Tony Yayo is keeping the drama off the internet and the focus on business.

During his latest sit-down with VladTV – his 19th appearance on the platform – the G-Unit veteran finally addressed the recent tension with Jim Jones, Memphis Bleek, and the online chatter surrounding him, after even 50 Cent joked that Yayo was “taking too long” to respond.

Rather than dive into a back-and-forth, Yayo explained why he chose not to go full throttle in public.

“He was right,” Yayo said of 50’s comment. “I could’ve responded and said, ‘Yo, drop a pin, link up, we both can die.’ Or, ‘I got a bigger house than you, I got more money than you.’ But sometimes I realize the hate is better for me.”

For Yayo, the so-called “hate” is just free promo.

“Lies Turn Into Likes”

Yayo started by thanking the platforms and personalities amplifying his name, even when the conversations are negative.

“First of all, I want to shout out Joe for the promo. I want to shout out Memphis Bleek and N.O.R.E. ‘cause N.O.R.E. is pushing Memphis Bleek. I want to shout out Akademiks, Adam22, VladTV, Hassan, Harlem Legend TV, China Brim… it’s promo to me. It doesn’t matter.”

He added:

“It was good promo. I appreciate it. I like when lies turn into likes.”

According to Yayo, all the talk just feeds into his visibility and numbers. He points out that when people mention his name, their views go up – and he sees it as mutually beneficial energy rather than a reason to snap online.

No Internet Beef, No Paper Trail

One of the biggest themes in his response is refusing to let internet drama become evidence.

“I’m not gonna go back and forth on the internet and leave anybody – the trail, the feds, anybody – anything on this,” Yayo said. “That’s why I don’t get on the internet, Vlad. I don’t do that.”

He referenced seeing how street beef can spiral into real cases and legal trouble, hinting at situations like the Taxstone case without naming specifics in detail:

“I don’t want to catch a Taxstone case or nothing like that… I know it can get real. That [stuff] costs lawyer money and bail money and all type of [stuff].”

Instead of reacting emotionally, he leans on faith and perspective:

“When people seeing you level up, they got evil eyes. That’s why I pray every night to God. They just evil eyes. G-Unit always been the bad guys.”

On G-Unit, Hate, and Legacy

Yayo also zoomed out to talk about G-Unit’s place in the culture and why he feels they attract so much criticism.

“Now you gotta go to your favorite TV shows, 50’s action TV, whatever it is, and you see G-Unit,” he said. “Imagine if 50 and Banks was back cool and we said we gonna do a mixtape tour. We would take over the world.”

He credits the group’s global reach:

“We had Eminem and Dr. Dre and we went worldwide. There’s not a lot of groups in New York City that went worldwide. As for what G-Unit did, we always gonna be the most hated.”

When it comes specifically to Jim Jones, Yayo frames the situation as strange – especially in light of past comments from Jones and others:

“As for Jimmy talking to me, I look at that as crazy, ‘cause you saying you better than Nas… I just don’t like to talk. But the hate – you need the hate because the hate is good motivation.”

Memphis Bleek, N.O.R.E., and “Promo Campaigns”

Yayo also touched on Memphis Bleek’s name being in the mix, saying he sees most of it as positioning.

“I think Bleek was more on a promo campaign funded by N.O.R.E.,” he said. “I said the Jay-Z thing, and I understand, but I looked at it from a standpoint where even Beanie Sigel came over to our camp. Who didn’t want to be signed to G-Unit?”

He claims there was a time when many artists were looking to align with the crew:

“Fab wanted to be G-Unit. When I came home, they was talking about K. Michelle and Olivia. Everybody wanted to be signed to G-Unit at that time when I got out of jail.”

From his perspective, the responses now are more about visibility than genuine issues:

“To me, I just feel like it was a promo campaign because what they doing over there is really not taking off in my eyes… But your first guest was Ja Rule. Like, you serious?”

“I’m In Morocco Eating Smoked Duck”

Yayo repeatedly contrasts internet talking with the lifestyle and moves he says he’s actually making.

“I don’t get on this internet and talk about nobody in no crazy way. I don’t care. Because while [people] chilling in the streets and bodega in the front of the bodega, I’m in Morocco eating smoked duck,” he said.
“I’m in Italy with Leonardo – [dude] owns so many clubs in Europe. I’m in rooms like that. All that [drama] don’t really matter to me.”

He also mentioned being on private jets with 50 and Uncle Murda when the drama was trending:

“You see my response? I ain’t say nothing. I was on that private jet. Me, Murda and 50 was joking around on the private jet. That’s what we do.”

For him, the backlash is just part of the energy that comes with G-Unit:

“I think it’s just jealousy. It’s always been everybody hates G-Unit… That’s life. Nobody ever – I never wanted to get accepted in the industry world ‘cause I know how we came in the game and I know rappers don’t like each other anyway.”

Industry Friendships, Enemies & Staying Calm

Yayo uses classic examples to show how quickly relationships can flip in rap:

“A lot of friends turn enemies. Biggie and Tupac was cool, right? NBA YoungBoy and Durk was cool, right? They had songs together. The list goes on and on.”

Because of that, he says he’s not impressed by rapper-to-rapper back-and-forth:

“Half of the [people] we had problems with wasn’t even rappers. So why would I worry about a rapper? I’m never worried about the rapper. I’m worried about the stupid [dude] in your entourage just ready to crash out.”

Big Business: Dispensaries, TV Stories & Overseas Shows

Throughout the interview, Yayo emphasizes that his energy is on building real businesses and content.

He reveals he’s involved in bringing stories to 50 Cent for TV, including a project about the Gilgo Beach serial killer case:

“I’m doing big things behind the scenes, man. I’m opening a dispensary. Shout the Indoor, shout the Strain Gang, shout Styles P ‘Strain for Life’ in Harlem. Me and Murda opening a dispensary in Queens right now… I’m bringing movies to 50. I’m not bringing him bootleg movies. I brought him the Gilgo serial killer story. That’s the type of [stuff] I’m bringing to 50.”

He also highlights consistent international booking:

“I just did shows in the Swiss Alps. The Swiss [expletive] Alps. We not talking about [people] skiing in Vermont. I’m in the Swiss Alps. It’s a whole different level.”

According to Yayo, all of this has been done without a traditional industry infrastructure:

“I did this with no publicist, no management. Me and VladTV sat down, we kicked it and the people loved what I said. [Stuff] went viral. So for me, I just stay humble and I always win.”

“Embrace the Hate”

In the end, Tony Yayo circles back to the core of his strategy: use negativity as fuel, not as a trap.

“I need [them] to hate because it motivates me. The hate just motivates you. I’m back pushing the pen. We can go song for song too. It don’t matter to me… But I’m not gonna get on here and just spaz out for no reason.”

He says he knows how the virality game works:

“Bleek knew what he was doing… He was viral for one or two days. I ain’t say nothing. If I went back and forth, then they would have went back and forth and it would’ve made them go viral. So I kinda know how to play the game.”

To Yayo, the real response isn’t a diss – it’s his lifestyle and his longevity.

“My answer is being on a private jet eating smoked duck in Morocco. Dispensary open in Queens. I always win. Sometimes when you stay humble… I always win.”