10/12/2017

A Brief Overview Of The Most Dominant Hip Hop Record Labels

By Amy Robinson


The performing arts industry is one that generates billions of dollars in revenue each year in the US. Some of the best artists started out of nowhere and have made a fortune for themselves using their talent. However popular some rappers are, the untold truth is that their fame is heavily pegged on the strength of the hip hop record labels they represent.

With time, many recording groups have risen to prominence and fallen. Those that have managed to weather the many difficulties in the industry are famous and prosperous today. While the list below conforms to no specific order, it is important to note that it covers the basic profiles of some famous groups and the musical acts signed under them. Many renowned groups began in the nineties before the new millennium heralded a new crop of players in the sector.

First of on the list is Shady Records. Its acknowledged founders are Eminem and Paul Rosenberg who steered it to success soon after its inception in 1999. It officially hit the ground running after the first album by the then little known Eminem was launched. While its signed artists are few, it keeps releasing international hits every once in a while.

The next label to look into is Aftermath. It is widely acknowledged for playing a major role in the serialization of Shady Records. Aftermath was founded in 1996 by the billionaire artist cum businessman Dr. Dre. Back in the days, he used to be a mentor to Eminem. He is renowned for anchoring Eminem into mainstream music through this label.

Rap enthusiasts often feature the name of Death Row Records when discussing about successful groups. The group houses rappers who are talented and produce classic hits. They are also unique in terms of composition and style. However, the group found itself in a lot of controversy soon after the famous rappers Tupac and Biggie died.

Def Jam is another music house worthy of note. Its influence has been felt globally through its famous artists. They include Jay Z, Nas, DMX, Beastie Boys and Ja Rule. The new millennium ushered in equally famous entrants like Rick Ross, Kanye West, Young Jeezy and Pusha T. It is arguably the best recording house in modern music owing to its global success.

Another important mention is Cash Money Group. Some noteworthy artists in its books include Hot Boyz, Lil Wayne and Drake. These artists have maintained their style despite massive influence from equally popular genres like RnB.

The list would certainly be incomplete without a mention of Maybach Music Group. It founder is the rapper Rick Ross. While the group produces great music, its distribution is managed by Atlantic Records. The group is home to great rappers such as Omarion, Wale, Meek Mill and Ross himself. After the release of the first album by the group in 2009, it went ahead to release a further 21.

There are many other recording houses that look quite promising. It can be said with certainty that the industry looks bright for all who want to venture into it either as musicians or investors. Only time will tell if this will hold true.




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