Roc-A-Fella Records is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vanity record labelA vanity label is a record label founded as a wholly or partially owned subsidiary of another, larger and better established record label, where the subsidiary label is controlled by a successful recording artist, designed to allow this artist to release music by other artists he or she admires...
founded by
Shawn "Jay-Z" CarterShawn 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...
,
Damon DashDamon Dash is an American label executive; the co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Kareem "Biggs" Burke...
, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. A subsidiary of
Universal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is the largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, the label's title refers to American oil magnate and businessman John Rockefeller.
Beginnings
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 RecordsPriority Records is an American based record label, owned and operated by EMI, and has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop music...
, using money from the music videos provided by Payday Records due to their singles only deal. Though
Reasonable Doubt didn't immediately attain commercial success, it spawned several hits, a close relationship with
The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , popularly known as Biggie Smalls , Frank White , and by his primary stage name The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper.Raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Wallace grew up during...
and procured him a reputation in the hip-hop community. Starting out as Roc-A-Fella's only artist, Jay-Z was supported by Biggie producer DJ Clark Kent and
DJ SkiDavid Willis, known by most as Ski and Ski Beatz, is an African-American record producer mainly working in hip hop. Discovered by DJ Clark Kent, Ski was originally known as "MC Will-Ski". In the 1980s, he was a member of the groups The Bizzie Boyz and Original Flavor...
, who was then working with
Camp LoCamp Lo is an American hip hop duo, formed in 1995, which hails from The Bronx, New York. The duo consists of rappers Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede , both of Muslim upbringing.-Career:...
; affiliated rappers included duo Da Ranjahz,
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...
,
Jaz-OJohnathan Burks, better known by his stage name Jaz-O, Big Jaz and Jaz is an East Coast MC, active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for being the mentor of Jay-Z. Jaz is also known as the Originator and had a song called "The Originators" that featured a young Jay-Z in 1989...
, and a young
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...
, though only Bleek would eventually sign with the label. According to Dame, the label had intended on releasing Nas' group
The FirmThe Firm was an American hip hop supergroup that formed in New York City in 1996. It was created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute, producer Dr. Dre and production team the Trackmasters...
, 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, the Roc's only release in 1997 was Carter's second album,
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 is the second studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on November 4, 1997. The album received positive reviews from critics but fans were not embracing Jay-Z's commercialized new image...
, 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 WatchingStreets Is Watching is a musical film in which Jay-Z compiles many of his unreleased music videos into a continuous movie. The film takes place in Jay-Z's old neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The film uses music from Jay-Z's albums Streets Is Watching, Reasonable Doubt, and In My Lifetime, Vol. 1...
and the accompanying
soundtrackStreets Is Watching is the soundtrack for the film by the same name. It was released in 1998 by Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records and it serves as a promotion of the up and coming artists on his label. The album fared well commercially reaching #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and having two...
; 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.M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hardcore hip hop duo. The duo, comprised of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up,"...
,
N.O.R.E.Victor Santiago Jr., more widely known by his stage name N.O.R.E or Noreaga, is a Latino-American rapper. He is one half of the group Capone-N-Noreaga....
and
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...
, as well as producer Irv Gotti and the short-lived group, Murder Inc. (namesake of Irv's record label,
Murder Inc.) which then consisted of Jay,
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...
and
Ja RuleJeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American recording artist and actor signed to The Inc. and Universal Records, formerly of Def Jam Recordings. A Hollis, New York native, Ja Rule has released six albums.-Early life:Atkins was born in Queens, New York...
.
Jay'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...
, saw him largely depart from his previous entourage and venture forth with producers
Swizz BeatzKasseem Dean better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer and rapper. Swizz, wife R&B singer Mashonda, and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records.-Personal life:...
,
TimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, singer and rapper. Timbaland has produced albums and singles for a number of artists from the mid-1990s to the present day..Timbaland's first full credit production work was in...
, The 45 King and
Jermaine DupriJermaine Dupri Maulidin , better known by his stage name Jermaine Dupri or J.D., is an American record producer, rapper and Grammy winning songwriter.-Music industry:...
.
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 SigelDwight Grant , also known as Beanie Sigel, is a American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records who has formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the roster...
and
AmilAmil Whitehead more commonly known by her stage name Amil, is a American female rapper and singer from New York City. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protegé, most notably on the single "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour soundtrack.-Early life:Amil was born September 19, 1978 in...
. DJ Clue released the first of his compilation-album-style series in
The ProfessionalThe Professional is DJ Clue's debut album. It features appearances from the likes of DMX, M.O.P, Jay Z and more. It is also the first time Cam'ron appears in a major label release.- Track listing :# "Intro"...
, which saw the first Roc-A-Fella appearance of
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....
; while DJ Ski had, at the time, formed the production company Roc-A-Blok, affiliated with
Sporty ThievzSporty Thievz was a Yonkers, New York hip-hop group, originally a trio, composed of Captain Kirk , Big Dubez and Marlon Brando...
, 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 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...
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
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...
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 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....
,
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...
,
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...
, Bink! and
Rick Rock, Rick Rock is a hip-hop music producer from the Bay Area.-Albums with Rick Rock production:*1996: All Eyez on Me by 2Pac*1996: Tha Hall of Game by E-40*1998: The Element of Surprise by E-40...
. Except for Rock, each beatsmith would go on to become consistently involved in future Roc-A-Fella projects.
Prominence & Split
The new millennium saw Roc-A-Fella Records begin 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--other Roc artists began to gain popularity and acceptance. Beanie Sigel's
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...
had reached #5 on the Billboard charts in 2000, and DJ Clue released
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....
in 2000. 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 several young Philly rappers that were later compiled into the Freeway/Sigel-led group,
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...
. During this time, Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel were embroiled in a feud with
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...
artists
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....
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...
. Disses back and forth between Jay-Z and Jadakiss implied a conflict between Jay and former groupmate DMX, led to a full-on war of words between Sigel and Kiss, and eventually culminated in a diss by Beanie Sigel over Jada's hit "Put Your Hands Up," after which the rivalry faded.
Cam'ron put out his major label 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...
in 2002 to platinum sales, and shortly signed his group
The DiplomatsThe Diplomats are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 2002.-Debut:The first commercial appearances of the group was on Cam'ron's 2000 album S.D.E., released on Epic Records...
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.M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hardcore hip hop duo. The duo, comprised of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up,"...
and
Ol' Dirty BastardRussell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard . He was one of the founding members of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.Ol' Dirty Bastard simultaneously brought a measure of humor and a touch of the absurd to the Wu-Tang Clan...
, gave
GrafhPhillip Bernard, better known by his stage name Grafh, is an American rapper.His latest album will be released on July 24, 2007 on his Blackhand label through EMI Records/Virgin Records. -Albums:*Autografh...
a joint-venture deal, and attempted to sign
TwistaCarl Terrell Mitchell, better known by his stage name Twista , is an American rapper who once held the title of fastest emcee in the world, according to the Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 11.2 syllables per second. His 2004 album Kamikaze went to number-one on the U.S...
and
Joe BuddenJoseph Anthony Budden II , who goes by Joe Budden, is an American rapper.-Music career:In the year 2003, Joe Budden dropped his debut solo studio album, Joe Budden. It included Budden's 2003 summer hit "Pump It Up", which featured Liam Kantwill, and was also featured in the soundtrack for the movie...
. 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 SantanaLaron Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer and actor. He came to fame following his appearances on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...
's
From Me to UFrom Me to U is the debut album from Juelz Santana released under Diplomat Records and Roc-A-Fella in 2003. Some of the tracks on this album are featured on Juelz's mixtape, Final Destination, which was released prior to the album...
,
FreewayA freeway is a type of road designed for safer high-speed operation of motor vehicles through the elimination of at-grade intersections. This is accomplished by preventing access to and from adjacent properties and eliminating all cross traffic through the use of grade separations and...
's debut
Philadelphia FreewayPhiladelphia Freeway was the debut album from Philadelphia rapper Freeway. It was released under Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The most successful single was "What We Do" which featured Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. Another single that was released was "Flipside" which featured Peedi Crakk...
, The Diplomats' group album
Diplomatic ImmunityDiplomatic Immunity is the debut album by the The Diplomats which was released on March 25,2003. After the release of group leader Cam'ron's third album, Come Home With Me, the quartet teamed up to release their first collaborative effort. The double-album went Platinum...
, Memphis Bleek's
M.A.D.E.M.A.D.E. is the third major label album release from Roc-A-Fella hip hop artist Memphis Bleek. It was released on December 16, 2003 and at best it reached #35. The album sold 150,000 copies in its first week, which was a record for Memphis Bleek....
and Jay-Z's alleged final album,
The Black AlbumThe Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released November 14, 2003 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was promoted as his final studio album, which also serves as its recurring theme, although Jay-Z subsequently announced a return to solo recording in 2006...
. 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'".
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 'split' 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..
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-Background:The album was recorded before he died from a drug overdose. The album was originally to be released on August 9 2005, but had numerous delays. It was to be released on November 7, 2006 to commemorate the anniversary of ODB's death, which occurred on November 13, 2004, but was delayed...
, though this never occurred.
Memphis Bleek and Kanye West released
534534 is the fourth album by rapper Memphis Bleek. Released by Roc-A-Fella Records on May 17, 2005. The album contains 14 songs, including the hit single "Like That" produced by Swizz Beatz. A single by Bleek's mentor and childhood friend Jay-Z entitled "Dear Summer" was produced by Just Blaze...
and
Late RegistrationLate Registration is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released August 30, 2005 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place over the course of a year at various studios located New York City and Hollywood, California. The...
, respectively, in 2005, along with 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...
' sophomore effort and
Teairra MariTeairra Marí is a R&B and hip hop singer born in Detroit, Michigan.-2004-2006: Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Marí:Marí worked with Jay-Z, in his first collaboration project since becoming president of Def Jam Records, to create "Make Her Feel Good" along with producer Sean Garrett, the lead single...
's debut, though only Kanye's project saw significant reviews or sales. It was stated by Memphis Bleek that
Cory GunzCory Gunz is an American rapper, the son of rapper Peter Gunz. He is currently signed to Militia/After Platinum Records . He is a native of the Bronx. He was first signed to Tommy Mottola at Universal/Motown. Later on, Jay-Z shepherded him into a joint venture through Island Def Jam Music Group. He...
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.
Roc Redefinition
In 2006, releases were largely limited to those of
Roc-La-FamiliaRoc-La-Familia was a Latin hip hop record label founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.-History:This sub-label focused on signing international artists, including reggaeton artists, much like Bad Boy Latino. "OG" Juan Perez was appointed the president of the label and Cipha Sounds was the senior vice...
, a Latino-geared label under the Roc that followed the trend of
ReggaetonReggaeton is a form of urban music that became popular with Latin American youth in the early 1990s. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton's predecessor was originated in Panama as reggae en español...
. Hector "El Father" and
N.O.R.E.Victor Santiago Jr., more widely known by his stage name N.O.R.E or Noreaga, is a Latino-American rapper. He is one half of the group Capone-N-Noreaga....
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 ComeKingdom Come is the ninth studio album by American rap artist Jay-Z released on November 21, 2006. This is considered a "comeback album" for the established rapper as 2003's The Black Album was slated to be his final release. The album was a big commercial success, selling about 680,000 copies in...
, to mixed reviews. He stepped down from his Def Jam position and put out a second album in 2007,
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...
, to more positive reviews and sales, along with Kanye West's
GraduationGraduation is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007. The title of the album concludes the college theme of Kanye West's previous two studio albums, The College Dropout and Late Registration. The album artwork was designed by Takashi Murakami...
, Beanie Sigel's
The Solution, and Freeway's
Free at LastFree at Last is the second studio album by rapper Freeway. It was released on November 20 2007 in the United States. The album features production from J. R. Rotem, Needlz, and Cool & Dre, among others. Guest appearances include Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Rick Ross and other notable...
; 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
AtlanticAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
-distributed label,
Fort Knocks Records, and his artist
SaigonBrian Daniel Carenard, better known by his stage name Saigon, is an American rapper.Saigon is currently signed to Amalgam Digital and Just Blaze's Fort Knocks Entertainment record label and is awaiting the release of his label debut entitled The Greatest Story Never Told.-1978-2000: Early life:Born...
.
The signing of
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...
artist
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....
, former rival to both Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, also came in '07, as did
Uncle MurdaLeonard Grant, better known by his stage name, Uncle Murda, is a Jamaican-American rapper from the City Line section of East New York.- Early Life :...
. 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. During that year, Jay-Z had inked a $150 million dollar deal with Live Nation that included concerts, endorsements and recordings, and included a platform for him to launch his
Roc Nation"Roc Nation" is an American 360° management, music publishing and entertainment company founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.-Conception:It was reported that Jay-Z, no longer heading Def Jam, has inked a deal with Live Nation to set up a joint venture called Roc Nation...
label. Uncle Murda 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.
In March 2009, Freeway procured his release from Def Jam, claiming a need to explore his options; shortly, he announced his signing to
Cash Money RecordsCash Money Records is an American hip hop record label founded in 1989 by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams in New Orleans, Louisiana.- History :...
, while stating he would always respect Roc-A-Fella. Longtime signee Memphis Bleek also reported his departure from Def Jam, deciding not to travel to Roc Nation in favor of starting his own record label, but he is still very closely associated with Roc-A-Fella. Additionally, rapper Tru Life has been referred to as a "one time [or past] affiliate" of Roc-A-Fella upon his turning himself in to authorities for his connection to a retaliatory stabbing. On May 21, 2009, Jay-Z had bought back his contract from Def Jam for an unprecedented $5,000,000 and started his deal with Live Nation. Beanie Sigel, Jadakiss and Kanye West are the only artists still remaining on Roc-A-Fella. It is currently unknown whether the label will be shut down or transferred to new management.
ROC Films
In 2002, following the release of the Rocawear clothing label, Roc-A-Fella Records released through Lions Gate Entertainment,
State PropertyState Property is a 2002 American crime film starring Beanie Sigel, Omillio Sparks, Memphis Bleek and Damon Dash. Rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role. It was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment...
. 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 FullPaid in Full is 2002 a film that was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and directed by Charles Stone III. It takes place in Harlem at the height of the Crack Epidemic that hit during the 1980s. The title of the film is taken from the 1987 album by Eric B. and Rakim.-Plot:The movie, set in 1985, is...
the same year and follow up in 2003 with
Paper SoldiersPaper Soldiers is an urban crime comedy released in 2002 . It stars Kevin Hart, Beanie Sigel, Kamal Ahmed, and rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role...
and the hip-hop satire
Death of a DynastyDeath of a Dynasty is a comedy film first screened in 2003 . It is a satire of the hip hop music industry centered around Roc-A-Fella Records, and stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Capone and Damon Dash. It also features cameo appearances by musicians, actors and celebrities such as Jay-Z, Mariah Carey,...
. In 2005 the sequel to the studios debut release would hit theatres
State Property 2State Property 2 is a 2005 American crime film directed by Damon Dash and produced and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment. A sequel to 2002's State Property, the film stars rap artists and other musicians such as Cam'ron, The Diplomats, Beanie Sigel, N.O.R.E., Kanye West, Mariah Carey and others...
, 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:
- Streets Is Watching
Streets Is Watching is a musical film in which Jay-Z compiles many of his unreleased music videos into a continuous movie. The film takes place in Jay-Z's old neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The film uses music from Jay-Z's albums Streets Is Watching, Reasonable Doubt, and In My Lifetime, Vol. 1...
(1998)
- Backstage
Backstage is a 2000 documentary film directed by Chris Fiore, chronicling the 1999 Hard Knock Life tour that featured several of hip hops top acts including Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man and Redman...
(2000)
- State Property
State Property is a 2002 American crime film starring Beanie Sigel, Omillio Sparks, Memphis Bleek and Damon Dash. Rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role. It was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment...
(2002)
- Paid in Full
Paid in Full is 2002 a film that was produced by Roc-A-Fella Films and directed by Charles Stone III. It takes place in Harlem at the height of the Crack Epidemic that hit during the 1980s. The title of the film is taken from the 1987 album by Eric B. and Rakim.-Plot:The movie, set in 1985, is...
(2002)
- Paper Soldiers
Paper Soldiers is an urban crime comedy released in 2002 . It stars Kevin Hart, Beanie Sigel, Kamal Ahmed, and rapper Jay-Z appears in a cameo role...
(2003)
- Death of a Dynasty
Death of a Dynasty is a comedy film first screened in 2003 . It is a satire of the hip hop music industry centered around Roc-A-Fella Records, and stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Capone and Damon Dash. It also features cameo appearances by musicians, actors and celebrities such as Jay-Z, Mariah Carey,...
(2003)
- Fade to Black (2004)
- State Property 2
State Property 2 is a 2005 American crime film directed by Damon Dash and produced and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment. A sequel to 2002's State Property, the film stars rap artists and other musicians such as Cam'ron, The Diplomats, Beanie Sigel, N.O.R.E., Kanye West, Mariah Carey and others...
(2005)
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.
Discography
| Year |
Artist |
Album |
| 1996 |
Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
Reasonable Doubt |
| 1997 |
Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 is the second studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on November 4, 1997. The album received positive reviews from critics but fans were not embracing Jay-Z's commercialized new image...
|
| 1998 |
Jay-Z Shawn 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...
& Various artists |
Streets Is Watching Streets Is Watching is the soundtrack for the film by the same name. It was released in 1998 by Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records and it serves as a promotion of the up and coming artists on his label. The album fared well commercially reaching #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and having two...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life Vol. 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...
|
| DJ Clue Ernesto 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...
|
The Professional The Professional is DJ Clue's debut album. It features appearances from the likes of DMX, M.O.P, Jay Z and more. It is also the first time Cam'ron appears in a major label release.- Track listing :# "Intro"...
|
| 1999 |
Memphis Bleek Malik 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...
|
The Coming of Age Coming of Age is the debut album from rap artist Memphis Bleek. Bleek made his debut as a recording artist on a Jay-Z song by that same name.-Track listing:# "Pain in da Ass Intro" – 0:43# "Who's Sleeping" – 2:40...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter is the fourth studio album by American hip hop rapper Jay-Z, released December 28, 1999 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It exhibits a return to the street-oriented sound of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt . Vol. 3… initially received generally positive reviews from...
|
| 2000 |
Beanie Sigel Dwight Grant , also known as Beanie Sigel, is a American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records who has formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the roster...
|
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...
|
| Amil Amil Whitehead more commonly known by her stage name Amil, is a American female rapper and singer from New York City. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protegé, most notably on the single "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour soundtrack.-Early life:Amil was born September 19, 1978 in...
|
All Money Is Legal A. M. I. L. is Amil's first album. Lyrically, Amil impressed many of her fans with the song, "Smile 4 Me," where she turns her personal struggles into a heartfelt rhyme. On "I Got That," featuring Beyonce, Amil raps about independent women who do not need men to help them in life. Labelmate Jay-Z...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia The 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...
|
| Memphis Bleek Malik 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...
|
The Understanding |
| DJ Clue Ernesto 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...
|
The Professional, Pt. 2 |
| 2001 |
Beanie Sigel Dwight Grant , also known as Beanie Sigel, is a American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records who has formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the roster...
|
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....
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
The Blueprint The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by hip hop rapper Jay-Z, released September 11, 2001 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
Jay-Z: Unplugged Jay-Z: Unplugged is rapper Jay-Z's 2001 music album that contains some of his past songs with live instruments performed by Jay-Z himself with the hip-hop band The Roots. The album was recorded during the taping of a MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode on November 18, 2001...
|
| 2002 |
State Property State 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...
|
State Property |
| R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly Thabit , best known by the stage name R. Kelly, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and record producer. Debuting in 1992 with the group Public Announcement, Kelly went solo in 1993 for a successful solo career starting with the album, 12 Play...
& 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...
|
The Best of Both Worlds The Best of Both Worlds is a 2002 collaborative album by R. Kelly & Jay-Z. The album sold 215,000 in its opening week and debuted at #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart.-Track listing:-Charts:...
|
| Cam'ron Cameron 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....
|
Come Home with Me Come 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...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse |
| 2003 |
Freeway Leslie 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...
|
Philadelphia Freeway Philadelphia Freeway was the debut album from Philadelphia rapper Freeway. It was released under Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The most successful single was "What We Do" which featured Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. Another single that was released was "Flipside" which featured Peedi Crakk...
|
| The Diplomats The Diplomats are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 2002.-Debut:The first commercial appearances of the group was on Cam'ron's 2000 album S.D.E., released on Epic Records...
|
Diplomatic Immunity Diplomatic Immunity is the debut album by the The Diplomats which was released on March 25,2003. After the release of group leader Cam'ron's third album, Come Home With Me, the quartet teamed up to release their first collaborative effort. The double-album went Platinum...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
The Blueprint 2.1 The Blueprint 2.1 is a compilation album, by rapper Jay-Z, created from a re-cut version of The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse. Unlike the former, it is only one disc and contains what is considered the best material from the previous album. It was certified gold by the RIAA...
|
| State Property State 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...
|
The Chain Gang Vol. 2 The 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:...
|
| Juelz Santana Laron Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer and actor. He came to fame following his appearances on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...
|
From Me to U From Me to U is the debut album from Juelz Santana released under Diplomat Records and Roc-A-Fella in 2003. Some of the tracks on this album are featured on Juelz's mixtape, Final Destination, which was released prior to the album...
|
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
|
The Black Album The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released November 14, 2003 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was promoted as his final studio album, which also serves as its recurring theme, although Jay-Z subsequently announced a return to solo recording in 2006...
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| Memphis Bleek Malik 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...
|
M.A.D.E. M.A.D.E. is the third major label album release from Roc-A-Fella hip hop artist Memphis Bleek. It was released on December 16, 2003 and at best it reached #35. The album sold 150,000 copies in its first week, which was a record for Memphis Bleek....
|
| 2004 |
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...
|
The College Dropout The College Dropout is the debut album of American hip hop artist Kanye West, released February 10, 2004 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was recorded over a period of four years, beginning in 1999. Prior to the album's release, West had worked on Jay-Z's The Blueprint , which showcased his style of...
|
| Young Gunz The 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...
|
Tough Luv Tough Luv is the debut album by Philly rap group Young Gunz in 2004. "Can't Stop Won't Stop" was later nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group"...
|
| R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly Thabit , best known by the stage name R. Kelly, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and record producer. Debuting in 1992 with the group Public Announcement, Kelly went solo in 1993 for a successful solo career starting with the album, 12 Play...
& 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...
|
Unfinished Business |
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
& Linkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California, formed in 1996. Since their formation, the band has sold more than 50 million albums and won two Grammy Awards. It achieved mainstream success with its debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005...
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Collision Course Collision Course is a CD/DVD set released on November 30, 2004 by rapper Jay-Z and nu metal band Linkin Park. It went to #1 on the Billboard 200...
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| Cam'ron Cameron 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....
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Purple Haze Purple Haze is an album by rapper Cam'ron. It was released on December 7, 2004. The release of this album was delayed several times from November 2003, the first single "Get Em Girls" was released a year prior to the actual album release. The album was rarely promoted by Roc-A-Fella Records, and...
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| 2005 |
Memphis Bleek Malik 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...
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534 534 is the fourth album by rapper Memphis Bleek. Released by Roc-A-Fella Records on May 17, 2005. The album contains 14 songs, including the hit single "Like That" produced by Swizz Beatz. A single by Bleek's mentor and childhood friend Jay-Z entitled "Dear Summer" was produced by Just Blaze...
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| Young Gunz The 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...
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Brothers from Another Brothers from Another is the second official studio album by Philly rap group Young Gunz, released on May 24, 2005. After a brief hiatus, the duo returned with Swizz Beatz produced "Set It Off."...
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| Teairra Mari Teairra Marí is a R&B and hip hop singer born in Detroit, Michigan.-2004-2006: Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Marí:Marí worked with Jay-Z, in his first collaboration project since becoming president of Def Jam Records, to create "Make Her Feel Good" along with producer Sean Garrett, the lead single...
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Roc-A-Fella Presents: Teairra Mari Roc-A-Fella Records Presents: Teairra Marí is the debut album from the Roc-A-Fella recording artist Teairra Marí. The album debuted in the top five selling 69,000 copies in the first week.-Album information:...
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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...
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Late Registration Late Registration is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released August 30, 2005 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place over the course of a year at various studios located New York City and Hollywood, California. The...
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| 2006 |
DJ Clue Ernesto 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...
|
The Professional, Pt. 3 The 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....
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| Hector Bambino "El Father" |
Los Rompe Discotekas Los Rompe Discotekas is a 2006 compilation album by Hector "El Father". This album was released under the Rocafella record label and under contract with Jay-Z. Popular singles include "Here We Go Yo" by Hector "El Father" Featuring Jay-Z, "Yomo Dele" by Yomo featuring Fat Joe, and "El Teléfono" by...
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| N.O.R.E. Victor Santiago Jr., more widely known by his stage name N.O.R.E or Noreaga, is a Latino-American rapper. He is one half of the group Capone-N-Noreaga....
|
N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe |
| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
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Kingdom Come Kingdom Come is the ninth studio album by American rap artist Jay-Z released on November 21, 2006. This is considered a "comeback album" for the established rapper as 2003's The Black Album was slated to be his final release. The album was a big commercial success, selling about 680,000 copies in...
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| 2007 |
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...
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Graduation Graduation is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007. The title of the album concludes the college theme of Kanye West's previous two studio albums, The College Dropout and Late Registration. The album artwork was designed by Takashi Murakami...
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| Jay-Z Shawn 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...
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American Gangster American 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...
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| Freeway Leslie 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...
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Free at Last Free at Last is the second studio album by rapper Freeway. It was released on November 20 2007 in the United States. The album features production from J. R. Rotem, Needlz, and Cool & Dre, among others. Guest appearances include Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Rick Ross and other notable...
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| Beanie Sigel Dwight Grant , also known as Beanie Sigel, is a American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records who has formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the roster...
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The Solution |
| 2008 |
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...
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808s & Heartbreak 808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released November 24, 2008 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place over a period of approximately three weeks during September and October 2008 at Glenwood Studios in...
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| 2009 |
Jadakiss Jadakiss 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....
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The Last Kiss |
External links