Roc-A-Fella Records
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Roc-A-Fella Records, was one of the largest United States hip hop/rap record labels. It was co-founded in New York City by hip hop mogul Damon "Dame" Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke, and Shawn Carter who is known as multi-platinum rapper Jay-Z in 1995. The label is part of the Island Def Jam Music Group.
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History
The initial upstart was created out of frustration to attempt to secure a record deal for Jay-Z. The group began pressing records, selling them out of their trunks and requesting time on mix radio. This showing of independence and self-sufficiency impressed Priority Records so much that they agreed to support the release of Jay-Z's debut album "Reasonable Doubt" in a joint venture with Roc-A-Fella.
The break for Roc-A-Fella came after Jay-Z decided to record several tracks for his album with a then-unknown Foxy Brown. Foxy Brown's label Def Jam was initially opposed to the pairing of the two rappers, but were soon charmed by Damon Dash and his new record label. Today Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam enjoy a profitable, mutually-beneficial relationship. Since 1996 to 2005, Roc-A-Fella was the dominant label in hip-hop.
The name Roc-a-Fella is a play on Rockefeller, a rich and powerful New York family. It is a limited-liability company that folds its own company's assets through Def Jam and also profits through its releases. Roc-A-Fella has been successful in starting the careers of Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel and Amil. Notably most of Roc-A-Fella's releases came from Jay-Z. Newcomers such as producer/rapper Kanye West, Freeway, Cam'Ron, Young Gunz and rock singer Samantha Ronson released albums under Roc-A-Fella. The label also was responsible in signing the controversial rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, who recently died while recording his debut on Roc-A-Fella.
Roc-A-Fella has ventured into producing movies. Paid In Full, State Property and The Woodsman were some of their notable successes. Other ventures included Roc-A-Wear, an urban apparel clothing company and Roc4Kids, a community outreach program started by Dame Dash to support students. Roc-A-Fella has also invested in Armadale Vodka, and also its publication America. Roc-A-Fella has generated earnings in the tens of millions.
Death of A Dynasty
Damon Dash signed Cam'Ron to Roc-A-Fella without Jay-Z's acknowledgment. Also, Jay-Z was opting from the label to form his own franchise and signed Foxy Brown to his label S. Carter Records. The label has also seen trouble from the arrest of Beanie Sigel over attempted murder charges, and Dash facing lawsuits from an alleged rape victim. Roc-A-Fella's success came to an end as of January 3, 2005, when it announced that it would be folding into the Def Jam label. Jay-Z was appointed Def Jam's new president, and Dash and Burke were released from their label. Not deterred, the moguls started their own franchises, the Dame Dash Music Group, Roc4Life, and Team Roc music labels. Former label artists such as Beanie Sigel, N.O.R.E., Cam'Ron, Nicole Wray, and Samantha Ronson were assigned to Dash, while Roc-A-Fella stable artists Memphis Bleek, Kanye West, and Young Gunz were signed with Jay-Z.
Current Artists on Roc-A-Fella
- Jay-Z
- Kanye West
- Grafh
- Aztek
- Foxy Brown
- Juelz Santana
- Young Gunz
- Memphis Bleek
- NORE
- Freeway
- Teairra Mari
- SAS
- Samantha Ronson
- DJ Clue
- Peedi Crakk
- State Property
Current Artists on Dame Dash Music Group
Former Artist on Roc-A-Fella Records
See also
External link
- Official site (http://www.rocafella.com/)