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 .
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.
While Bleek and Jay stayed on, most of Team Roc eventually disbanded: Sauce Money quietly moved to Priority Records; Jaz-O faded away (later beginning a reasonably well-publicized beef with Jay-Z); Da Ranjahz signed with The Carter Faculty, a short-lived
Def Jam imprint, and once this fell through reverted to street life. Ski founded Roc-A-Blok Productions with Dame Dash's cousin Darrien, which also didn't work out. Clark Kent went on to produce for other high-profile artists, but slowly faded from popular view.
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 which was also the first appearance of new signee,
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
Bink! 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 .
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.
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 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 Beans 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
Jonathan Chandler , 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.
Freeway is readying his next release, ''
Free At Last '', which is to be a collaborative, executive-produced
Jay-Z and assisted by
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.
Former Roc artist
Cam'ron has dissed
Jay-Z on several songs "Wet Wipes," "Suck It Or Not," "Swagger Jacker", and most notably "U Gotta Love it".
Tevin Castle and Roc-A-Fella Records recently parted ways. He is still working on his second album, and is now signed to a deal with
Interscope Records . The departure was strictly a business decision, and she remains on good terms with everyone on the label.
The label has ventured into producing movies. "Paper Soldiers", ''
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, State Property Clothing, the acquisition of footwear brand, Pro-Keds, and
Roc4Kids , a community outreach program started by Dame Dash to support students. Roc-A-Fella has also invested in
Armadale Vodka , luxury timepiece collection,"ROC-ICE", and also its publication ''America''.
Jay-Z also expanded the Roc-A-Fella label to include
Reggaeton and Latino music with the sublabel
Roc La Familia . Juan Perez was appointed its president. Roc La Familia has officially signed New York rappers
Tru Life and
Uno Dos to the franchise, as well as
N.O.R.E. and
Hector El Father .
Aztek Escobar left Roc La Familia and addresses a bit of what happened on his newest song entitled "Child Of God":
:''I love you Jay but the Roc was just a chain to me
:''Juan you fucked up and Moya did the same thing
:''I cried on your shoulder you laughed behind my back
:''I slammed the chain on the table
:''Its over laugh at that
Rumors have circulated that Aztek is set to sign with multi-platinum selling record label
G-Unit Records .
Roc La Familia no longer exists and N.O.R.E is no longer on Roc-A-Fella's roster.
Jay-Z has stated he is focused on rebuilding the Roc-A-Fella Dynasty.
.
Undeterred, Dash and Burke started a new record label. The moguls started the
Dame Dash Music Group (DDMG) and established
Nicole Wray ,
Rell ,
Grafh , and
Sizzla among its 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 , the sporting division of Rocawear whereas proceeds go to '''Roc4Life''', a children's outreach program. Dash no longer operates DDMG as a joint venture with Island Def Jam, but has signed a distribution deal with Koch Records.
Jay-Z
Memphis Bleek
Beanie Sigel
Kanye West
Freeway
Young Gunz
Peedi Peedi
DJ Clue
Neo Da Matrix
Hector Bambino
Tru Life
Uncle Murder
Young Chris
Allen Anthony
Amil
Aztek Escobar
Cam'Ron
Christion
Dame Dash
Da Ranjahz
Denim
Diamonds In Da Ruff
The Diplomats
Foxy Brown
Freekey Zekey
Grafh
Jaz-O
Joe Budden
Jim Jones
Juelz Santana
Kareem "Biggs" Burke
Mecca
M.O.P
Nicole Wray
N.O.R.E.
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Omillio Sparks
Oschino
Rell
Samantha Ronson
Sauce Money
State Property (Group)
Teairra Mari
Young Steff
Tevin Castle
