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Roc-A-Fella Records
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Roc-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.
foundation of Roc-A-Fella Records occurred in 1996, beginning as an independent outlet for rapper Jay-Z's first album. After being turned down by several major labels, Carter, Dash and Burke started their own label through Priority Records, using hustling money as capital for business and music expenses.
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Encyclopedia
Roc-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.
History
Formation & Early Years
The foundation of Roc-A-Fella Records occurred in 1996, beginning as an independent outlet for rapper Jay-Z's first album. After being turned down by several major labels, Carter, Dash and Burke started their own label through Priority Records, using hustling money as capital for business and music expenses. Though Reasonable Doubt didn't immediately attain commercial success, it spawned several hits, a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G. and procured him a reputation in the hip-hop community. Starting out as Roc-A-Fella's only artist, Jaz-O was supported by Biggie producer DJ Clark Kent and DJ Ski, who was then working with Camp Lo; affiliated rappers included duo Da Ranjahz, Sauce Money, Jaz-O, and a young Memphis Bleek, though only Bleek would eventually sign with the label. According to Dame, the label had intended on releasing Nas' group The Firm, but the deal fell through:
The snub, and a sample clearance issue with the Nas-sampling Reasonable Doubt song "Dead Presidents," were elements that contributed to tension between Jay-Z and Nas. As such, its only release in 1997 was Carter's second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, but the label and its figurehead artist saw increasing popularity, mainly due to a high-profile appearance by Jay on B.I.G.'s posthumous Life After Death, complete with Roc-A-Fella and Dame Dash references. While Memphis Bleek signed with the Roc, Sauce Money chose to pursue a deal with Priority, and Jaz refrained from signing anywhere and provided production for only one song on Vol. 1, "Rap Game/Crack Game." In 1998, Roc-A-Fella released the movie Streets is Watching and the accompanying soundtrack; the film compiles various Jay-Z videos into a continuous story, and the album introduced more affiliated acts, including Ranjahz member Wais, then-signed singer Christión, future Roc-A-Fella signees M.O.P., N.O.R.E. and DJ Clue, as well as producer Irv Gotti and his 'group' Murder Inc. (not to be confused with the record label, Murder Inc.) which then consisted of Jay, DMX and Ja Rule.
Jay's 1997 album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, saw him largely depart from his previous entourage and venture forth with producers Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, The 45 King and Jermaine Dupri. Vol. 2 spawned his first major hit, "Hard Knock Life," and became the label's first platinum release; it was the last Roc-A-Fella release to see appearances by Jaz-O or Sauce Money, and the first to feature new Roc artists Beanie Sigel and Amil. DJ Clue released the first of his compilation-album-style series in The Professional, which saw the first Roc-A-Fella appearance of Cam'ron; while DJ Ski had, at the time, formed the production company Roc-A-Blok, affiliated with Sporty Thievz, but the company folded after Ski moved out of New York to take a break from music.
Though Da Ranjahz put in appearances on Memphis Bleek's first album, Coming of Age, in 1999, they soon parted ways with Roc-A-Fella. Jay-Z's 1999 album Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter continued Jay's new affiliations with then-popular producers; in 2002, the label saw a redefinition in both sound and roster. Jay-Z put out The Dynasty: Roc La Familia as a solo album. Originally intended to be a compilation project, it nonetheless featured heavy appearances by Beanie Sigel, Amil and Memphis Bleek, along with a Philly rapper Freeway guest spot that led to his being signed to Roc-A-Fella. Rather than return to Timbaland or Swizz Beatz for production, Jay selected beats from a new crop of producers: The Neptunes, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Bink! and Rick Rock. Except for Rock, each beatsmith would go on to become consistently involved in future Roc-A-Fella projects.
Prominence & Roc Breakup
The new millennium saw Roc-A-Fella Records began to expand one figurehead artist. While Jay-Z remained the label's prominent image--with the acclaimed release of The Blueprint and the closing of his trial for the 1999 stabbing of producer "Un" Rivera--but other Roc artists began to gain popularity and acceptance. Beanie Sigel's The Truth had reached #5 on the Billboard charts in 2000, and DJ Clue released The Professional 2 in '01. Despite the lackluster sales of Amil and Bleek's albums, Jay-Z and Dame Dash began signing up new talent, including Cam'ron, Freeway and the Freeway/Sigel-led Philly group, State Property. Cam'ron put out his major label debut Come Home With Me in 2002 to platinum sales, and shortly signed his group The Diplomats to Roc-A-Fella, as well.
From 2002 to 2003, Dame Dash signed several artists in response to Jay-Z's talk of retirement after his 2002 album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse. He signed M.O.P. and Ol' Dirty Bastard, gave Grafh a joint-venture deal, and attempted to sign Twista and Joe Budden. Roc-A-Fella experienced its height in product releases and overall popularity as a brand name during this period, seeing the release of State Property's Chain Gang albums, Juelz Santana's From Me to U, Freeway's debut Philadelphia Freeway, The Diplomats' group album Diplomatic Immunity, Memphis Bleek's M.A.D.E. and Jay-Z's alleged final album, The Black Album. Rumors of friction between Carter and Dash became apparent; though denied by both camps at the time, problems involving Dame's media attention and Jay's alleged inaccessibility had been brewing since the video shoot for "Big Pimpin',", and Dash began preparing for the split, releasing a satirical movie called "Death of a Dynasty".
After Jay-Z's supposed last hurrah, it was revealed that he had accepted a position as CEO and President of Def Jam. Dash, poised to take greater control in the company, began heavily promoting artists Cam'ron/The Diplomats, State Property, Kanye West and Twista. In 2004, Kanye's album, College Dropout, became a huge commercial and critical success, selling multi-platinum, and Foxy Brown was signed and began work on her album, Black Rose. The infamous 'breakup' occurred when it was revealed that Carter, Dash and Burke had sold their 50% interest in Roc-A-Fella to Def Jam, making the label full owners. As President, Carter retained control of the Roc and his masters, ousting his two former partners. He later explained that he had offered to turn down the position and ownership for the masters to Reasonable Doubt alone:
As Dash and Burke set up their own fledgling record label, originally called Roc4life and later rechristened Dame Dash Music Group, each artist was offered their choice of labels. The Diplomats were the first to make the move to DDMG, and began a public campaign against Jay-Z, dissing him in songs and interviews, backed heavily by Dame Dash; Cam'ron was especially vocal, claiming Jay blocked him from an executive position Dame had offered him at Roc-A-Fella..
Cam'ron's Purple Haze came out on Roc-A-Fella in 2005, but DDMG was up and running for 2005. Beanie Sigel, then doing a year's incarceration on an attempted murder charge, put out his album The B.Coming on Dash's label; this was accompanied by accusations from Dame that of all the members of State Property, only Oschino had gone to visit Sigel in prison. Though Beanie had initially chosen DDMG, the rest of the group refused, preferring to remain on Roc-A-Fella; in response, Beanie Sigel effectively put the group on hold, claiming disappointment in his groupmates. M.O.P. and Grafh also left the Roc for DDMG, though both acts parted ways with Dash soon thereafter. Due to the 2004 death of Ol' Dirty Bastard, Dash also brought with him masters of the rapper's project and promises to release the album, A Son Unique, though this never occurred. Memphis Bleek and Kanye West released 534 and Late Registration, respectively, in 2005, along with the Young Gunz' sophomore effort and Teairra Mari's debut, though only Kanye's project saw significant reviews or sales. It was stated by Memphis Bleek that Cory Gunz had signed, but nothing materialized. By the end of the year, Dash had split his label from Def Jam and Jay-Z's role overseeing his project, after asking for more money and a bigger role in the company. DDMG left Def Jam and was subsequently dissolved.
Return of Jay-Z & Roc Redefinition
In 2006, releases were largely limited to those of Roc-La-Familia, a Latino-geared label under the Roc that followed the trend of Reggaeton. Hector "El Father" and N.O.R.E. both put out albums, and the label was home to New York rapper Tru Life, but has since folded. Jay-Z made his return that year with Kingdom Come, to mixed reviews. He stepped down from his Def Jam position and put out a second album in 2007, American Gangster, to more positive reviews and sales. Kanye West's Graduation, Beanie Sigel's The Solution, and Freeway's Free at Last; West's album sold multi-platinum to rave reviews. Freeway's project received critical acclaim but not major sales, and contained comments aimed at West and Just Blaze for not supplying production. He later amended his comments, stating he desired to work with Just Blaze but the producer hasn't reached out. This may have been due to Just's work on American Gangster and complications regarding his Atlantic-distributed label, Fort Knocks Records, and his artist Saigon.
The signing of Ruff Ryders artist Jadakiss, former rival to both Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, also came in '07, as did Uncle Murda. Foxy Brown was dropped from the label after two years, in light of a jail sentence. Though Young Chris and Peedi Crakk continued to appear on projects, neither seemed any closer to a solo projects, and in 2008 Peedi announced that the entire State Property had been dropped from the label. This was countered by Beanie Sigel's manager, who confirmed that Sigel and Freeway were still part of Roc-A-Fella. Young Chris also apparently signed as a solo artist. '08 saw only the release of Kanye's 808's & Heartbreak to positive reviews and sales. It also brought repeated disses in songs and interviews from Peedi Crakk towards Jay-Z, claiming the rapper/exec held up his project on purpose. Though he claims to have moved on, Peedi's next release is apparently to be entitled Camel Face Hunting Season.
It was reported that Jay-Z, no longer heading Def Jam and coming up on his last album for the company, has already inked a deal with Live Nation to set up an imprint called Roc Nation. It is unknown which artists will be shifted from Roc-A-Fella to Roc Nation, and Uncle Murda has left the label after a year and a half with no release, citing lack of executive interest after Jay-Z's exodus from parent label Def Jam. Jay's last album for Def Jam will come in the form of The Blueprint 3 in 2009, followed by Jadakiss' The Last Kiss, Tru-Life's The Beginning of the Truth, and Young Chris' Now or Never.
Business Ventures
Rocawear
In 1999, Damon Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke & Jay-Z launched the Rocawear clothing label. After the launch they took the clothing line on a tour across the U.S. One stop that they made which was not on the schedule was in Milwaukee, WI. Rocawear was on their way to Chicago for a fashion show at the United Center. In Milwaukee they went to a local night club where there was a small concert and fashion show. In the show as an honorary model, was a local high school age AAU basketball superstar by the name of Rich "FLASH" Kelly. Damon Dash was floored by the young man's stage presence and was quoted saying "when FLASH took the stage he owned it". After the show Dash and Jay-Z waited for Mr. Kelly to leave the local night club; here is when they approached him about coming to chicago with them in the morning to be in their fashion show. Rich Kelly agreed to go, and was a smash hit. Jay-Z personally offered "FLASH" a contract with Rocawear. The only change made to his image has been instead of going by the name of Rich "FLASH" Kelly he appears as "Rich Breezy". Rocawear has since removed him from all of their websites so that they can bring him out to take the nation by storm in the summer and fall of 2010.
Since its launch Rocawear has announced annual sales of over $700 million. Recent expansion of its brand has led rocawear to develop lines for children, juniors, socks and sandals, leather suede and fur outerwear, handbags and belts, loungewear and big & tall, headwear, jewelry, and sunglasses; as well as co-branded product with Pro-Keds.
In March 2007, Jay-Z sold his rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group, for $204 million. Jay-Z has announced he will retain his stake in the company and will continue to oversee the marketing, licensing and product development.
ROC Films
In 2002, following the release of the Rocawear clothing label, Roc-A-Fella Records released through Lions Gate Entertainment, State Property. The movie while not the first for Dame Dash, would be the start of ROC Films/Roc-A-Fella Films. The film studio would go on to release Paid In Full the same year and follow up in 2007 with Paper Soldiers and the hip-hop satire Death of a Dynasty. In 2008 the sequel to the studios debut release would hit theatres State Property 2, featuring rap stars such as Beanie Sigel and Damon Dash, who also produced and co-created the story. Cameo roles included musicians Kanye West, N.O.R.E and Mariah Carey, and Light Heavyweight champion boxers Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright. The list of films include:
Armadale
In 2002 Roc-A-Fella Records announced they will be taking over U.S. distribution rights for the Scottish, Armadale vodka, from the previous owner William Grant & Sons. The vodka is described as an 80-proof brand of "hand-crafted triple distilled vodka." Burke describes the motivation for purchasing the label: "You always hear about us talking about the [vodka] in the songs so, like with the clothing and the music industry, we were like: ‘Why are we still making money for everyone else?'" It is believed the vodka was named after the town of Edinburgh, town of Armadale, due to its strong history of vodka distilling.
40/40 Club
Jay-Z's 40/40 club is night club originated in New York City that has now expanded to Las Vegas, Chicago, Tokyo, Macau, and Atlantic City. Jay-Z describes the 40/40 Club as "an all-American sports bar and lounge, conducive to my lifestyle while being able to watch the games at the same time." After controversial statements about his disregard of attention from the hip-hop community by the owner of Cristal champagne, Jay-Z made a bold statement by permanently removing the high-class champagne from his clubs.
Roster
Current Roc-A-Fella Artists
Current Roc-A-Fella Producers
Former artists
Labels created by Roc-A-Fella artists
Discography
See also
- List of Roc-A-Fella Records artists
External links
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