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Full Surface Records
Parent company	BMG
Founded	2001
Founder	Swizz Beatz
Distributor(s)	J
Genre	Hip hop, R&B
Country of origin	United States
Location	New York City, New York, U.S.

Full Surface is a record label founded in 2001, by American hip hop recording artist and record producer Swizz Beatz. The label used to operate through Sony's J and through Universal's Interscope, Motown and Universal Motown. However, the label also had released material through joint ventures with other companies outside the Sony BMG group.

History

The label was launched in 2001 in a joint venture deal with Clive Davis's J Records, which was under BMG. The first artist signed to the label was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based battle rapper Cassidy, who was affiliated with Ruff Ryders from being discovered by Swizz Beatz's father and as a member of Larsiny signed to Ruff Ryders's subsidiary label TD Entertainment. Other artists signed to the label after its launching were Mashonda, Swizz Beatz's partner, and Ruff Ryders artist Yung Wun. In a January 2003 interview with AllHipHop, Swizz Beatz said: "My new label is on its way, by storm. We are moving like the army on the creep. I wanted something new so I got a mix of talent – Bounty Killa, Cassidy, Mashonda, Yung Wun, Big Tigg and Mr. Sweat – with me the beat man." Despite the affiliations of Bounty Killa, Big Tigger, and Keith Sweat, they were never officially signed to the label.

In March 2004, Full Surface released Cassidy's debut studio album, Split Personality. The lead single from the album was Hotel, and the second single was Get No Better (featuring Mashonda). Hotel peaked in the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked in the top 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in America in one month. In December of that year, rapper Yung Wun released his debut studio album, The Dirtiest Thirstiest. The album was supported by Yung Wun's biggest single, Tear It Up, which peaked in the top 80 in the Billboard Hot 100. The Dirtiest Thirstiest failed to make an impact on the charts, and by 2006 Yung Wun was dropped from J and Full Surface.

In 2005, Cleveland-based rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, signed with Full Surface and secured a distribution deal with Interscope, the following year. In 2005, DMX was about to sign to Full Surface but chose Sony Urban Music instead. In April 2006, it was announced Ruff Ryders alumni Eve, signed a joint venture deal with Full Surface and Dr. Dre's Aftermath. Eve went on to release the singles "Tambourine" and "Give It to You". In October 2007, it was announced another Ruff Ryders alumni, Drag-On, signed a record deal with Full Surface.

Roster

Artists

• Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
• Cassidy
• Drag-On
• Eve
• Mashonda
• Rich Hil
• Swizz Beatz
• Yung Wun

Executives

• Swizz Beatz (Founder, CEO, executive producer)
• Grady Spivey (A&R)
• Ashaunna Ayars (General Manager)
• Terrence Dean (Management)

DJs and producers

• The Individualz - A group of music producers, composed of Avenue, Joe Bravo and Jose, who have produced songs for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Swizz Beatz, 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige.
• Neo da Matrix - A producer from Philadelphia. Also signed to Ruff Ryders Entertainment and was signed with Roc-A-Fella Records.
• Snags - A producer who has produced songs for Swizz Beatz and Jadakiss.
• Swizz Beatz

Discography

• All releases distributed by J Records, unless otherwise noted.

References

1. AllHipHop. "Swizz Beats Signs Tigga, Keith Sweat And Others To New Label - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop". allhiphop.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
2. AllHipHop. "Bone Thug-N-Harmony Ink Deal With Interscope Through Swizz Beatz' Full Surface Label - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop". allhiphop.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
3. Reid, Shaheem; Dukes, Rahman (January 2006). "Mixtape Monday Headlines – The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground". MTV. Archived from the original on January 4, 2006. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
4. "Eve Signs Joint Venture with Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
5. "Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
6. "BREAKING: Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
7. "Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
8. "Eve Signs Joint Venture with Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
9. "Isn't He Rich? Rich Hilfiger's Rap Career Is Poised To Take Off | Observer".
10. "INDIVIDUALZ - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
11. "Neo Da Matrix/twitter.com/NeoDaMatrix - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". Myspace. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

External links

• Full Surface Records Archived 2004-06-06 at the Wayback Machine

• Record labels established in 2001
• American record labels
• American hip-hop record labels
• Vanity record labels
• Warner Music labels
• Atlantic Records
• Contemporary R&B record labels