Violator (company)
Violator is a company, record label, marketing group, and multi-media entertainment conglomerate founded and operated by Chris Lighty and Mona Scott-Young until Lighty's death on August 30, 2012.[2]
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Chris Lighty Mona Scott |
| Headquarters | 36 West 25th Street, Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.[1] |
Key people |
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| Products | |
| Services | |
| Subsidiaries |
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History
In 1989, Lighty partnered with manager Scott-Young to launch Violator management. The company specialized in managing the careers of hip hop and R&B performers and is also a record label.[2] Included among Violator's past and present clients are Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, N.O.R.E., Q-Tip, Missy Elliott, Fantasia, Mýa, Diggy Simmons, Cormega, Mobb Deep, LL Cool J, Nas, JoJo Pellegrino, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Uncle Murda, Frankie Cutlass and Da Franchise . Violator has released two compilation albums of material from its artists: Violator: The Album and Violator: The Album, V2.0. The first album features Q-Tip's first solo hit single, "Vivrant Thing". Lighty also managed Sean "Diddy" Combs.
In September 2009, CEO Chris Lighty joined the Advisory Board of Purista premium cocktail mixers to aid in the execution of the company's strategic marketing plans.[3]
Chris Lighty died on August 30, 2012.[4]
Violator Entertainment
This is the list of movies and video games that Violator Entertainment has worked on.[5] Music Manager Leon Derrick Youngblood SR collaborated with Dave Lighty to broker a deal for music producer/recording artist Roccstar, who is signed to Violator as a music producer and is currently working on several artist under the Violator umbrella, Chris Lighty signed off on the deal in 2011.
- Full Clip (2004)
- 50 Cent: Bulletproof (video game, 2005)
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | |||
| 1999 | "Vivrant Thing" (featuring Q-Tip) | 26 | 7 | 10 | Violator: The Album |
| "Say What" (featuring LL Cool J) | – | – | – | ||
| 2001 | "Grimey" (featuring N.O.R.E.) | – | 62 | 18 | Violator: The Album, V2.0 |
| "Livin' the Life" (featuring Prodigy, Jadakiss and Butch Cassidy) | – | 78 | – | ||
| "What It Is" (featuring Busta Rhymes and Kelis) | 63 | 20 | 4 | ||
| "Put Your Hands Up" (featuring LL Cool J) | – | – | 50 | ||
| 2003 | "Keep Doin' It" (featuring Mystikal, Dirtbag and Busta Rhymes) | – | 92 | – | V3: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly |
| "I C U (Doin' It)" (featuring A Tribe Called Quest and Erykah Badu) | – | – | – | ||
Clients
The following artists and producers were signed to Violator Management.[6]
- 50 Cent
- Busta Rhymes
- Charles Hamilton
- Diddy
- N.O.R.E.
- Papoose
- Prodigy
- Q-Tip
- Red Alert
- Saigon
- Uncle Murda
- Winky Wright
- Bobby Shmurda
- Missy Elliott
- LL Cool J
Former artists
The following artists were signed to Violator Records
- Fat Joe (Violator/Relativity)
- Frankie Cutlass (Violator/Relativity)
- Cormega (Violator/Def Jam)
- Warren G (Violator/Def Jam)
- Foxy Brown (Violator/Def Jam)
- Da Franchise (Violator/Def Jam)
- The Beatnuts (Violator/Relativity)
- JoJo Pellegrino (Violator/Loud)
- Chi-Ali (Violator/Relativity)
Compilation albums
- Violator: The Album (Violator/Def Jam, 1999)
- Violator: The Album, V2.0 (Violator/Loud/Columbia, 2001)
- V3: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly (unreleased, 2003)
References
- ^ "N.Y. RAP WAR RAGES : HAIL OF BULLETS SLAMS MIDTOWN MUSIC OFFICE". New York Post.
- ^ a b Violator - The Company. Violator. Accessed August 25, 2007.
- ^ "CEO of Violator/Brand Asset Group Joins Advisory Board for PURISTA". September 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
- ^ Sisario, Ben (2012-08-30). "Chris Lighty, Manager of Hip-Hop Stars, Dies at 44". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
- ^ Violator Entertainment . IMDB. Accessed September 8, 2007.
- ^ Violator Management artists. Violator. Accessed August 29, 2007.
External links
- Official site
- Violator Management Myspace - Violator Management Myspace Page.
- Interview with Chris Lighty