Roc-A-Fella Records
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROC : Roc-A-Fella Records
| Roc-A-Fella Records | |||
| |||
| Parent company | Universal Music Group | ||
| Founded | 1995 | ||
| Founder | Jay-Z, Dame Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke | ||
| Distributing label | Island Def Jam | ||
| Genre(s) | Hip hop, R&B | ||
| Country | U.S. | ||
| Web address | http://www.rocafella.com | ||
Roc-A-Fella Records is 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. From 1996-2004, its biggest star was Jay-Z; currently, Kanye West is its most successful artist.
Music 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, and eventually began their own record label, calling it Roc-A-Fella Records--a play on Rockefeller, a rich and powerful New York family. This showing of independence and self-sufficiency impressed Priority Records so much that they 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 Jay-Z, Dame Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, consisted of Jay, Memphis Bleek and Sauce Money. Jaz-O and Da Ranjahz were early affiliates, but was never signed to the label. Producers connected to the label were Ski and DJ Clark Kent. Altogether, signees and affilates were sometimes known as Team Roc.
Rising Popularity
Sauce Money moved to Priority before releasing an album, and Jaz cut ties with the label after 1998, the release of Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2, Hard Knock Life. This was at the time Roc-A-Fella's biggest release, and a year later Memphis Bleek released his first album, Coming of Age. Vol. 2 was also the first appearance of new signee, Philadelphian Beanie Sigel. DJ Clue also released his DJ compilation album, The Professional, on Roc-A-Fella that year. Jay-Z has confirmed that the late Big L was set to sign with Roc-A-Fella in 1999 but was murdered the week before.[link]
In 2000 Beanie Sigel released his first album, The Reason, 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, but another new signee, Freeway, and Amil (who was briefly signed to Roc-A-Fella) were both also featured on the album.
Dynasty was also the introduction to Just Blaze and Kanye West, who would become the Roc's two 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 two of them they did the lion's share of Jay-Z's The Blueprint. One of the label's other producers, though less visible, was Bink!.
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 2001 and died down over the next four years. During this time, several new acts were signed to Roc-A-Fella including M.O.P., Cam'ron and his group the Diplomats, and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
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.
Dame and Biggs Leave Roc-A-Fella
2004 brought Kanye West's debut (leading to his becoming one of the label's premiere artists), Beanie Sigel's incarceration, rape charges against Dame Dash and Jay-Z's retirement. Rumors of a split between Dame Dash and Jay-Z began to spread. Sources claimed that Dame was becoming too flashy for Jay's tastes, that he and Jay disagreed on some of the acts signed to Roc-A-Fella, and that they had surrounded themselves with different groups of people.
In early 2005, Jay-Z was offered the position of President of Island Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella's parent company. In return, he would sell Def Jam his share of the Roc, which would ultimately make him sole president of that label as well. Dame and Biggs confronted him and were given an ultimatum: if they would give him ownership of the Reasonable Doubt masters, he would refuse the position. They refused, so Jay-Z took the position and the presidency of Roc-A-Fella.
Upon Dame and Biggs' leaving the Roc to start their own label, Dame Dash Music Group, the roster was given the choice between staying at Roc-A-Fella and going to DDMG. Beanie Sigel, then still in prison, stated his intention to bring State Property to DDMG. However, every member of the group except Oschino opted to stay on Roc-A-Fella, which ignited a quiet beef between Beanie and the crew.
In 2005 and 2006, Jay-Z signed R&B act Teairra Mari and longtime collaborator Foxy Brown; he tried to sign Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco, though the deal never went through. Memphis Bleek said that Jay also signed Cory Gunz, although no other sources have substantiated the claim. It is unclear whether or not Beanie Sigel is still on Roc-A-Fella; his last album, The B.Coming, was released on DDMG, but he also appeared at Jay-Z's I Declare War concert with the rest of the Roc roster.
Current Status
Currently, the confirmed Roc-A-Fella roster is made up of Foxy Brown, Teairra Mari, Kanye West, DJ Clue, Peedi Peedi, Freeway, and the Young Gunz. Former Roc artist Cam'ron has dissed Jay-Z, claiming he stole the label from Dame and Biggs, and poking fun at his clothing style and lyrics. Several rumors of another Jay-Z album have been circulating, though none have been confirmed as yet by Jay himself.Freeway is readying his next release, Free At Last, which is to be a collaborative effort between Roc-A-Fella and G-Unit, executive produced by both Jay-Z and 50 Cent; Kanye West is also preparing his third album, Graduation. Foxy Brown, who had stopped working on her album because of deafness, has also picked up work again following an operation that has restored her hearing significantly.
Business Ventures
Roc-A-Fella has ventured into producing movies. Paid In Full, State Property, State Property 2 and The Woodsman were some of their more notable successes. Other ventures included Rocawear, 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.
Symbols of the Roc
The Roc-A-Fella Diamond is a hand guesture used to show support and respresentation of Roc-a-Fella Records. The diamond is formed by holding up your hands, palms out, and spreading the thumb and index finger into the shape of a geometric "kite" or diamond. The Roc-A-Fella diamond can be seen in several music videos from Roc-A-Fella artists, including Jay-Z's video for "Numb/Encore" and Kanye West's video for "Diamonds from Sierra Leone"; that song in itself, sampled from the theme to the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, is a play on the Roc-A-Fella diamond (and thus the label) being around forever.
The Roc-A-Fella diamond recently came under fire from former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page, claiming that it is a violation of the copyright that he holds on his trademark "Diamond Cutter" guesture. Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson can be seen making the gesture after he makes a big play, but it actually a reference to the name of his team's stadium (Arrowhead).
Another symbol of the label is the Roc-A-Fella chain, a thick necklace with the Roc insignia on its diamond-studded medallion. These chains are given to each rapper on the roster and are worn to symbolize affiliation with the label; for example, though not a signee, rapper Twista was given one by Dame Dash to show his ties with the Roc. The chain is referenced in lyrics by Kanye West and Jay-Z.
Roc La Familia
Jay-Z also expanded the Roc-A-Fella label to include reggae, and Latino music. Juan Perez was appointed the president of the label and officially signed Houston native Aztek Escobar and New York rapper Tru Life to the franchise, as well as N.O.R.E. and Hector Bambino "El Father." Kanye West is also technically signed to this label under his "producer" contract.Dame Dash Music Group
Not deterred, Dash and Burke decided to start their own label. The moguls started the Dame Dash Music Group and establish Nicole Wray, Rell, Grafh, and Sizzla as its current artists. The 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. Dash also still is invested in management of former artists: Latin Prince, N.O.R.E. and Cam'Ron. There is also investment in Team Roc, the sporting division of Rocawear whereas proceeds go to Roc4Life, a children's outreach program. Dash operates DDMG as a joint venture with Island Def Jam.See also
External links
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