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Murder Inc. (rap Group)
Murder Inc. was an American East Coast hip hop supergroup composed of Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, formed by record executive Irv Gotti in 1995. They first appeared in tandem on fellow New York-based rapper Mic Geronimo's 1995 song "Time to Build." After each gaining commercial success, the trio later appeared on the cover for the June 1999 issue of the hip-hop magazine '' XXL''. "Murder Inc." was rebranded by Irv Gotti to a namesake record label that he co-founded in 1998; Ja Rule was signed to the label and served as its flagship artist. Shortly afterward, the group disbanded in 2000 due to internal conflicts. History In 1987, DJ Irv Gotti met Jay-Z and the two ran around London together while Jaz-O was recording his debut album '' Word to the Jaz''. Irv would later remark: "I knew Jay was different and special from them". In 1988, Irv met DMX through his relationship with Jay-Z and Jaz-O, as they went on tour with Main Source and The U.M.C.'s. Irv shared a room with p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ruff Ryders
Ruff Ryders Entertainment is an American hip hop record label and management company founded by siblings and record executives Joaquin "Waah", Darrin "Dee" and Chivon Dean in 1988. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Interscope Records, with Def Jam Recordings serving as the distributor for DMX albums. The label went on to launch the careers of several successful artists such as DMX, Eve, The LOX (Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Styles P), Drag-On, MC Jin, producers Dame Grease and the Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz among others. The Ruff Ryders namesake also referred to a loose-knit hip hop collective composed of the core signees of the label. Ruff Ryders and its main studio Powerhouse Studios are headquartered at 33 South Broadway in Yonkers, New York. History 1988–1999: Rise and success Joaquin "Waah" Dean was a hustler trying to transition to entertainment, Puff Daddy and Waah knew each other from both being raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Waah aske ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Lox
The Lox (stylized The LOX or The L.O.X.) is an American hip hop trio composed of East Coast rappers Sheek Louch, Styles P and Jadakiss. Each hailing from Yonkers, New York, the group formed in 1994 and signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records two years later to release their debut studio album, '' Money, Power & Respect'' (1998). Despite critical and commercial success, the group parted ways with the label in favor of Ruff Ryders Entertainment in 1999, through which they released their similarly successful follow-up, '' We Are the Streets'' (2000). History Formation and career beginnings (1994–1996) Jason " Jadakiss" Phillips, David " Styles P" Styles, and Sean " Sheek Louch" Jacobs, began their musical careers in their hometown of Yonkers, New York. As high school students, they formed a group called the Bomb Squad and began performing at local shows and producing their own demos. In 1994, they appeared on Main Source's "Set It Off" from the album '' Fuck What You Thin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin Liles
Kevin Liles (born February 27, 1968) is an American record executive who is the co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment. In 2020, Kevin was recognized by Billboard Magazine as R&B/Hip-Hop Executive of the Year for both his efforts in activism and the continued success of Megan Thee Stallion. Early life and education Liles grew up near Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from Woodlawn High School. He was raised by his mother, Alberta Fennoy, an accountant, and stepfather Jerome Fennoy, a railway conductor, along with three siblings. He attended Morgan State University, studying engineering on an electrical engineering scholarship from NASA, but left the program prior to graduating to pursue a musical career. Career Liles began his music career as a member of the Baltimore-based DJ crew, Numarx. In 1986, the group co-wrote " Girl You Know It's True," which was first recorded by Numarx but later became a massive first hit for Milli Vanilli. Liles was president of Def Jam Rec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Artists And Repertoire
Artists and repertoire (or A&R for short) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for scouting, financing, and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label or publishing company. Responsibilities Finding talent The A&R division of a record label is responsible for finding new recording artists and bringing those artists to the record company. A&R staff may go to hear emerging Musical ensemble, bands play at nightclubs and festivals to scout for talent. Personnel in the A&R division are expected to understand the current tastes of the market and to be able to find artists who will be commercially successful. An A&R executive is authorized to offer a record contract, often in the form of a "deal memo" – a short, informal document that establishes a business relationship between the recording artist and the record company. The actual contract negot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Music Executive
A music executive or record executive is a person within a music company, in particular, a record label who works in senior management and makes executive decisions over the label's artists. Their role varies greatly but in essence, they can oversee one, or many, aspects of a record label, including A&R, contract A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typically involves consent to transfer of goods, services, money, or promise to transfer any of thos ...s, music management, management, Music publisher (popular music), publishing, record producer, production, manufacturing, manufacture, marketing/Promotion (marketing), promotion, Record distributor, distribution, copyright, and concert tour, touring. Although music executives work in senior management, a number of them have gone on to establish record labels of their own. Some of these owners start their careers in the musi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lyor Cohen
Lyor Cohen (born October 3, 1959) is an American music industry executive. He is YouTube's global head of music. He began his career in the 1980s at Rush Management and Def Jam, and later held senior positions at Island Def Jam and Warner Music Group. He also founded 300 Entertainment. Early life and education Cohen was born in New York City in 1959 to Israeli immigrants. His family moved to New York in 1965, In 1981 he graduated with a degree in global marketing and finance from the University of Miami School of Business at the University of Miami. After graduating from the University of Miami, he worked briefly in the Beverly Hills office of Bank Leumi. Music career Rush Productions, Rush Artist Management, Def Jam In the early 80s, after promoting a pair of rock and rap shows at The Mix Club in Hollywood (one featured Run-DMC, the other featured Whodini), Cohen moved to New York to take a job at Simmons' Rush Productions (later called Rush Artist Management). B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Funkmaster Flex
Aston George Taylor Jr. (born August 5, 1967), professionally known as Funkmaster Flex, is an American DJ, rapper, record producer, and host on New York City's Hot 97 radio station. In 1992, he became host of the first hip hop radio show on Hot 97 in New York, which was a pop radio station at the time. Early life Aston Taylor Jr. was born in the Bronx borough of New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents. His father, DJ Aston George Taylor Sr., was a sound system professional. He was raised in a strict, religious household. At the age of 16, he began DJing at local nightclubs. Radio career By the age of 19, Flex began working with fellow Bronx native Chuck Chillout for WRKS 98.7 Kiss-FM in New York. He later left KISS, and spent a brief period at 107.5 WBLS-FM.Shapiro, Peter (2005) ''The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop'', Rough Guides, , p.149-150 In the early 1990s, Flex made club appearances at many of Vito Bruno's operated nightclubs. Bruno later convinced Joel Salkowitz, a regi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ain't No Nigga
"Ain't No Nigga" (censored as "Ain't No Playa") is the second single from American rapper Jay-Z's first album, ''Reasonable Doubt'', and is featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film '' The Nutty Professor''. It was released on March 19, 1996. The track features Foxy Brown and contains uncredited vocals by Jaz-O. Background The song's beat is produced by Big Jaz who samples "Seven Minutes of Funk" by the funk band The Whole Darn Family. The song's chorus was sung by Jaz-O, and interpolates " Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" by the Four Tops. The "Ain't No Nigga" single goes under the clean alias "Ain't No Playa". Foxy Brown was 17 at the time when the song was released. Citing the funky production and lyrics about unfaithful relationships, Spence D. of IGN describes it as "one of the better opposite sex rap duets ever laid on wax."Spence D"Reasonable Doubt Review". IGN.com. November 10, 2003. Retrieved June 25, 2007. "Ain't No Nigga" is cited as playing a significa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reasonable Doubt (album)
''Reasonable Doubt'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on June 25, 1996, by his own record label Roc-A-Fella Records and distributed by Priority Records. The album features production provided by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and also includes guest appearances from Memphis Bleek, Mary J. Blige, Jaz-O, and the Notorious B.I.G., among others. The album features mafioso rap themes and gritty lyrics about the "hustler" lifestyle and material obsessions. ''Reasonable Doubt'' debuted at number 23 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, on which it charted for 18 weeks. It was promoted with four singles; including " Ain't No Nigga" and " Can't Knock the Hustle". ''Reasonable Doubt'' was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and, as of 2006, has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States. A critical success, it has been ranked on several publications' lists of hip-hop's greatest albums, while many hip hop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records was an American record label and music management company founded in 1994 by record executives and entrepreneurs Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Carter issued his debut album, '' Reasonable Doubt'' (1996), as the label's first release, in a joint venture with Priority Records. The label signed and released albums for acts including Kanye West, Cam'ron, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Juelz Santana, Freeway, Jadakiss, DJ Clue?, State Property, and The Diplomats before its dissolution in 2013. History 1994–2000: Formation and early years Roc-A-Fella Records was founded in 1994. After Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter had been rejected by major record labels, it began as an independent outlet for the rapper's debut album. Carter, Damon Dash and Kareem Burke started the label through Priority Records, using finances from Payday Records due to their singles-only deal. The name "Roc-A-Fella" was conceived by rapper Tone Hooker as a dou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kareem Burke
Kareem "Biggs" Burke (born January 19, 1974) is an American entrepreneur, record executive, and producer. He is best known as the co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records along with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Damon "Dame" Dash. Early life Kareem Burke was born in Harlem, New York City, on January 19, 1974. Burke has several siblings, C. Burke, Brian L Burke, Robert "Bobalob" Burke, Kyambo R. "Hip-Hop" Joshua, Jamil "Mal" Clay and a sister. In 2003, his brother Robert E. Burke III was murdered in the Bronx. Career In 1995, Burke co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Damon "Dame" Dash. In 2004, Roc-A-Fella Records was purchased by Def Jam Recordings (which had previously only owned half of the company). In 2017, Burke hired Julia Lang to work as his image consultant for two years. In 2018, Burke executive produced the film, '' O.G.'' which premiered on HBO on February 23, 2019. In February 2019, it was announced that Burke had signed Sai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
