Custom Made (hip hop group)
Encyclopedia
Custom Made is an American
hip hop
trio from Los Angeles
, California
known for their hardcore reality based mixtape
series, Street Cinema. They were key players in helping to establish a mixtape
scene in Los Angeles
during the early 2000s. The group is made up of emcees Bluff, Element and Scoobs.
series which would help catapult the group's underground notoriety. Within a few years of their formation Custom Made had already sold over 100,000 units worldwide. After a string of mixtape
releases Custom Made saw their popularity grow, but with the release of The Blackboard Jungle (2006) they enjoyed their most success and began receiving offers from numerous labels. They ultimately made the decision to turn down the majors and go the independent route by signing with Babygrande
in 2006. That same year, Babygrande
released Sidewalk Mindtalk, a compilation highlighting their standout mixtape records. Their proper debut album, Fresh Out, was intended to be released after their signing, but was put on hold after Six was sentenced to four years in prison for counterfeiting and drug sales. 2006 also marked the year Aneek relocated to the East Coast. The material originally intended for Fresh Out was eventually converted into Truth Be Told and released by Rawkus
in 2007. With Six in prison and Aneek on the East Coast, the crew returned as a trio to release their proper Babygrande
debut, Original Dynasty, in 2008. In 2009, the group left Babygrande
due to financial disagreements and released The Lost Weekend independently. In 2010 the group signed a one album deal with NY label Coalmine Records
to release their fourth studio album, Hi-Def.
Along with fellow LA acts such as Strong Arm Steady
and DJ Warrior, Custom Made helped pioneer a mixtape
scene that was previously non-existent in Los Angeles
. Custom Made became one of the first LA artists to consistently use mixtapes and DVDs for promotional and marketing purposes.
On March 7, 2011 Bluff appeared in a Los Angeles federal court and was charged with fifteen counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal prosecutors accused Bluff and ten co-defendants of scamming $1.5 million out of victims throughout the US with an advanced fee scam. He currently faces up to twenty years in prison on those charges.
based hip hop
musicians made up of Aneek, Bluff, Element, Paradox, Skitzo, Scoobs, Six and S-Mak and producers Abstrakt Soundz, THX, Finesse, and Jayem. Members from the crew have appeared on every Custom Made release since LA State of Mind.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
trio from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
known for their hardcore reality based mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
series, Street Cinema. They were key players in helping to establish a mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
scene in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
during the early 2000s. The group is made up of emcees Bluff, Element and Scoobs.
Career
In 2002, Bluff, Element, Scoobs and Six formed the group at their high school in LA. Aneek was introduced to the group through mutual friends and joined the crew later that year. In 2004, they released their first straight-to-street album, LA State of Mind, to critical acclaim. This led to the beginning of their Street Cinema mixtapeMixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
series which would help catapult the group's underground notoriety. Within a few years of their formation Custom Made had already sold over 100,000 units worldwide. After a string of mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
releases Custom Made saw their popularity grow, but with the release of The Blackboard Jungle (2006) they enjoyed their most success and began receiving offers from numerous labels. They ultimately made the decision to turn down the majors and go the independent route by signing with Babygrande
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
in 2006. That same year, Babygrande
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
released Sidewalk Mindtalk, a compilation highlighting their standout mixtape records. Their proper debut album, Fresh Out, was intended to be released after their signing, but was put on hold after Six was sentenced to four years in prison for counterfeiting and drug sales. 2006 also marked the year Aneek relocated to the East Coast. The material originally intended for Fresh Out was eventually converted into Truth Be Told and released by Rawkus
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
in 2007. With Six in prison and Aneek on the East Coast, the crew returned as a trio to release their proper Babygrande
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
debut, Original Dynasty, in 2008. In 2009, the group left Babygrande
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
due to financial disagreements and released The Lost Weekend independently. In 2010 the group signed a one album deal with NY label Coalmine Records
Coalmine Records
Coalmine Records is a Brooklyn, New York based independent hip-hop record label. Over the years, Coalmine Records has amassed an extensive hip-hop catalog while working with several iconic and up-coming artists, producers and DJs such as Pharaohe Monch, El Da Sensei, Kool G...
to release their fourth studio album, Hi-Def.
Along with fellow LA acts such as Strong Arm Steady
Strong Arm Steady
Strong Arm Steady, often referred to as SAS, is a rap/hip hop group in California's underground hip hop scene. As of December 2009, the act consists of members Mitchy Slick of San Diego, California, and Phil Da Agony and probably the most visually distinct member, Krondon, who is albinistic...
and DJ Warrior, Custom Made helped pioneer a mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...
scene that was previously non-existent in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Custom Made became one of the first LA artists to consistently use mixtapes and DVDs for promotional and marketing purposes.
On March 7, 2011 Bluff appeared in a Los Angeles federal court and was charged with fifteen counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal prosecutors accused Bluff and ten co-defendants of scamming $1.5 million out of victims throughout the US with an advanced fee scam. He currently faces up to twenty years in prison on those charges.
Custom Made Recordings
In 2004, Scoobs founded Custom Made Recordings as an outlet for the group to release their independent albums and mixtapes. The label is currently distributed by IODA.Custom Made Crew
The Custom Made Crew is a collective of Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
based hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
musicians made up of Aneek, Bluff, Element, Paradox, Skitzo, Scoobs, Six and S-Mak and producers Abstrakt Soundz, THX, Finesse, and Jayem. Members from the crew have appeared on every Custom Made release since LA State of Mind.
Albums
| Album information |
|---|
LA State of Mind
|
| Truth Be Told
Rawkus Records Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass... |
| Original Dynasty
Babygrande Records Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:... |
| Coalmine Records Coalmine Records Coalmine Records is a Brooklyn, New York based independent hip-hop record label. Over the years, Coalmine Records has amassed an extensive hip-hop catalog while working with several iconic and up-coming artists, producers and DJs such as Pharaohe Monch, El Da Sensei, Kool G... |
Mixtapes
| Album information |
|---|
Live From Los Angeles
|
| Pillow Talk
|
| Sin City
|
| The Blackboard Jungle
|
| Sidewalk Mindtalk
Babygrande Records Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:... |
| Heavy Traffic
|
| The Lost Weekend
|