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Rap-A-Lot Records

October 15, 2023

Rap-A-Lot is a hip hop record label co-founded by James Prince and Cliff Blodget[2][3][4] in 1986.[5] Smoke-a-Lot Records is a subsidiary.

Rap-A-Lot
Parent companySony Music Entertainment
Founded1986; 37 years ago (1986)[1]
FounderJames Prince, Cliff Blodget
Distributor(s)RED Distribution
GenreSouthern hip hop
Country of originUnited States
LocationHouston, Texas

Rap-A-Lot was first distributed by A&M Records with the release of Raheem's 1988 debut The Vigilante.[6] The label was distributed through the 1990s by EMI's Priority Records (1991–1994), Noo Trybe Records (1994-1998), and Virgin Records (1998–2002). In the 2000s, it was distributed by Asylum Records and then Fontana Distribution.

On August 22, 2013, Rap-A-Lot announced a distribution deal with RED Distribution.[7]

History Edit

The label was formed filling in a gap for recognition and promotion of southern talent especially in the Houston area. This was in part to label executives in other parts of the country passing on southern hip hop acts. During this period, DJ's from the east coast had been exploiting the region and pushing music from their domestic territories instead.[8]

Prince was working as a bank teller in 1985 in the fault department, then getting laid off at the age of 20.[9][10] The initial goal prior to the label was to keep his younger stepbrother known as the rapper Sir Rap-A-Lot out of street life, as well as friends Raheem and Jukebox from skipping school. They would meet on the porch of his grandmothers house to perform and practice.[11] After purchasing an abandoned building, he turned the property into on a used car dealership, known as Smith Auto Sales on the west side of Houston. At first he sold bucket cars then moving on to exotic cars which athletes would come and purchase.[9] The same rundown 2 storey building that Prince owned, was where the artists then moved on to record into during 1986.[2]

Prince co-founded Rap-A-Lot Records with Cliff Blodget, a Seattleite,[12][3][4] in 1987. Bloget was a computer science major,[10] who was an electrical engineer by trade and acted as the label's in-house engineer and producer alongside fellow producer Carl Stephenson.[13][12] Prince used his last bit of funds to invest into the label. He was inspired by Russell Simmons and the label he founded Def Jam Recordings. He moved the company in 1988 to New York City with Blodget. Around this time Lyor Cohen would show Prince check books of Def Jam artists LL Cool J and Whodini which showed him the potential revenue to be made in the music industry enlightening him to continue his vision with the Geto Boys moving the whole label back to Houston.[9][11]

The first group he formed in the label was the Geto Boys. The first incarnation was dancer Bushwick Bill, DJ Ready Red, Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny C. Prince moved on and then found new members Willie D through the recommendation of his barber,[14] and Scarface in the parking lot of a club he owned playing demos to a DJ who worked there. Bushwick was then made as a rapper. Prince's brother was a member but then was replaced at his discretion with Scarface. This was confirmed from a freestyle battle against each other where Scarface outperformed Sir Rap-A-Lot, with the younger brother then agreeing that was the better direction for the group also.[11] Using local radio stations like KTSU to spread the reach of the label's music,[15] his first deal came in 1989 via Rick Rubin working with the Geto Boys on their 2nd album Grip It! On That Other Level.[16]

Geffen Records who had been working with Rubin pulled the project a week before its release to the lyrical nature of the album, despite claims of racism and hypocrisy made by the Geto Boys and the fact that independently the album already had sold over 500,000 copies.[17] The controversy lead to Rubin splitting from Geffen and signing with Warner Records with the album being pushed there instead, it tripled the total sales of the project.

Prior to the success of "Ice Ice Baby", Prince wanted to sign rapper Vanilla Ice after seeing him perform in 1990 at The Summit. He did not follow through as a result of his business partner Blodget feeling that the artist lacked talent.[18]

Prince signed a deal with Priority Records in 1991 for distribution,[16] releasing the Geto Boys third album We Can't Be Stopped.[3] By the mid-1990s co-founder Blodget had parted ways from Rap-A-Lot.[13] In 1995 Prince signed the next distribution deal with Noo Trybe Records and Virgin Records.[3]

During the 1990s, two DEA agents placed a probe on Prince and his label, believing the label was a front for a major trafficking network. At this time a concept for a music distribution label that would have acted dually as a union for recording artists was being planned between Prince, Suge Knight, and Irv Gotti which was eventually cancelled. The two agents were later convicted of corrupt conduct.[19][20][21][22]

Notable artists Edit

Rap A Lot 4 Life (J Prince Sr) Edit

Rap A Lot Boxing Edit

Rap A Lot Mob Ties (J Prince JR) Edit

Rap A Lot YEMG (Jas Prince) Edit

Rap A Lot New Wave (Baby Jay Prince) Edit

Major releases Edit

1980s Edit

1987

1988

1989

1990s Edit

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000s Edit

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010s Edit

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2020s Edit

2021

(Atlantic Records)

2022

(Atlantic Records/Mob Ties)

  • Johnny Cocoa - I AM WHO I AM (album)

(Roc Nation/NAS Music Group)

References Edit

  1. ^ HP Cheung (April 3, 2017). "What Is Rap-A-Lot Records?". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  2. ^ a b "Red Bull Music Academy Daily". Red Bull Music Academy Daily. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  3. ^ a b c d Patoski, Joe Nick (2013-01-21). "Money in the Making". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  4. ^ a b "Brewer's Ads Rapped". Washington Post. 1991-09-04. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  5. ^ Brandon Caldwell (February 17, 2015). "A Brief History of Houston Rap Executive J. Prince Defending Everyone from The Geto Boys to Drake". Vice Media. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  6. ^ Faniel, Maco L. (30 July 2013). Hip Hop in Houston: The Origin and the Legacy (Paperback ed.). The History Press. pp. 117–118. ISBN 978-1-60949-978-5. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  7. ^ "Rap-A-Lot Records Signs Distribution Deal with Sony RED, Plans Bun B Album". 23 August 2013.
  8. ^ Payne, Ogden (2018-07-30). "Inside The Entrepreneurial Rise Of Rap-A-Lot Records CEO James Prince". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  9. ^ a b c Knapp, Gwendolyn (2018-10-22). "James Prince Has Made It". Houstonia Magazine. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  10. ^ a b "The Geto Boys, Beating the Murder Rap". Washington Post. 1991-12-15. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  11. ^ a b c Kenner, Rob (2011-12-04). "Interview: J. Prince Talks About The Rise Of Rap-A-Lot Records". Complex. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  12. ^ a b "Pen & Pixel: The Graphic Design Duo That Helped Bling Hip-Hop". Red Bull Music Academy Daily. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  13. ^ a b Rowland, Hobart (1997-12-04). "Static". Houston Press. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  14. ^ Chadbourne, Eugene. "James "Lil. J." Smith". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  15. ^ "Texas Southern University - Texas Southern to recognize James Prince with Honorary Degree". Home. 2011-12-19. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  16. ^ a b "'It Was Like Flies To Honey': 25 Years Of Rap-A-Lot Records". NPR. 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  17. ^ Pareles, John (August 28, 1990). "Distributor Withdraws Rap Album Over Lyrics". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  18. ^ Miller, Jeff (2016-03-18). "Bun B Interviews Rap-A-Lot Records Founder James Prince at SXSW 2016 Keynote". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  19. ^ "Former DEA Special Agent Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Corruption-Related Charges". Department of Justice. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  20. ^ McConnaughey, Janet (2021-08-12). "Former DEA agent sentenced to 13 years in corruption case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  21. ^ Lilah, Rose (2020-12-23). "J. Prince Details How DEA Targeted Him, Suge Knight & Irv Gotti Over Black-Owned Distribution Business". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  22. ^ Markman, Rob (2011-10-10). "Irv Gotti And Suge Knight Planned To Unionize Artists - News". MTV. Retrieved 2022-11-01.

External links Edit

  • Rap-A-Lot Record's discography on discogs.com

October 15, 2023
records, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2021, learn,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rap A Lot Records news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Rap A Lot is a hip hop record label co founded by James Prince and Cliff Blodget 2 3 4 in 1986 5 Smoke a Lot Records is a subsidiary Rap A LotParent companySony Music EntertainmentFounded1986 37 years ago 1986 1 FounderJames Prince Cliff BlodgetDistributor s RED DistributionGenreSouthern hip hopCountry of originUnited StatesLocationHouston TexasRap A Lot was first distributed by A amp M Records with the release of Raheem s 1988 debut The Vigilante 6 The label was distributed through the 1990s by EMI s Priority Records 1991 1994 Noo Trybe Records 1994 1998 and Virgin Records 1998 2002 In the 2000s it was distributed by Asylum Records and then Fontana Distribution On August 22 2013 Rap A Lot announced a distribution deal with RED Distribution 7 Contents 1 History 2 Notable artists 2 1 Rap A Lot 4 Life J Prince Sr 2 2 Rap A Lot Boxing 2 3 Rap A Lot Mob Ties J Prince JR 2 4 Rap A Lot YEMG Jas Prince 2 5 Rap A Lot New Wave Baby Jay Prince 3 Major releases 3 1 1980s 3 2 1990s 3 3 2000s 3 4 2010s 3 5 2020s 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe label was formed filling in a gap for recognition and promotion of southern talent especially in the Houston area This was in part to label executives in other parts of the country passing on southern hip hop acts During this period DJ s from the east coast had been exploiting the region and pushing music from their domestic territories instead 8 Prince was working as a bank teller in 1985 in the fault department then getting laid off at the age of 20 9 10 The initial goal prior to the label was to keep his younger stepbrother known as the rapper Sir Rap A Lot out of street life as well as friends Raheem and Jukebox from skipping school They would meet on the porch of his grandmothers house to perform and practice 11 After purchasing an abandoned building he turned the property into on a used car dealership known as Smith Auto Sales on the west side of Houston At first he sold bucket cars then moving on to exotic cars which athletes would come and purchase 9 The same rundown 2 storey building that Prince owned was where the artists then moved on to record into during 1986 2 Prince co founded Rap A Lot Records with Cliff Blodget a Seattleite 12 3 4 in 1987 Bloget was a computer science major 10 who was an electrical engineer by trade and acted as the label s in house engineer and producer alongside fellow producer Carl Stephenson 13 12 Prince used his last bit of funds to invest into the label He was inspired by Russell Simmons and the label he founded Def Jam Recordings He moved the company in 1988 to New York City with Blodget Around this time Lyor Cohen would show Prince check books of Def Jam artists LL Cool J and Whodini which showed him the potential revenue to be made in the music industry enlightening him to continue his vision with the Geto Boys moving the whole label back to Houston 9 11 The first group he formed in the label was the Geto Boys The first incarnation was dancer Bushwick Bill DJ Ready Red Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny C Prince moved on and then found new members Willie D through the recommendation of his barber 14 and Scarface in the parking lot of a club he owned playing demos to a DJ who worked there Bushwick was then made as a rapper Prince s brother was a member but then was replaced at his discretion with Scarface This was confirmed from a freestyle battle against each other where Scarface outperformed Sir Rap A Lot with the younger brother then agreeing that was the better direction for the group also 11 Using local radio stations like KTSU to spread the reach of the label s music 15 his first deal came in 1989 via Rick Rubin working with the Geto Boys on their 2nd album Grip It On That Other Level 16 Geffen Records who had been working with Rubin pulled the project a week before its release to the lyrical nature of the album despite claims of racism and hypocrisy made by the Geto Boys and the fact that independently the album already had sold over 500 000 copies 17 The controversy lead to Rubin splitting from Geffen and signing with Warner Records with the album being pushed there instead it tripled the total sales of the project Prior to the success of Ice Ice Baby Prince wanted to sign rapper Vanilla Ice after seeing him perform in 1990 at The Summit He did not follow through as a result of his business partner Blodget feeling that the artist lacked talent 18 Prince signed a deal with Priority Records in 1991 for distribution 16 releasing the Geto Boys third album We Can t Be Stopped 3 By the mid 1990s co founder Blodget had parted ways from Rap A Lot 13 In 1995 Prince signed the next distribution deal with Noo Trybe Records and Virgin Records 3 During the 1990s two DEA agents placed a probe on Prince and his label believing the label was a front for a major trafficking network At this time a concept for a music distribution label that would have acted dually as a union for recording artists was being planned between Prince Suge Knight and Irv Gotti which was eventually cancelled The two agents were later convicted of corrupt conduct 19 20 21 22 Notable artists EditRap A Lot 4 Life J Prince Sr Edit Bun B Pimp C deceased Z Ro Mike Dean Juvenile Geto Boys Trae tha Truth Scarface Do or Die Devin The Dude YukmouthRap A Lot Boxing Edit Andre Ward Shakur Stevenson Jared Big Baby AndersonRap A Lot Mob Ties J Prince JR Edit Finesse2Tymes HoneyKomb Brazy Dj Xo MARLEY G Deceased Rap A Lot YEMG Jas Prince Edit Drake YK Osiris Heartbreak MOSARap A Lot New Wave Baby Jay Prince Edit Cordae Almighty Jay YBN Nahmir Johnny Cocoa Young LyricMajor releases Edit1980s Edit 1987 Ghetto Boys Car Freak Ghetto Boys You Ain t Nothing I Run This1988Raheem The Vigilante Ghetto Boys Making Trouble1989 Geto Boys Grip It On That Other Level Willie D Controversy1990s Edit 1990 Choice The Big Payback Geto Boys The Geto Boys1991 O G Style I Know How to Play Em Big Mike amp 3 2 Convicts Geto Boys We Can t Be Stopped Scarface Mr Scarface Is Back1992 The Terrorists Terror Strikes Always Bizness Never Personal Too Much Trouble Bringing Hell on Earth Ganksta N I P The South Park Psycho Choice Stick N Moove Big Mello Bone Hard Zaggin Raheem The Invincible Bushwick Bill Little Big Man Willie D I m Goin Out Lika Soldier Geto Boys Uncut Dope Geto Boys Best Seagram The Dark Roads1993 Geto Boys Till Death Do Us Part 5th Ward Boyz Ghetto Dope Ganksta N I P Psychic Thoughts Too Much Trouble Player s Choice Scarface The World Is Yours DMG Rigormortiz1994 5th Ward Boyz Gangsta Funk Odd Squad Fadanuf Fa Erybody Trinity Garden Cartel Don t Blame It on da Music Blac Monks Secrets of the Hidden Temple Seagram Reality Check Big Mello Wegonefunkwichamind Big Mike Somethin Serious Scarface The Diary1995 CJ Mac True Game 5th Ward Juvenilez Deadly Groundz Bushwick Bill Phantom of the Rapra Poppa LQ Your Entertainment My Reality Menace Clan Da Hood 5th Ward Boyz Rated G1996 3 2 The Wicked Buddah Baby The Almighty RSO Doomsday Forever RSO Geto Boys The Resurrection Do or Die Picture This Facemob The Other Side of the Law Ganksta N I P Psychotic Genius Various artists 10th Anniversary1997 Scarface The Untouchable Big Mike Still Serious Ghetto Twiinz In That Water Seagram Souls on Ice Too Much Trouble Too Much Weight 5th Ward Boyz Usual Suspects1998 Scarface My Homies Devin the Dude The Dude Do or Die Headz or Tailz Geto Boys Da Good Da Bad amp Da Ugly Ghetto Twiinz No Pain No Gain Blac Monks No Mercy Tela Now or Never Ganksta N I P Interview with a Killa Yukmouth Thugged Out The Albulation Big Mike Hard to Hit1999 5th Ward Boyz Keep It Poppin J Prince Presents R N D S 2000s Edit 2000 Scarface The Last of a Dying Breed Do or Die Victory Tela The World Ain t Enuff Willie D Loved by Few Hated by Many2001 Yukmouth Thug Lord The New Testament Ghetto Twiinz Got It on My Mind Snypaz Livin in the Scope2002 Devin the Dude Just Tryin ta Live Outlawz Neva Surrenda Hussein Fatal Fatal Luniz Silver amp Black Big Syke Big Syke Do or Die Back 2 the Game Tela Double Dose Scarface Greatest Hits Yukmouth United Ghettos of America Geto Boys Greatest Hits Facemob Silence Snypaz Snypaz2003 Scarface Balls amp My Word Yukmouth Godzilla Slim Thug amp Lil Keke The Big Unit DMG Black Roulette Do or Die Pimpin Ain t Dead Dirty Love Us or Hate Us Criminal Manne Neighborhood Dope Manne Do or Die Greatest Hits2004 Devin the Dude To Tha X Treme Thug Lordz In Thugz We Trust Z Ro The Life of Joseph W McVey Various artists The Day After Hell Broke Loose UTP The Beginning of the End 5th Ward Boyz Greatest Hits Yukmouth United Ghettos of America Vol 2 UTP Nolia Clap2005 Lil Flip amp Z Ro Kings of the South Geto Boys The Foundation Z Ro Let the Truth Be Told Pimp C Sweet James Jones Stories Bun B Trill Dirty Hood Stories2006 Belo Zero The Truth Do or Die Get That Paper Z Ro I m Still Livin Pimp C Pimpalation Scarface My Homies Part 2 Trae Restless Partners N Crime Club Bangaz2007 Trae Life Goes On Devin the Dude Waitin to Inhale Z Ro Power Scarface Made Dirty The Art of Storytelling UTP Back Like We Left Something2008 Yukmouth Million Dollar Mouthpiece Scarface The Best of Scarface Devin the Dude Greatest Hits Yukmouth Greatest Hits Bun B II Trill Pimp C Greatest Hits Geto Boys Best of the Geto Boys ABN It Is What It Is Z Ro Crack Devin the Dude Hi Life Trae The Beginning Scarface Emeritus2009 Z Ro Greatest Hits Scarface Greatest Features Damm D Never Forget Loyalty N F L Z Ro Cocaine2010s Edit 2010 Z Ro Heroin Bun B Trill O G Pimp C The Naked Soul Of Sweet Jones2011 Pimp C Still Pimping Z Ro Meth2012 Z Ro Angel Dust Juvenile Rejuvenation2013 Bun B Trill OG The Epilogue2014 Juvenile The Fundamentals2020s Edit 2021 YBN Nahmir VisionLand album Atlantic Records 2022 Finesse2tymes 90 Days album Atlantic Records Mob Ties Johnny Cocoa I AM WHO I AM album Roc Nation NAS Music Group References Edit HP Cheung April 3 2017 What Is Rap A Lot Records Hypebeast Retrieved 2019 06 09 a b Red Bull Music Academy Daily Red Bull Music Academy Daily 2019 08 13 Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b c d Patoski Joe Nick 2013 01 21 Money in the Making Texas Monthly Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b Brewer s Ads Rapped Washington Post 1991 09 04 Retrieved 2022 11 01 Brandon Caldwell February 17 2015 A Brief History of Houston Rap Executive J Prince Defending Everyone from The Geto Boys to Drake Vice Media Retrieved 2019 06 09 Faniel Maco L 30 July 2013 Hip Hop in Houston The Origin and the Legacy Paperback ed The History Press pp 117 118 ISBN 978 1 60949 978 5 Retrieved 2015 10 26 Rap A Lot Records Signs Distribution Deal with Sony RED Plans Bun B Album 23 August 2013 Payne Ogden 2018 07 30 Inside The Entrepreneurial Rise Of Rap A Lot Records CEO James Prince Forbes Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b c Knapp Gwendolyn 2018 10 22 James Prince Has Made It Houstonia Magazine Retrieved 2022 11 02 a b The Geto Boys Beating the Murder Rap Washington Post 1991 12 15 Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b c Kenner Rob 2011 12 04 Interview J Prince Talks About The Rise Of Rap A Lot Records Complex Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b Pen amp Pixel The Graphic Design Duo That Helped Bling Hip Hop Red Bull Music Academy Daily 2019 08 13 Retrieved 2022 11 01 a b Rowland Hobart 1997 12 04 Static Houston Press Retrieved 2022 11 02 Chadbourne Eugene James Lil J Smith AllMusic Retrieved 2022 11 02 Texas Southern University Texas Southern to recognize James Prince with Honorary Degree Home 2011 12 19 Retrieved 2022 11 07 a b It Was Like Flies To Honey 25 Years Of Rap A Lot Records NPR 2012 02 10 Retrieved 2022 11 01 Pareles John August 28 1990 Distributor Withdraws Rap Album Over Lyrics The New York Times Retrieved 1 November 2022 Miller Jeff 2016 03 18 Bun B Interviews Rap A Lot Records Founder James Prince at SXSW 2016 Keynote Billboard Retrieved 2022 11 01 Former DEA Special Agent Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Corruption Related Charges Department of Justice 2021 08 12 Retrieved 2022 11 02 McConnaughey Janet 2021 08 12 Former DEA agent sentenced to 13 years in corruption case Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2022 11 02 Lilah Rose 2020 12 23 J Prince Details How DEA Targeted Him Suge Knight amp Irv Gotti Over Black Owned Distribution Business HotNewHipHop Retrieved 2022 11 01 Markman Rob 2011 10 10 Irv Gotti And Suge Knight Planned To Unionize Artists News MTV Retrieved 2022 11 01 External links EditRap A Lot Record s discography on discogs com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rap A Lot Records amp oldid 1178212065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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