On June 10, 2011, during an interview, it was confirmed by both Shawty Lo and AllHipHop that he had signed a new label deal with G-Unit Records, after it was reported they were in talks. On ApShawty Lo would release a new single, titled 'Atlanta, GA', which featured vocals from Gucci Mane, Ludacris and The-Dream. On March 23, 2009, Shawty Lo announced that he had changed his second album's title from Carlos to I Am Carlos and its release date would be June 3, 2009. On March 9, 2009, Shawty Lo released a song titled 'Roll the Dice' the song is known for marking the end of the feud between him and fellow Atlanta-based rapper T.I. On DecemShawty Lo released a song from the album entitled 'Supplier' it featured vocals from Trey Songz and Lil Wayne. In late 2008 Shawty Lo started working on a new album entitled Carlos artists that were to be featured on the album included Rick Ross, T-Pain, Lil' Kim, Bun B, Nate Butler, Lyfe Jennings, Mýa, T.I., Lil Wayne, and Gucci Mane. The 'Foolish' music video also included cameo appearances from Pitbull, Jadakiss and Ace Hood. These include Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Plies, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled, Birdman, Rick Ross and Jim Jones. The songs 'Dey Know' and 'Foolish', were both officially remixed, featuring new verses from several high-profile artists. Shawty Lo also released a music video for the album cut, 'Got Em 4 da LO'. The album spawned two other singles, ' Dunn Dunn' and the remix to ' Foolish'. Units in the City peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart and at number two on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling over 160,000 copies to date. The album features guest appearances from Shawty Lo's D4L cohorts, as well as Gucci Mane, among others. On February 26, 2008, his solo debut studio album Units in the City, was released. The single charted in the Top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. On December 4, 2007, Shawty Lo released ' Dey Know', his solo commercial debut single. As was another Atlanta-based hip hop group Dem Franchize Boyz, D4L was part of the snap music trend in 2006, which continued when Mississippi-based rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, came out with the number one hit single ' Crank That (Soulja Boy)', in 2007.

In January 2006, D4L's single ' Laffy Taffy', reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The group debuted with 'Betcha Can't Do It Like Me', which Billboard claimed to have popularized snap music. It was also a multi-platinum ring tone and scored a ASCAP award. The latter of which attributed much to the group's success, as it broke records as the most downloaded song in the history of music according to the 2007 Guinness Book of the World Records. The album had spawned the hit singles ' Betcha Can't Do It Like Me' and ' Laffy Taffy'. ĭ4L's debut album, titled Down for Life, was executive produced by Shawty Lo and eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The group signed to the indie label Dee Money Entertainment, which released the group's debut in conjunction with Asylum Records. He explained that the group's name stands for 'Down for Life'. Shawty Lo self-funded the group in its early days. Shawty Lo subsequently launched his indie record label D4L Records.

In 2003, Shawty Lo formed the Southern hip hop group D4L, with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Fabo, Mook-B and Stoney.

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