Tony Yayo regained traction upon his release, appearing on mixtapes and featuring on Lloyd Banks’ hit album “The Hunger for More”. His solo debut with “Thoughts of a Predicate Felon” in 2005 reached number two on the Billboard 200.
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In 2007, Tony Yayo started working on his second studio album. Yayo and Lloyd Banks left Interscope in 2009 due to conflicts with 50 Cent and the label’s co-founder, Jimmy Iovine. Tony Yayo released singles like “Pass the Patron” in 2010 and “Haters” in 2011 featuring 50 Cent, Shawty Lo, and Roscoe Dash.
After a twelve-year break, Yayo released his sophomore album “The Loyal” on February 10, 2023, on Apple Music, followed by other platforms on Valentine’s Day. He also released a mixtape called the “134 Tape” in July.
Personal Life
Tony Yayo has two children, a son and a daughter, but is not married. Although he was in a relationship with Karrine Steffans in 2001, Yayo has kept his love life private in recent years and little is known about his current romantic status.
Tony Yayo Net Worth
Currently, Tony Yayo’s net worth stands at approximately $4 million
Discography
Tony Yayo’s discography includes:
Mixtapes
El Chapo: The Wave God
Godfather of the Ghetto
Gunpowder Guru 3
Gangstas & a Gentleman
Hawaiian Snow
The Swine Flu
Black Friday
EPs
- The Beauty of Independence (with G-Unit)
- The Beast Is G-Unit (with G-Unit)
Albums
- Thoughts of a Predicate Felon
Singles
- So Seductive (featuring 50 Cent)
- Curious
- Tattle Teller