Eminem has been all over the news this week following recent comments made by Melle Mel. The Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five rapper explained why he didn’t think Em was one of the greatest rappers alive. Though his assessment was rather surface-level, his comments came after Billboard and Vibe listed him at #5 among the greatest rappers of all time. Billboard and Vibe based their criteria on: “body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).”
It’s hard to deny that Eminem hasn’t mastered each of these aspects. As a student of the game, his flow and bars were patterned by the legends before him. Treach, Redman, and plenty of other rappers have undoubtedly influenced the unique style that Em cultivated. Then, when it comes to his cultural impact and influence, artists like Kendrick Lamar, and most recently, Kevin Gates have put him in their top 5 rappers dead or alive.
Eminem Goes Diamond Twice
Eminem during Eminem signing his new release “Marshall Mathers LP” at Virgin Record Store – Times Square in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage)
In the conversation of RIAA certifications and Billboard accomplishments, Eminem undoubtedly earned that spot at #5. This week marked the one-week anniversary since Eminem became the first and only rapper to earn two diamond-certified albums. On March 8th, 2022, the RIAA certified two of his albums as double platinum, as XXL points out. The Eminem Show officially reached 11M units sold while The Marshall Mathers LP reached diamond status on the same day.
Both The Eminem Show and The Marshall Mathers LP are two of Em’s most celebrated bodies of work. Though controversial, 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP includes some of Em’s most revered songs, such as “Kim” and “Stan” – two songs that showcased the depth of his lyrical prowess. Meanwhile, The Eminem Show came at the height of Em’s popularity in the mainstream and largely detailed how he grappled with fame, along with a far more political commentary on songs like “Mosh.”
While some rappers unfortunately did not live to see the full fruits of their labor, they live on through their music, fandoms, and family. An old video of a very young Mac Miller spitting a freestyle on a bus recently resurfaced on the Internet. Moreover, it’s incredibly heartwarming to see the late artist having fun with his colleagues. In fact, there’s not even a beat, just one of Mac’s friends beatboxing. Also, you can tell this is incredibly early into his artistic journey, as he’s still got a full head of hair and an even more youthful demeanor than what he broke onto the scene with.
“I ain’t God, but you can call me Hova,” the Pittsburgh legend raps in the new clip. “In the Ranger Rover, never sober, I don’t even know ’cause you know I am a flower.” It’s a short but sweet reminder of Miller’s early style and the fun-loving attitude he brought into even his most pained music. Since his tragic passing in 2018, many fans noticed the deeper themes behind his spunkiest material. While projects like Swimming and Circles certainly wore them on its sleeve, this video shows Mac still finding his voice before looking inward.
Regardless, it’s a treat for fans to see. Fans and fellow musicians alike continue to celebrate his legacy, positive impact, and definitive artistic voice. For example, Earl Sweatshirt took to Twitter to express that he misses Mac a couple of months ago. Even with some posthumous releases giving fans new ways to appreciate the artist, his energy and presence feels irreplaceable. Earl’s tweet prompted many to remember some of the collaborators’ best work, as other tribute moments call us back to our favorite Mac moments.
Meanwhile, other artists have spoken on how his vocal struggles with addiction and strides to turn his life around inspired them. Whether it’s French Montana or Demi Lovato, the late 26-year-old touched many hearts in the industry with his experiences. After they resulted in tragedy, his memory and journey became just as crucial to discuss as the issues he was tackling head-on. Check out the freestyle above and let us know your favorite Mac Miller, song, album, or moment in the comments.
Tisha Campbell is an American actress, singer, and dancer who has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1980s. She is known for her roles in popular television shows such as “Martin” and “My Wife and Kids.” However, Tisha is also known for her friendliness and kind heart. This is backed up by her story about her cooking Thanksgiving dinner for Tupac in the 1990s. In an interview with The Breakfast Club morning show, Tisha looks back on her dinner with fondness.
Additionally, Tisha Campbell admits to having had issues with not being present in the moment. It’s easy to lose track of how quickly time moves, and to get stuck in one period of time. Tisha states that as she gets older, she is able to appreciate being in the moment. But back when she was younger, she was not able to fully comprehend how much she was living in the past. She credits her friend Berkley for being able to put things into perspective for her.
Tisha Campbell Realizes Dinner With Tupac Is Not Normal
“I would say random stuff like ‘oh yeah when I made Thanksgiving dinner for Tupac’ and he was like ‘you can’t just say you made Thanksgiving dinner for Tupac’. And I was like, oh that’s not normal?” Tisha Campbell talks about how casual having Thanksgiving dinner with Tupac was to her in the 90s. She realizes now how extraordinary her connection to the famous late rapper truly was. Back then, Tupac had joined Tisha Campbell and her husband at the time, Duane Martin, for a holiday dinner.
During the 1990s, Tisha Campbell and Tupac Shakur were both rising stars in the entertainment industry. As a result, Tupac, Tisha, and Duane Martin would periodically hang out and get together. It was not uncommon for famous celebrities living in LA to be close, or even casual friends. Tisha states that she used to host large parties where she was cooking for large quantities of people at once. “Now my parties are like, two, three people. But I used to cook a lot.” Now Tisha realizes how special her connection to Tupac was, and focuses more on being present so she can develop new special connections.
Even those who aren’t privy to Jadakiss’ catalog can detect his iconic laugh from miles away. The LOX rapper’s signature laugh became just as part of his music as his bars. Over time, it felt as though a song from Jadakiss isn’t complete if he doesn’t drop the iconic laugh at some point. However, many have wondered how this iconic chuckle came to be. During a recent interview, Jadakiss explained that it was largely due to his engineer at the time, who insisted that he includes it in his records.
Jadakiss recently sat down with the I Am Athlete podcast where he reflected on signing with Ruff Ryders. He said that the laugh was actually a technique that he used to clear his voice before he records. Due to his gravelly tone, the laugh would often help him approach the record with a fresh set of vocal cords. “I was recording some verses and my voice is so raspy sometimes, I’m clogged up, I would do that as a tension breaker to clear my throat and my voice before I’m about to do the verse,” he said.
Jadakiss’ Engineer Convinced Him To Keep Laugh
Jadakiss said his engineer, Dragan ‘Chach’ Cacinovic, recorded him after they met through Ruff Ryders. However, when he let out one of his raspy laughs, Chach discovered a new sound that he needed to use in his music. “[I] never intended on him keeping it. So I do it, I get out to come hear the verse and he kept it!” he continued. “I’m like, ‘What’s that?’ ‘Nah, you gotta leave that.’ I’m like, ‘Aight.’ So then I just started doing it and people started loving it!”
There’s no doubt that Jadakiss’ laugh has formed a life of its own. The rapper said that even those that you wouldn’t suspect listen to hip-hop recognize him solely off of the laugh. “Aunties coming up to me in the morning, ‘Hey, ain’t you that boy who make that sound?’” he recounted. “Then it just became my signature trademark.” Check out the full interview above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments.
Suge Knight’s disdain for the East Coast apparently resulted in Lyor Cohen getting a loogie to the face. In a recent interview on the Boss Talk 101 podcast, former Death Row executive Reggie Wright Jr., recounted the time Def Jam tried to sign Snoop Dogg to the label. At the time, Island Def Jam Music Group recruited Lyor Cohen as co-president of the label and he tried to bring Snoop Dogg over to the label. However, first, he would have to go through Suge Knight.
Wright Jr. explained that Cohen paid a visit to Suge Knight in prison to negotiate a deal. Suge told Cohen that he would need to pay him $13M to sign Snoop to the label. Due to Columbia’s ownership of Def Jam, Lyor Cohen needed to run the number by the board. While Def Jam began to regain its footing, once again, thanks to Montell Jordan and Warren G, they were trying to flesh out their roster further. Jay-Z, Method Man, and Redman undoubtedly helped but the addition to Snoop was the next step to level up with the addition of a West Coast legend.
Suge Knight’s Response To Cohen
Wright Jr. said Def Jam was willing to enter a multi-million dollar deal to sign Snoop Dogg. However, they weren’t necessarily willing to cough up as much as Suge wanted. “He comes and offers Suge $7 million. ‘Tell Lyor the most that I can get for Snoop is $7 million.’ Suge never really liked the East Coasters or labels or whatever. And I’m like, ‘Okay, Lyor, yeah, we got a deal,’” Reggie Wright Jr. recalled in the interview.
Evidently, Suge wasn’t necessarily feeling the counteroffer. According to Wright Jr., he dished a repulsive response when he declined the $7M proposal. “Suge goes and tells Lyor, ‘No.’ Spits in Lyor face. Spits in his face, because of however the conversation went. At the prison. At San Luis Obispo,” Wright Jr. recalled. From there, Wright Jr. explained the moments leading up to Snoop Dogg inking a deal with No Limit Records following his tenure with Death Row. Check the full interview above.
Melle Mel caused a storm in the past week after his commentary on a few prominent rappers. The Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five member shared some unpopular opinions surrounding Kendrick Lamar and Eminem. Though both artists earned their acclaim as hip-hop reached new heights commercially, he felt as though K. Dot and Em didn’t aren’t as influential as the masses deem them to be. Nobody wants to rap like Kendrick Lamar. Nobody wants to rap like Eminem,” he said. “A lot of people wanted to rap, like ‘Pac and Biggie.”
Eminem and Kendrick Lamar haven’t said much about Mel but 50 Centhad a few words to say about the pioneer. Given that Em played a significant role in Fif’s career, he didn’t hold back. “There was more money selling dope then being in hip-hop when Melle Mel was popping, the culture grown so much,” he said. “I’m not sure if it would be what it is today without artists like Eminem,” he added before stating that Melle Mell is hating on the younger generation.
Chuck D Defends Melle Mel
Understand Melle Mel was so dominant over the rest of the pack in the first 5 years of records its hard to comprehend for born after MC folk. Its why i call him Wilt Chamberlain and Wilt had a crate of critiques for the rappers after him including ME . Just Let Mel be Wilt lol
With Hip-Hop 50 underway, Chuck D reminded the masses of Melle Mel’s contributions to the culture. Though the famed rap pioneer has a history of downplaying the success of those who came after him, Chuck D made it clear that the OG rapper is an integral force in shaping the culture we love and enjoy today. Chuck said that Mel is like the Wilt Chamberlain of hip-hop due to his dominance on the mic, as well as the parallels between Melle Mel and Chamberlain’s criticism of the younger generation.
“Understand Melle Mel was so dominant over the rest of the pack in the first 5 years of records its hard to comprehend for born after MC folk,” he explained. “Its why i call him Wilt Chamberlain and Wilt had a crate of critiques for the rappers after him including ME . Just Let Mel be Wilt lol.” Some people agreed with Chuck D’s take while others pointed out to Melle Mel’s frequent disrespect of new MCs. How do you feel about Melle Mel’s comments? Let us know in the comments below.
BMF’s story from rags to riches is one that has enchanted hip-hop for a long time. The Black Mafia Family and their leadership have been name-dropped on countless tracks over the years. Most recently, they are the inspiration behind the 50-Cent-produced Starz TV Series BMF.
“Where were you when Big Meech brought the tigers in? Because I was busy earning stripes like a tiger skin.”– Pusha T, 2018
Thanks to a small-screen adaptation, the wider world is beginning to get acquainted with the BMF story. With that in mind, we’re going to take a closer look at the real life stories which 50 and co. have brought to television screens.
The Origins of Black Mafia Family
Black Mafia Family, abbreviated as BMF, was the brainchild of Demetrius and Terry Flenory, better known as Big Meech and Southwest T.
Born in Detroit during economic depression, the brothers soon realized that there wouldn’t be many opportunities to escape their circumstances. As a result, they began dealing drugs during their high school days. Initially, they were selling $50 bags of cocaine to locals, although this would seem paltry compared to what they’d one day be moving.
The two first worked under the banner of E.D Boyd’s 50 Boyz crew. Eventually, they got got his permission to expand their operations. E.D later told VladTV that this move didn’t cause any friction as it was what he’d intended for the duo from the outset.
“I told them, I groomed you from day one to be bosses, so this day was coming. That’s the same thing I did.. I’m not in the long haul to be nobody’s worker and that’s what I instilled in them. Everything that I taught them boys, the family values, taking their crews to the mall, they took that shift from the 50 Boyz. They took that shit to BMF. I groomed them well.”
The Rise
ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Nicole Flenory, Terry Flenory and Lucille Flenory attend the BMF Season 2 exclusive Detroit screening at Emagine Royal Oak on December 13, 2022 in Royal Oak, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Starz)
That said, their rise wasn’t without incident. In the embryonic days of the business, Southwest T lost his eye in a shooting. The assailant’s identity remains unknown to this day. Years on, T was shot four times by opportunistic armed robbers during a visit to a restaurant in Detroit. Big Meech, meanwhile, weathered a hail of bullets from Ladon “Beast” Simon– the real-life counterpart of Lamar in the TV show– following the death of Simon’s nephew.
“They say it was like 18 times,” Simon told VladTV. “Some people say he got hit in the neck and in the stomach and shit. He disrespected me, so he got his ass lit up for running his mouth. After that, everywhere I went, they just run.”
Once they’d set up their own conglomerate– which remained unnamed for many years– the siblings began to recruit others. Before long, they’d outgrown their homebase of The Motor City. They moved to Atlanta, where the brothers— Demetrius in particular– would begin to make a name for themselves.
The Move to ATL
“I’ve been around a place like Atlanta for a long time,” Meech said in an interview from jail with AllHipHop. “I have lived there since the 1990s, been there since 1988. I didn’t have the problems other people had, I was through a lot of things. Almost 90 percent of the cities I touched down in, I had nothing but love. So it was never no problems. And we don’t do no robbing, we just never had no problems. When you get a crew that’s hungry, they might turn on you.”
The Black Mafia Family continued to grow to the extent that they were alleged to have strongholds in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee. They reportedly had over 500 affiliates on their payroll across the entirety of the US. In addition to their grip on America, the Flenorys were closely affiliated with Mexican drug cartels. At the height of their power, they were purchasing over 50 kilos a fortnight.
Hip-Hop Interactions
E.D Boyd has maintained that Big Meech wanted everyone to know that he was a major player in the drug game. As a result, Meech regularly liaised with many of hip-hop’s biggest stars of the era. The crew became renowned for their extravagant partying. There were tales of evenings with Puff. A story about blocking Jay-Z’s car in, purely to force him to ask their permission to move them. Meech is actually in the video for Juelz Santana’s “Make It Work For You” after they linked up during a trip to Harlem.
Although some stars courted their friendship, others, such as 50 Cent, steered clear.
“I first heard about it [BMF] in 2003,” 50 Cent told DJ Drama in 2019 on Sirius XM. “They were so embedded into the music business, because when you can find your pockets, people like you around. When you at the nightclub and Puffy can’t buy champagne because you bought all of it, they start to have to speak to you. I stayed away from it, because I know who I am, and I know how easy it is for me to… I might have bought something. Or it would be easy enough for people to make me involved without me being involved. I was doing too well. They would reach out to me and I would avoid it, because it just wasn’t good for where I was at.”
BMF Entertainment
Young Jeezy and Bleu Davinci during T.I. 25th Birthday Party – September 24, 2005 at Earth in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Over time, Meech’s familiarity with hip-hop stars and love of music would mutate into a pet project, BMF Entertainment. Launched in 2000, BMF served as both a record label and promotional company. They only signed one artist in Bleu Davinci, but the nascent label’s connections were so strong that his debut album contained features from some of the era’s biggest names.
Another artist who benefited greatly from Meech’s patronage was Jeezy. Although Jeezy never formally signed to the label, the Flenorys’ support, and proceeds, bolstered his early career.
“He was very instrumental in Jeezy’s early career around 2003,” said Marla Shalhoup, author of BMF, The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and The Black Mafia Family. “What he did in Atlanta was promote a lot of parties for Jeezy and helped get his music spread around to all the stripclubs, which is how rappers would make it or break it. He supplied fancy cars and crazy medallion pendants for video shoots. And Jeezy was really open about his very tight relationship with Big Meech. You know, Jeezy shows up in all these promotional videos in which he’s shouting out the Black Mafia Family and Meech.”
A Rift Between Brothers
Where they’d previously been a tight-knit unit, Meech’s flashiness led to a rift opening up between Southwest T and Meech. This led to an informal split. T ventured to the west coast to head up operations in LA, while Meech remained at the base in Atlanta.
Although the cause of the problem is not public knowledge, BMF capo J-Bo has said that Terry was diluting the cocaine in order to undercut Meech. When people began complaining, the beef between them intensified. Reportedly, by the time that the FBI apprehended them, the siblings were not on speaking terms.
Even as Meech made himself at home in hip-hop, it didn’t mean that violence ceased. After a dispute over a girl bubbled over, the BMF crew was allegedly involved in the infamous murder of Diddy’s bodyguard Wolf Jones, at a nightclub in Atlanta.
“When they came outside, he shot Meech and them and it caught him in the buttocks,” revealed Bad Boy Head of Security, Gene Deal. “Meech ain’t want to do nothing to him, he had enough crew outside to deal with that. The dude who got close to Wolf, the dude that killed him was the guy he got down with Brooklyn. He needed some money, he was a shooter, Wolf told Meech to put him on the payroll and that’s the dude who shot him.”
Venturing into Music
Bleu Davinci and Baby Bleu (Photo by John Ricard/FilmMagic) *** Local Caption ***
To more cynical onlookers, Big Meech’s decision to venture into music was simply a means to launder money. Marla Shalhoup argues that the music wasn’t a front but rather, a gateway to legitimizing BMF once and for all.
“He certainly was able to create a massive buzz and that was in large part through massive amounts of money. But I think that he also had this charisma that was pretty much undeniable. People would either run the other way when these guys came into the club or be overjoyed because all the women would soon be drinking $600 bottles of champagne. Meech really had genuine hope that he could transition out of the drug game into a legitimate enterprise. And that’s not an unusual trajectory. It’s somewhat of a cliché…But, for him, it was maybe a matter of timing.”
Later down the line, Meech, localized similar sentiments during a rare interview from behind bars with AllHipHop, stating:
“All my friends were involved [in the music business], like Puff, JD, Jeezy, Slim Thug, Nelly. These people were involved in music and it made me want to be more hands on. I saw how a lot of artists were getting jerked and that’s something I was going to change, once I got my foot all through the door. But the government saw me with my foot almost closing the door and they ended up giving me these trumped up charges.”
The Fall of BMF
As is always the case, no empire of this nature can last forever. Once the FBI launched what was codenamed Operation Motor City Mafia in 2003, it was only a matter of time until the net closed in.
In 2005, Meech and Southwest T were indicted under the CCE (Continuing Criminal Enterprise) statute. This legal apparatus carries stringent sentences in the same vein as a RICO charge, often amounting to life imprisonment. The charges filed against the Flenory brothers were two of over 150 indictments relating to BMF. In doing so, the FBI essentially eradicated BMF’s entire network. Even Jacob Arabov, better known in hip-hop circles as Jacob The Jeweler, was prosecuted on money laundering offenses. He eventually served two years in prison on a lesser charge of falsifying statements
According to the Department of Justice, “at its peak during 2003-2004, the BMF was moving hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into Atlanta, Detroit, and other distribution hubs every month.”
“The drugs would arrive in vehicles – often limousines – with secret compartments or ‘traps’. These same trap vehicles would then be filled with cash (the proceeds from drug sales) to be sent back to the Mexican sources of supply.”
BMF Indictment
In the process of the indictment, the feds seized $21 million worth of assets, including cash, jewelry, 13 homes in Metro Detroit, Georgia and Los Angeles, and three dozen vehicles. During the two year long investigation, they accumulated over 900 pages of wiretapped conversations between Southwest T and others. Many of the conversations pertained to not just the operation, but Terry’s fears over Meech’s excessive partying and the attention it drew.
In November 2007, the brothers pleaded guilty to running a continuing criminal enterprise “involving the large-scale distribution of cocaine throughout the United States from 1990 through 2005.” By doing so, they got a 30-year sentence. Robert Corso, who was in charge of the case, claimed at the time that it “demonstrate[s] that no matter how large the operation, or how much money a drug trafficker makes illegally, eventually the law and justice will catch up. This community and communities across the United States are safer with the Brothers Flenory behind bars.”
Prison & The BMF TV Series
ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 13: Demetrius “Meech” Flenory Jr., and Terry Flenory attend the BMF Season 2 exclusive Detroit screening at Emagine Royal Oak on December 13, 2022 in Royal Oak, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Starz)
Although it is nonexistent today, Demetrius Flenory Jr. or Lil Meech– who plays his father in the BMF TV series– can relive his halcyon days of power while incarcerated.
“What’s crazy is, every jail is different”, he revealed. “Some jails don’t show premium cable, premium channels. So, he got blessed that the jail he’s in, he’s able to watch the show.”
Meech who is now 54 years old, is seemingly aware of his enduring influence on hip-hop culture. He told DJ Vlad during an interview from jail that “even 2 Chainz told me when I spoke to him… I got a foreign whip, you got everybody down here driving foreigns.”
The show which documents Meech and his brother’s lives has been a smash hit. And, according to its writer, Randy Huggins, it sticks as true to the actual events as it can.
“I took some liberties, but everything there is based on a story,” Huggins informed Urban Hollywood 411. “Obviously, you can’t have people’s names in there. Obviously, some of the places may have changed.”
However, it’s still pretty close to life. “I don’t think there’s a character in there that I hadn’t heard of,” he said. “I may have to take creative liberty to make an art pop a little bit more… take a creative license to make a scene funnier, but that’s just part of telling a story. This is not a documentary.”
Southwest T & Big Meech’s Release
In 2020, Terry Flenory was released on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately for Big Meech, his attempt to be released on the same grounds was halted. According to attorneys, his disciplinary record in prison and continued infatuation with “money, cars, clothes and hoes” meant that he hadn’t been sufficiently reformed.
As it stands, Big Meech’s release is earmarked for 2028.
It’s been a big week for Nasir Jones, who is fresh off of his sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden. Nas’s latest show came on the heels of the third installment in the King’s Disease series which undoubtedly rejuvenated Nas’s career. Following the Ye-produced Nasir in 2018, he returned to the drawing board with Hit-Boy to create their own wave. That project finally earned the Queensbridge native the first Grammy award of his 30-year career.
The most interesting part of King’s Disease is that Nas didn’t need a single and found a comfort zone that didn’t rely on industry politics. He managed to reach widespread acclaim by returning to his roots as an MC. Maintaining his integrity has always been at the forefront. However, the criticism surrounding the post-Illmatic releases surrounded the mainstream appeal. It Was Writtenremains one of the most commercially successful projects in Nas’s catalog. Singles like “Street Dreams, “If I Ruled The World,” and “I Gave You Power” turned him into a household name.
It Was Written might not have even dropped if it weren’t for Biggie Smalls. Nas explained that he felt the pressure to remain “underground” at the time of It Was Written. He said witnessing songs like “Big Poppa” succeed allowed him to see just how far he could take his career. “… Biggie made it different, where you can’t just be the hot dude that they liked from New York to Connecticut to Virginia. You got to hit the mainstream. You got to touch the world,” he told GQ.
Though he credits the Brooklyn legend for shining light on the possibilities of his career, it wasn’t a one-sided exchange. He said collaborating with Dr. Dre on It Was Written possibly helped open the doors for Biggie and Bone Thugs’ collab. “I feel like that collab [with Dre] brought in the idea, maybe, for things like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Biggie together,” he said. “I didn’t invent it, but it made it more of a thing, like, ‘Hey guys, we’re always so standoffish. You come into my market, I come into your market, and let’s have fun. It’s all a family thing.’”
Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” remains one of the most iconic anthems in hip-hop music of the last 20 years. There’s not a time when that song kicks off at any event and people aren’t singing along word-for-word. However, the catchiest part of the song isn’t something that Jay came up with himself. He actually paid homage to Ice-T and 2 Live Crew’s Brother Marquis who delivered a song of the same name 1992 album, Home Invasion.
Over the years, there’s been a debate surrounding the use of the line. While Jay faced accusations in the past of ripping lines off of Biggie, many felt as though he did the same to Ice-T, especially since not everyone knew where the line came from. “Why Jay Z never said, ‘This is Ice-T’s song,’ and showed me some love, I don’t know,” Ice T said in a 2014 interview. “I’m friends with Jay. I met him with Big Daddy Kane. I would have handled the situation differently. If I use your music, I want to let people know.”
Jay-Z Patches Things Up With Ice-T
That particular interview resurfaced in November and it appears that it caught the attention of Hov. During a recent interview on Big Boy’s Neighborhood, Ice explained that Jay-Z approached him at the Grammys to clarify that he never meant any disrespect towards him. “I’m at the Grammys and JAY-Z comes to me. He says, ‘Ice, you know I love you, right?’” Ice-T recalled Jay telling him at the award show. “I say, ‘Yeah!’
Apparently, Jay wanted to clear up the rumors on the Internet surrounding Ice-T’s issue surrounding the song. “He says, ‘Well, it’s on the internet that you mad.’ I said, ‘I’m not mad! They’re bringing up all kinds of interviews about it and they asked me the story, and I told them the true story,’” Ice-T continued. “He goes, ‘Yeah man, but it’s no hard feelings,’” he continued, explaining that the two dived into their storied history, dating back to Jay’s relationship with Big Daddy Kane.
Though it was all love, he said that he told Jay-Z that he wished he had given him a shout-out. “But I said, ‘Yo, well, you know, when you did ’99 Problems,’ at the end of the record you could’ve said, ‘Ice!’ You could’ve given me a little dap or something!’ I said, ‘But I’m not mad at it. What had happened was people wanted to know the story,’” Ice-T said. Check the interview above.
When it comes to the music industry, a healthy and supportive label can mean the difference between stardom and failure. Sure, most of the immediate attention around a hot new song or album concerns the artist that created it. However, labels often help these creators get to that point of success, whether through financial support or through keen mentorship. Over time, many record companies build a stacked catalog of either varied stars or a tightly curated sound. Still, much conversation around labels these days (especially the most successful ones) concerns how they might mistreat, exploit, or fail to properly compensate their roster. Many within hip-hop could relate to that experience, and thus chose to take matters into their own hands.
Perhaps more than in any other genre, rappers and producers quickly cemented their industry legacy in various ways. Many of the biggest rap stars of all time either spearheaded their labels, started their own, or made huge business moves to become entrepreneurs within the music world. Great labels can inspire change, provide employment opportunities, and create a space of community and support within a volatile industry. Of course, things don’t always pan out perfectly, but many labels in the rap game etched themselves into its history books for reasons larger than the sum of their sometimes controversial parts.
To celebrate Black History Month, we compiled a list of some of the most iconic Black-founded hip-hop labels. A few notes before the list begins in no particular order. First, this list includes record labels which were founded or co-founded by Black artists, entrepreneurs, producers, etc. Of course, many of these labels have parent companies; in other words, the larger music group conglomerate that distributes its releases. Still, these labels appear on the list because at one point in time or another, they represented (or represent) independence, creativity, artistic progression, commercial success or stability, community, innovation, or some or all of the above. We’ll also include some notable releases from each label, although there are many, many more iconic releases than what we’ve listed for each group.
There are too many iconic hip-hop labels to summarize perfectly in one list. So, with that said, let us know in the comments down below which are some of the most impactful Black-owned labels in your opinion, whether in hip-hop or beyond. Also, we recommend you search for independent record labels in your area of interest, as they can yield incredible and undiscovered talent. It’s that next generation of Black artists, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and creatives that will continue to redefine the music industry. With all that said, let’s take a look at some of the biggest labels in hip-hop history.
Sugar Hill Records
Kicking off this list is, arguably, the label that started it all. Sugar Hill Records is responsible for some of the most essential and groundbreaking records in old school hip-hop in every metric. Sylvia Robinson founded this label with her husband Joe in 1986, along with Milton Madden and funding from Roulette Records. Sylvia already found artistic success in the 1950s and stepped into more of a producer role the next decade. With Grammy Award-winning experience working with Ike and Tina Turner, she created much of the blueprints for hip-hop’s pillars we take for granted today. She released the first rap single to dominate the charts and sell over a million copies with The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” (controversy aside). Also, she highlighted more established hip-hop acts like the legendary Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, who popularized the DJ as a musician and promoted social consciousness within their messaging.
With other artists like The Funky 4 + 1 and The Treacherous Three, Sylvia and Joe built one of the most successful and significant independent labels of its time in a few years. Unfortunately, Sugar Hill is now defunct following a distribution deal with MCA Records. While much of Sylvia’s work and talent went uncredited, she’s considered one of, if not the godmother of hip-hop. Much of Sugar Hill’s records are incredible distillations of what we know as rap today, and they set the groundwork for future independent companies from an artistic and business-minded standpoint. Hip-hop was born years before Sugar Hill, but Sylvia and Joe were among the first forces to stamp it in the music industry and commercial pop culture at large.
Notable Releases – “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) – The Sugarhill Gang – Sugarhill Presents the Sequence (1980) – The Sequence – The Message (1982) – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – Drop The Bomb (1982) – Trouble Funk – “Whip It” (1983) – The Treacherous Three
Bad Boy Records
When Sean “Diddy” Combs was fired from his A&R job at Uptown Records, he knew that his skill at curation and ear for quality hip-hop couldn’t be squandered. As such, he founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, one of the most successful hip-hop labels of all time. To start, their catalog of artists represents titans of hip-hop and R&B in the ‘90s and 2000s. Faith Evans, The LOX, Craig Mack, Mase, Diddy himself, producers like Easy Mo Bee, Yung Joc, and of course the legendary Biggie Smalls. Sure, it had its ups and downs in its 30-year history, but the Bad Boy collective carved their name into East Coast hip-hop like few other labels have. In fact, although their output is more reserved, they continue to release significant albums in the music landscape.
Most recently, Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, among a heap of additional critical and fan acclaim. Meanwhile, the label represents one of the most notable genre crossover artists in Machine Gun Kelly, whose latest album Mainstream Sellout saw much commercial success as well. With all that said, Bad Boy Records successfully shifted its focus across its history, and laid the groundwork for one of hip-hop’s billionaires. Diddy’s industry success, and the legacies of the rest of the Bad Boy crew, transcended far beyond label boundaries. Still, one can’t help but imagine what Bad Boy could’ve been if tragic events hadn’t marked its history so deeply. Much of the discussion around the label in the ‘90s concerned a rivalry with another imprint that caused a seismic shift in the genre, on the other side of the country.
Notable Releases – Ready To Die (1994), Life After Death (1997) – The Notorious B.I.G. – Faith (1995) – Faith Evans – Money, Power & Respect (1998) – The LOX – Dirty Computer (2018) – Janelle Monáe – Mainstream Sellout (2022) – Machine Gun Kelly
Death Row Records
When it comes to West Coast rap, few labels are as well-known, influential, and notorious as Death Row. Founded by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, Dick Griffey, and The D.O.C. in 1991, the label became home to some of the most influential West Coast records of all time. Their first record was Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, which took G-funk to new heights and established the careers of label artists like Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Daz Dillinger. What followed were some of the most successful and beloved rap albums of the time, especially after they signed 2Pac in 1995. Also, the sheer popularity and gritty glamor of the collective’s aesthetic, their movement, and their public personas influenced rappers for decades to come. Even more so after their beef with Bad Boy Records, Death Row was as much of a philosophy as it was a brand.
However, that philosophy ended up becoming dangerous. Multiple losses on both sides, such as Pac and Biggie, meant tragic outcomes for both camps. In Death Row’s case, they didn’t fully recover after the conflict, as there were already internal battles between Dre, Pac, and the label executives. Despite its murky history, the label released art that impacted millions, regardless of the circumstances of its creation. In fact, Snoop Dogg recently bought the label from MNRK Music Group last year, so perhaps there will be a different ending to the Death Row story. As many other labels have done, maybe a new generation of Death Row artists will sidestep the label’s past struggles and capitalize on the music that made it truly special.
Notable Releases – The Chronic (1992) – Dr. Dre – Doggystyle (1993) – Snoop Dogg – “Regulate” (1994) – Warren G & Nate Dogg – All Eyez On Me (1996) – 2Pac – BODR (2022) – Snoop Dogg
Ruthless Records
Before Death Row, however, there was Ruthless Records. Eazy-E founded the label in 1987 alongside Jerry Heller. What started out as recordings in Eazy’s parents’ garage became some of the most influential tracks and albums in West Coast hip-hop. Through close collaboration and a relentless desire to do things their way, artists like N.W.A forged monumental careers. While internal discussions and money eventually got in the way of its key members, their influence during those days established them as leaders of the West Coast. Dr. Dre went on to co-found Death Row, and Ice Cube founded Street Knowledge Records, now known as Lench Mob. During this time, a lot of label turmoil was still being figured out in hip-hop, but it didn’t stop anyone from putting out impactful music.
Still, the Ruthless roster stands among many other West Coast pioneers who also contributed to the scene’s success. What makes this label special are its impressive and distant bookends. First, the gritty depictions of street life, hard-hitting production, and gangster attitudes that radicalized late ‘80s hip-hop. Then came Bone Thugs-n-Harmony in the mid ‘90s, who themselves laid some of the groundwork for the most popular sounds of today. The Ohio group not only proved Eazy-E had the vision to lead Ruthless to other scenes and movements in hip-hop, but were also one of the first to pioneer trap music in its prototypical stages. Perhaps Death Row gets a bit more name recognition these days, but Ruthless remains arguably one of the most enduringly influential labels in hip-hop history.
Notable Releases – Straight Outta Compton (1988) – N.W.A – Eazy Duz It (1988) – Eazy-E – No One Can Do It Better (1989) – The D.O.C. – Michel’le (1989) – Michel’le – E. 1999 Eternal (1995) – Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Cash Money Records
Our first Southern representative on this list was founded by two brothers, Ronald “Slim” Williams and Bryan “Birdman” Williams. With a desire to overcome poverty from rough upbringings, the label became the genre’s biggest revolution in years. In its early days, Cash Money established itself thanks to keen curation, which turned the streets’ favorites into hit artists. With a few years of experience under their belt, they signed Lil Wayne and Juvenile in 2006, and would go on to include Nicki Minaj, Drake, Jacquees, DJ Khaled, and many more (under Young Money, a later imprint of Cash Money started by Lil Wayne). Albums were selling millions of copies and many of these projects ended up defining much of the 2000s bling era. Weezy, for example, is just as well-known for his mixtape series as he is for his classic albums.
Of course, eventually Cash Money’s biggest players ended up moving on. Wayne in particular had a lot of issues with Birdman surrounding the release of Tha Carter V, and a lot of those label tensions could’ve boiled over into other careers. Nicki Minaj, for example, is on Lil Wayne’s Young Money label, which used to be an imprint and later partner of Cash Money (or YMCMB). Regardless of how things have shifted, Cash Money continues this list’s trend of influential labels defining how future ones could operate. Birdman even played a hand in the rise of artists like Young Thug, who not only has beef with his idol Lil Wayne but created a whole generation of clones of his own. Many of today’s most traveled roads in rap were paved by the sound Cash Money championed.
Notable Releases – 400 Degreez (1998) – Juvenile – 5 * Stunna (2007) – Birdman – Tha Carter III (2008) – Lil Wayne – Pink Friday (2011) – Nicki Minaj – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015) – Drake
No Limit Records
No Limit’s history slightly mirrors that of Cash Money, at least at first glance. Similar come-up in 1991, reached mainstream success from the mid ’90s to the 2000s, and so on. Percy “Master P” Miller started to sell his recordings through a small storefront, seeking out and signing local California talent. However, given he’s from New Orleans, the sound of No Limit was something more new from the jump. Eventually the label relocated to his home city in Louisiana in 1995, and found more MCs hungry to succeed. Within two years, No Limit was one of the more commercially successful labels of the moment. They dropped movie soundtracks and signed the one and only Snoop Dogg after his Death Row exit.
While No Limit’s music wasn’t a critical darling, its artists were so prolific and idiosyncratic that they connected with audiences in a way few other rap labels could. Though all good things came to an end, they represented yet another fresh take on the game. At the time, there was still had a bit of binary bias between West and East. While No Limit is no more, it lives on through No Limit Forever Records, founded by P’s son Romeo Miller. Their groovy, raw, and relentless run of albums in the ‘90s and 2000s was quite impressive as a new player. Also, dozens of rappers have spoken on how Master P shaped their consumption of the art form. During a time in which labels seem to want to put more music out than ever, perhaps No Limit set a blueprint for how artists could make that supply and demand work.
Notable Releases – The Shocker (1996) – Silkk the Shocker – Ghetto D (1997) – Master P – Tru 2 da Game (1997) – TRU – Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998) – Snoop Dogg – Mama Drama (1998) – Mia X
Def Jam Recordings
Of all the labels on this list, Def Jam might be the broadest selection, the most difficult to talk about, and the hardest to summarize in two paragraphs. After linking with producer Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons built upon some of his industry experience to build an empire. Early signees included some of hip-hop’s most impactful innovators: Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and The Beastie Boys. Then came Jay-Z, DMX, Kanye West, Redman, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Big Sean, Frank Ocean, Pusha T, and so many more. Artists either formed gargantuan careers starting off in Def Jam or have arrived at it as established superstars. The sheer variety of genres and styles, the businesses it’s directly and indirectly created, and its broad influence is outstanding.
However, with such a wide pool, you’re bound to have some sharks in the water. In many ways, Def Jam’s size and versatility emphasizes everything a label can be. It can be freeing, restrictive, personal, cold, rewarding, unforgiving, the best thing to happen to your career, the music business screwing you over, or all those things at once. In fact, Simmons is no longer even on the board as executive due to various accusations of sexual assault. Despite that, this label gave artists the experience and infrastructure knwoledge to excel independently, at least in some cases. Even with excitement around Def Jam disappearing with time and context, many of its artists are still invigorating and inspirational. No matter who you are, odds are that you will find something that moves you on this label’s discography.
Notable Releases – Radio (1985) – LL Cool J – Licensed To Ill (1986) – The Beastie Boys – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) – Public Enemy – The Blueprint (2001) – Jay-Z – It’s Almost Dry (2022) – Pusha T
Top Dawg Entertainment
One of the top labels right now was founded almost twenty years ago. In 2003, after six years producing, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffifth met a then-15-year-old Compton rapper named Kedrick Lamar. Eventually, TDE became a proper label with the help of Terrence “Punch” Henderson in 2004 and first started seeing commercial success thanks to successful mixtapes from Jay Rock. Soon after, Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q joined, leading the four MCs to form Black Hippy in 2009. With later signees including SZA, Isaiah Rashad, and most recently Doechii, TDE represents commercially successful but artistically progressive hip-hop. For example, many consider Kendrick Lamar one of the greatest to ever do it. Now that he’s exited the label, they might wonder where they go from here.
Well, so far, the incredible success and acclaim behind albums like SZA’s SOS, Zay’s The House Is Burning, and Ab-Soul’s Herbert quell all doubts of quality discographies coming through. Moreover, Doechii became one of the XXL Freshmen of 2022 and is one of the most beloved rising MCs. While some labels fall to either complete lack of notable output or too much infighting, TDE focused on its artistry. Of course, it hasn’t dodged those industry pitfalls, as release conflicts from behind the scenes, accusations of “mid” on the Internet, and the fact that TDE releases take a while still affect the label. However, for what it’s worth, they might have the highest batting average here and inspire many other independent labels.
Notable Releases – Control System (2012) – Ab-Soul – Oxymoron (2014) – ScHoolboy Q – To Pimp A Butterfly (2015) – Kendrick Lamar – Ctrl (2017) – SZA – The House Is Burning (2021) – Isaiash Rashad
Dreamville Records
Next up is TDE’s biggest competition, although they actually feel more like kindred spirits. J. Cole founded Dreamville in 2007 with manager Ibrahim Hamad. Cole wanted to put music out, Hamad wanted to start a label, and within seven years they released the label’s first group mixtape Revenge of the Dreamers after Cole’s mainstream success. While their roster is often compared to TDE’s, they certainly shine as a unified label with just as much talent. Bas, Ari Lennox, JID, and EARTHGANG are just a few of the charismatic creators that push Dreamville forward today. Cole continues to do incredible things, but just like TDE, the newest names are the most exciting thing about it.
JID reached rap royalty with 2022’s The Forever Story, which established him as a leader after already proving his skills. Much of the roster is entering what many would call their veteran years, but their music remains fresh and unencumbered. Let’s not forget their recent Gangsta Grillz tape with DJ Drama, which proves they can dominate on the home court or in another city. Dreamville also has a Foundation in Fayetteville, North Carolina that helped many of its community members through rough times. While many labels often engage in charitable endeavors and extracurriculars like film soundtracks and business deals, few artists come off as genuine, well-mentored, and prepared to take on those responsibilities as Dreamville’s artists do.
Notable Releases – 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014) – J. Cole – Milky Way (2018) – Bas – Shea Butter Baby (2019) – Ari Lennox – Mirrorland (2019) – EARTHGANG – The Forever Story (2022) – JID
Griselda Records
Finally in this list, we have Griselda, the independent Buffalo, New York label with one of the most prolific and quality discographies in recent memory. Founded in 2021 by Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Mach-Hommy, the label was inspired by their experiences with drug dealing, their focused artistic visions, desire for independence, and building off of rap innovators like Roc Marciano. With the help of rapper Benny the Butcher and in-house producer Daringer, they cultivated a rebirth of hardcore hip-hop. Their beats feel incredibly atmospheric, gritty, and menacing, like the best grimy East Coast boom-bap of the 1990s. Their aesthetic creativity and business acumen in many areas has given each member an illustrious career of their own.
Speaking of Griselda’s roster, it includes the aforementioned wordsmiths plus some of the most respected MCs working today. There’s Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Armani Caesar, Jay Worthy, YN Billy, and Stove God Cooks. In fact, you can count the current Griselda roster with both hands. Even with Conway’s amicable departure, any one of those nine could likely body an average label roster today. Griselda is more than just a label in people’s minds. It’s almost more of a hivemind or a genre at this point. Few labels ever in hip-hop have been so easily identifiable and respected, not just because of their trademark style but because of the consistency of their output. More than any other label on this list, Griselda clearly has a very specific goal. They produce essential hip-hop music and get its hard-working artists a lot of cash, recognition, and freedom while doing so.
Notable Releases – The Plugs I Met (2019) – Benny The Butcher – Pray for Paris (2020) – Westside Gunn – The Liz (2020) – Armani Caesar – Pray for Haiti (2021) – Mach-Hommy – God Don’t Make Mistakes (2022) – Conway The Machine
