Dwight Grant (born on March 6, 1974), also known as
Beanie Sigel, is a
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper from
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-most-populous city in the United States.In 2008, the population of the city proper was estimated to be over 1.4 million, while the metropolitan area's population of 5.8 million made it the country's fifth-largest...
, an artist on
Roc-A-Fella RecordsRoc-A-Fella Records is an American vanity record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. A subsidiary of Universal Music Group, the label's title refers to American oil magnate and businessman John Rockefeller....
who has formed a close association with rappers
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
,
FreewayLeslie Edward Pridgen, better known by his stage name Freeway, is an American rapper. Best known for his tenure on Roc-A-Fella Records and his affiliation with Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, he is recognized by his high-pitched delivery and for the long beard he keeps due to his Muslim faith...
and other former and current artists on the roster. His stage name comes from a street in South Philadelphia, the rapper's former stomping grounds where he worked alongside Senior Durham in the projects.
Signing, The Truth & The Reason
Beanie Sigel's first major appearance was on
The RootsThe Roots is an American alternative hip hop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals. Their debut album was released in 1993 and they have collaborated with a wide range of artists from...
album
Things Fall ApartThings Fall Apart is the fourth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released February 23, 1999 on Geffen Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Electric Lady Studios during 1997 to 1999, coinciding with recording for other projects of the Soulquarians collective,...
, on the song "Adrenaline!"; six months later, he "ran into Jay" and was signed after an audition. He was featured on "Reservoir Dogs," from Jay-Z's 1998 album
Vol. 2... Hard Knock LifeVol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third album released by rapper Jay-Z. The album propelled Jay-Z into superstar status and cemented him as a household name. It also helped him emerge as an extremely dominant force in the post Biggie/Tupac era of hip hop...
, alongside
Sauce MoneySauce Money is a rapper.He was featured on Jay-Z's debut, Reasonable Doubt, on the DJ Premier-produced "Bring it On", and on Jay's third album, Vol...
and The L.O.X., as well as the remix to his "
Money, Cash, Hoes"Money, Cash, Hoes" is a song featured on Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It features rapper DMX and production by Swizz Beatz. Its beat features a heavy use of descending synthesizers.- Remix single :...
", which also featured
Memphis BleekMalik Thuston Cox, better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek or "Memphis Grillz" , is a New York rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-A-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records...
and
DMXEarl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is an American entertainer who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name stands for Dog Man X, the name he used when he first started rapping in 1990. To date, his best-selling album is his 1999 album ...And Then There Was X, which featured...
. Sigel was also prominently featured on Jay's 2000 'group' album,
The Dynasty: Roc La FamiliaThe Dynasty: Roc La Familia is the 5th studio album released by American rapper Jay-Z. Originally a Roc-A-Fella Records collaboration album, a showcase for Roc-A-Fella artists such as Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel and Freeway, it eventually became another Jay-Z solo album , although the Roc-A-Fella...
, before releasing his solo debut
The TruthThe Truth is the debut album by Philadelphian rapper Beanie Sigel. It was released on February 29, 2000 to positive critical and commercial success. It reached Number 5 on The Billboard 200 and had three charting remotely popular singles: "Anything", "Remember Them Days" and "The Truth," which...
in 2000, selling Gold.
After appearing on albums by
SisqoMark Althavean Andrews better known by his stage name Sisqó, is a Grammy Award-nominated American R&B singer and actor...
,
AZAnthony Cruz, better known as AZ of Afro-Dominican descented, is an American rapper. AZ is best known for being a long time rhyme partner of Nas and being a member of hip-hop super group The Firm alongside Nas and Foxy Brown...
, and
Tha Dogg PoundTha Dogg Pound, also known as D.P.G. , is a rap duo made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs...
, Sigel followed up with his sophomore album,
The ReasonThe Reason is the second album by rapper Beanie Sigel. The album was released on Roc-A-Fella Records on June 26, 2001. The album contains 14 tracks, and special guests include Scarface, Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Jay-Z, Daz, Kurupt, Clinton Sparks and Rell....
. Its single was "Beanie (Mack Bitch)", produced by
Just BlazeJustin Smith, better known as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop music producer from Paterson, New Jersey. Blaze is also the CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment.-Production career:Smith began producing for well known musicians in the late 1990s...
, and the rapper followed his release with high-profile appearances on
DJ ClueErnesto Shaw, better known as DJ Clue?, is a Mixtape DJ known for his involvement in the Mixtape circuit and for being one of the first DJ's not to mix songs in his mixtapes. He has a sister Lisa and a daughter Bryana. He was signed as an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records...
's
The Professional 2The Professional 2 is the second album released and produced by DJ Clue. This CD contains 23 songs, but most of them are short. The albums sold 882,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan and was certified Gold on March 28, 2001....
,
Cam'ronCameron Giles better known by his stage name Cam'ron, previously known as Killa Cam, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper and actor. He is the founder of the hip hop group The Diplomats, commonly known as Dipset....
's Platinum Roc-A-Fella debut
Come Home With MeCome Home with Me is rapper Cam'ron's third album and debut on Roc-A-Fella Records. It sold over 226,000 copies in the first week of release. To date, it is his most commercially successful album, moving over 1 million copies and being certified platinum by the RIAA...
, and a single from
NellyCornell Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is a rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly made his solo debut in 2000 with Country Grammar, the title track of...
's platinum album
NellyvilleNellyville is the second album by rapper Nelly released in 2002. The singles released from this album were "Hot in Herre", "Dilemma", "#1 , "Air Force Ones", "Work It", "Roc The Mic " and "Pimp Juice"...
--the track "Roc the Mic (Remix)", alongside Freeway, Nelly and Murphy Lee.
Ruff Ryders Conflict & State Property
The new millennium also saw various Roc artists, including Sigel, engage in a conflict with artists from
Ruff RydersRuff Ryders Entertainment is a New York-based record label and management company, specializing in hip hop music. It was founded in 1988 by Chivon Dean and her brothers Dee and Waah, uncles of producer Swizz Beatz...
. Beans was a forerunner of the beef, publicly decrying
JadakissJadakiss is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. He recently signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, an imprint under Def Jam Recordings....
, the rest of the L.O.X. and
DMXEarl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is an American entertainer who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name stands for Dog Man X, the name he used when he first started rapping in 1990. To date, his best-selling album is his 1999 album ...And Then There Was X, which featured...
. While Sigel and Kiss both denied any violent intent, they continued to send shots back and forth until Beans put out a freestyle over Jada's hit "Put Ya Hands Up". Conversely, he cultivated a friendship with southern rapper
ScarfaceBrad Jordan better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys.-Life and career:...
. Having first appeared together on "This Can't Be Life" with Jay-Z from
Dynasty, the two would go on to collaborate on Sigel's first two records, Scarface's
The FixThe Fix is the seventh album by emcee Scarface and his first on the Def Jam Recordings. Scarface became the president of Def Jam South the year before the release of this album, which was highly acclaimed, receiving the last 5-mic rating from The Source Magazine before Lil' Kim's The Naked Truth....
, and later on Sigel's 2007 album
The Solution. The two extoll their friendship to the point that Scarface eventually declared that he would retire unless he could do a full-length record with Beans, suggesting the title
Mac & Brad and production by
Kanye WestKanye West is an American singer/rapper. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008. His first three albums have received numerous awards and critical acclaim...
.
In 2002, Sigel and much of the Roc roster starred in a Dame Dash-produced movie entitled State Property. Its release coincided with the creation and promotion of
State PropertyState Property is a rap group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA led by Roc-A-Fella Records rapper Beanie Sigel with Philly rappers Freeway, Peedi Peedi, Oschino, and Sparks, and the Young Gunz and female R&B singer Casha...
, a group of artists signed to Roc-A-Fella that hailed from Philadelphia and organized by Sigel and Freeway. Its members included Peedi Crakk, the
Young GunzThe Young Gunz are a rap duo from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are composed of Young Chris and Neef Buck . They are members of Beanie Sigel's State Property collective and are formely signed to Roc-A-Fella Records...
,
OschinoOschino Vasquez is a rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He and Omillio Sparks were both part of the rap group State Property which also included Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk and the Young Gunz. Together, they were all signed to Roc-A-Fella Records....
and Omilio Sparks. Their first collaboration was for the movie's soundtrack, an eponymous release that featured the original "Roc the Mic" by Sigel and Freeway. They followed up with 2003's
The Chain Gang Vol. 2The Chain Gang Vol. 2 is the debut album by Philadelphia rap group State Property. It was released in 2003. Young Gunz' "Can't Stop Won't Stop" was later nominated for the 2003 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy Award.-Track listing:...
, featuring the single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" by the Young Gunz; the record was nominated for a
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group.
Incarceration & The B. Coming
In 2004, Sigel was found guilty of federal weapons charges and sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison. He finished his 3rd album,
The B. ComingThe B. Coming is the third album by rapper Beanie Sigel, released by Dame Dash Music Group on February 22, 2005. The album contains 15 songs. Special guests include Freeway, Redman, Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Jay-Z, Cam'ron, and others...
, and shot multiple videos, directed by Joe Briscella, before he had to start his sentence,. During this time, Jay-Z ascended to the Presidency of Def Jam Records, causing former business partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to split off and form the
Dame Dash Music GroupDame Dash Music Group is a record label started by Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. It was created after Dash and Burke parted way with Roc-a-Fella Records and former business partner Jay-Z to pursue other ventures....
. Sigel's
B. Coming was released on DDMG and Def Jam rather than Roc-A-Fella, but contained production from a slew of Roc/Jay-Z-affiliated producers including Chad West,
The NeptunesThe Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for some successful Hip hop, R&B and Pop artists in the late-90s and 2000s....
, Just Blaze, Boola and
BuckwildBuckwild is a popular Hip hop producer hailing from The Bronx, New York. Originally a DJ, Buck began producing after meeting MC/Producer Lord Finesse. He later joined Finesse's super-crew D.I.T.C., along with Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C...
. Artists from both sides of the split were present on the record, from State Property members to Cam'ron and Jay-Z; the record spawned Sigel a hit with "Feel it in the Air," sold 131,000 copies in its first week and reached Gold status in sales.
Advertising his friendship with the incarcerated Beans, Dash publicly claimed the artist was leaving the roster with him; during the sentence, State Property was thrown into turmoil, eventually choosing to remain at Roc-A-Fella—apparently against Sigel's wishes. Upon his release, Beans called the loyalty of his group into question and stated that he was signing with Dame and Biggs courtesy of a stronger casual relationship with the pair than with Jay-Z:
Soon after, he clarified his comments, saying he simply didn't want to be involved in the conflict and electing to re-open talks with Roc-A-Fella instead of moving to DDMG; rumors also surfaced that he was in talks with
G-UnitG-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mixtapes. The name of the group is short for Guerilla Unit as well as Gangsta Unit.-Early days:...
.
Re-Signing With the Roc & The Solution
Sigel's presence at
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
's
I Declare War concert in 2005 clarified any rumors as to his label status; Sigel soon re-signed to Roc-A-Fella, announcing the formation of his Def Jam-housed
State Property Records. '06 marked Beanie's first post-beef collaboration with Jadakiss, "Problem" from
DJ KhaledKhaled Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is a Palestinian American hip hop musician and radio personality. He is the DJ for the group Terror Squad and a record producer. Khaled also is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR...
's
Listennn: The Album, and appearances on several Def Jam-related projects including
LudacrisChristopher Brian Bridges better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
'
Release TherapyRelease Therapy is the Grammy Award-winning fifth album from Def Jam recording artist Ludacris. It was released on September 26, 2006.-Background:Release Therapy won the Best Rap Album award for the 2007 Grammy Awards....
, DJ Clue's
The Professional, Pt. 3The Professional, Pt. 3 is the fourth album from DJ and producer DJ Clue. It was released on May 23, 2006 under Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella Records....
, Jay-Z's
American GangsterAmerican Gangster is the tenth studio album by American hip hop rapper Jay-Z, released November 6, 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. American Gangster is Jay-Z's first concept album, which was inspired by the film of the same name. The album features production from Diddy & The...
and the remix to Kanye West's hit single "Can't Tell Me Nothin'." On May 25 2006, shortly after 8:00 am, Sigel was shot twice in the upper right arm during a robbery attempt. He was hospitalized and was said to be in good condition, and later recovered.
In 2007, Beanie reversed previous statements made about his friendship with Damon Dash, revealing that he felt the former CEO was cultivating his friendship for selfish purposes:
Sigel went to work on his next album,
The Solution, with an even more eclectic set of producers and guests. It didn't hit critically: critics cited lack of production from Kanye West and Just Blaze as Sigel's
Achilles heelAchilles Heel may refer to:* Achilles' heel, a metaphor for a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength* Achilles Heel , an album by Pedro the Lion* Achilles tendon* Achilles Heel...
; the album eventually sold over 112,000 units.
Roc's Latter Days, Future Projects
In 2008, Peedi Crakk claimed that a Roc-A-Fella A&R sent by Jay-Z told him that Roc-A-Fella was no more, and that the group had been dropped from the label. Sigel's manager, however, clarified the situation by explaining that Freeway and Sigel were both still signed to Roc-A-Fella; the freshly-reunited group have continued to record together, even after most of them were dropped. Still, Sigel has maintained that the Roc's promotion of
The Solution was lacking, and while avowing his friendship for Jay-Z, also implicated then-Def Jam President in the lack of promotion of—and response to—his album.
After cosigning the addition of his former rival Jadakiss to Roc-A-Fella, Sigel went underground, and has since rarely surfaced; on March 27, 2008, Sigel was sentenced to three months in prison for a third probation violation following positive tests for Xanax and
PercocetPercocet is a trade name of Endo Pharmaceuticals for a narcotic pain killer used to treat moderate to severe acute pain. The active ingredients of Percocet are oxycodone, and acetaminophen. -History:The U.S...
over five times in the past month. The rapper had already been sentenced to six months house arrest for a previous violation. He was released from custody on June 25, 2008. Following this, groupmate Freeway explained that Beans is finishing out his parole, and that afterwards he will begin to become more active. Sigel was recently featured on
Asher RothAsher Paul Roth is an American rapper. He was signed to a joint venture between Scooter Braun's Schoolboy Music and Steve Rifkind’s SRC Records. His first professional release was on June 13, 2008 when the DJ Drama and Don Cannon-helmed The GreenHouse Effect Mixtape was released for free via...
's debut album,
Asleep in the Bread AisleAsleep in the Bread Aisle is the debut studio album by American rapper Asher Roth. It was released on April 20, 2009. The album's first single was "I Love College". The second single was "Be By Myself" and the third "She Don't Wanna Man." On Asleep in the Bread Aisle, known producers like Don...
. Beanie is also set to appear on rapper
RaekwonCorey Woods better known by the stage name Raekwon , is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995, and has continued recording solo and with the Wu-Tang Clan since then...
's latest opus,
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, on a track called "Have Mercy."
Discography
- The Truth
The Truth is the debut album by Philadelphian rapper Beanie Sigel. It was released on February 29, 2000 to positive critical and commercial success. It reached Number 5 on The Billboard 200 and had three charting remotely popular singles: "Anything", "Remember Them Days" and "The Truth," which...
(1999)
- The Reason
The Reason is the second album by rapper Beanie Sigel. The album was released on Roc-A-Fella Records on June 26, 2001. The album contains 14 tracks, and special guests include Scarface, Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Jay-Z, Daz, Kurupt, Clinton Sparks and Rell....
(2001)
- The B. Coming
The B. Coming is the third album by rapper Beanie Sigel, released by Dame Dash Music Group on February 22, 2005. The album contains 15 songs. Special guests include Freeway, Redman, Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Jay-Z, Cam'ron, and others...
(2005)
- The Solution (2007)
- The Broad Street Bully
The Broad Street Bully is the fifth studio album by rapper Beanie Sigel. It was released on September 1 2009.-Track listing:#Beanie 1:23#Why Wouldn't I 3:53#Tear Drops 3:03#Where's My Opponent 3:00...
(2009)
External links