Roc-A-Fella Records: Difference between revisions

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	'''Roc-A-Fella Records''' is an ] ] ]. It was co-founded in ] in ] by ] mogul ], Kareem "Biggs" Burke, and ]. The label is owned by ].		'''Roc-A-Fella Records''' is an ] ] ]. It was co-founded in ] in ] by ] mogul ], Kareem "Biggs" Burke, and ]. The label is owned by ].

	==~~History~~==		==Early Years==
	===Foundation===		===Foundation===
	Attempting to secure a record deal for Jay-Z, after being denied by several labels, they began pressing Jay's records, selling them out of their trunks and requesting time on mix radio; their record label was called Roc-A-Fella Records: a play on ], a rich and powerful New York family.		Attempting to secure a record deal for Jay-Z, after being denied by several labels, they began pressing Jay's records, selling them out of their trunks and requesting time on mix radio; their record label was called Roc-A-Fella Records: a play on ], a rich and powerful New York family.
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	By this time, Roc-A-Fella Records included the group ] (including and put together by Beanie Sigel and Freeway); the whole of the roster became involved in the beef between Jay-Z and ], which lasted from 1999 to 2002 and died down over the next three years. During this time, several new acts were signed to Roc-A-Fella including ], ] and his group ], ] and ].{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}		By this time, Roc-A-Fella Records included the group ] (including and put together by Beanie Sigel and Freeway); the whole of the roster became involved in the beef between Jay-Z and ], which lasted from 1999 to 2002 and died down over the next three years. During this time, several new acts were signed to Roc-A-Fella including ], ] and his group ], ] and ].{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}



	==Expansions==		==Expansions==

Revision as of 14:43, 19 October 2007

Record label

Roc-A-Fella Records
File:Roc a fella logo.jpg
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	1995
Founder	Jay-Z Dame Dash Kareem "Biggs" Burke
Distributor(s)	The Island Def Jam Music Group
Genre	Hip-Hop, R&B
Country of origin	United States
Official website	Official website of Roc-A-Fella Records

Roc-A-Fella Records is an American hip hop/rap record label. It was co-founded in 1996 in New York City by hip hop mogul Damon "Dame" Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke, and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. The label is owned by Universal Music Group.

Early Years

Foundation

Attempting to secure a record deal for Jay-Z, after being denied by several labels, they began pressing Jay's records, selling them out of their trunks and requesting time on mix radio; their record label was called Roc-A-Fella Records: a play on Rockefeller, a rich and powerful New York family.

Priority Records was impressed with their determination, and agreed to distribute the release of Jay-Z's debut album Reasonable Doubt, put out on Roc-A-Fella.

The original lineup, headed in the business department by, Dame Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, consisted of Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek and Sauce Money. Jaz-O and Da Ranjahz were early affiliates, but were never signed to the label. Producers connected to the label were Ski and DJ Clark Kent. Altogether, signees and affiliates formed a collective sometimes known as Team Roc.

1996-1999

While Memphis Bleek and Jay-Z stayed on, most of the early members eventually disbanded: Sauce Money quietly moved to Priority Records; Jaz-O stop rapping (later beginning a reasonably well-publicized beef with Jay-Z); Da Ranjahz signed with The Carter Faculty, a short-lived Def Jam imprint, shortly after reverting to street life. Ski founded Roc-A-Blok Productions with Dame Dash's cousin Darrien, however the label eventually dissolved. Clark Kent went on to produce for other high-profile artists.

1998 signaled the release of Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2, Hard Knock Life. This was at the time Roc-A-Fella's biggest release which corresponded with the first appearance of new signee, Philadelphian Beanie Sigel. A year later Memphis Bleek would release his debut album, The Coming of Age. DJ Clue's compilation album, The Professional, was release later that year.

2000-2002

In 2000 Beanie Sigel released his first album, The Truth, and the Roc put out Dynasty: Roc La Familia; this was intended to be a showcase for the new Roc-A-Fella roster, though it was billed primarily as a Jay-Z release. Most of the tracks feature Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek. New signees which included, Freeway, Young Gunz, Omillio Sparks and Amil (who was briefly signed to Roc-A-Fella) were also featured on the album.

The Dynasty was also the introduction to Just Blaze, Kanye West, and Jonathan Chandler who would become the Roc's three most visible producers. They would produce tracks for Beanie Sigel's second album and Freeway's debut, Philadelphia Freeway, but their big break came when between the three did the lion's share of Jay-Z's The Blueprint.

By this time, Roc-A-Fella Records included the group State Property (including and put together by Beanie Sigel and Freeway); the whole of the roster became involved in the beef between Jay-Z and Nas, which lasted from 1999 to 2002 and died down over the next three years. During this time, several new acts were signed to Roc-A-Fella including M.O.P., Cam'ron and his group The Diplomats, Rell and Ol' Dirty Bastard.

Expansions

Rocawear

Main article: Rocawear

In 1999, Damon Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke & Jay-Z launched the Rocawear clothing label. 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 of 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 2003 with Paper Soldiers and the hip-hop satire Death of a Dynasty. In 2005 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.

Armadale

In 2002 Roc-A-Fella Records announced they will be taking over US distribution rights for the Scottish, Armadale vodka, from the previous owner William Grant & Sons. The vodka is described as a 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 in the song 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 sue to its strong history of vodka distilling.

Roc La Familia

Main article: Roc-La-Familia

In July 2005 Roc-A-Fella Records expanded with the creation of the Roc La Familia sub-label created to promote reggaeton and Latino music, the first artist signed to the label was Colombian born rapper Aztek Escobar. Roc La Familia had officially signed New York rappers Tru Life and Uno Dos to the franchise, as well as N.O.R.E. and Hector El Father. It is believed the label is now defunct after releasing only two albums: Hector El Father's Los Rompe Discotekas and N.O.R.E.'s album, N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe.

Failed acquisitions

Dame Dash tried to sign Twista, who had ties to the Roc; however, Atlantic wouldn't let him out of his contract, and instead he was made an honorary member. There were also rumors that rappers such as Talib Kweli, Pitbull and Copywrite were to sign, but those never materialized. Grafh and Joe Budden also had joint ventures with Roc-A-Fella, but left after the split between Jay-Z and Dame and Biggs.

Jay-Z has claimed that the late Big L was set to sign with Roc-A-Fella in 1999 but was murdered the week before.

Def Jam takeover

December 2004 brought about the complete buyout of the Roc-A-Fella label by Island Def Jam Records, who previously owned 50% of the label. Jay-Z was given the title of President of Def Jam Music while Dame Dash and Kareem Burke began working a new label named Dame Dash Music Group (DDMG). DDMG would go on to recruit and establish arists Nicole Wray, Rell, Grafh, and Sizzla. The initial lineup also included former Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard, who was going to release an album for the label before his untimely death in 2004. While DDMG first established itself as a joint venture with Island Def Jam, they eventually separated and signed a distribution deal with Koch Records.