Roc-A-Fella Records
The independent empire that launched a generation of hip-hop royalty.
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Roc-A-Fella Records was an American record label and music management company founded in 1994 by record executives and entrepreneurs Damon Dash, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Carter issued his debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996), as the label's first release, in a joint venture with Priority Records. The label signed and released albums for acts including Kanye West, Memphis Bleek, Jadakiss, DJ Clue?, State Property, and The Diplomats before its dissolution in 2013.
Quick Facts
- Parent
- Universal Music Group
- Founded
- 1994
- Defunct
- 2013
- Founder
- Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter
- Damon "Dame" Dash
- Kareem "Biggs" Burke
- Distributor
- Priority (Reasonable Doubt)
- Def Jam (United States)
- Mercury (United Kingdom)
- Genre
- Hip hop
- Country
- United States
- Location
- New York City
Lore & Background
The label was founded in 1994 after Jay-Z had been rejected by major record labels, starting as an independent outlet for his debut album. The name "Roc-A-Fella" was conceived by rapper Tone Hooker as a double entendre for Rockefeller and a rapper dominating his opponent ("rocking a fella"). In June 1997, Roc-A-Fella agreed to a 50/50 partnership and distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings. By 2002, tensions between Jay-Z and Dash had become increasingly apparent.
While Jay-Z was vacationing in Europe that July, Dash publicly announced the promotion of Cam'ron and Beanie Sigel to vice president positions, a move Jay-Z described as premature. Dash also began production on a film based on Roc-A-Fella without consulting Jay-Z and fired several employees, including Jay-Z's longtime assistant Carline Balan and the company's chief financial officer, John Meneilly. In January 2004, Jay-Z entered talks with Island Def Jam to launch his own entertainment company, separate from Roc-A-Fella.
In December 2004, Jay-Z and Damon Dash met at Da Silvano in New York to discuss Def Jam's offer to acquire Roc-A-Fella and Jay-Z's appointment as president of the label.
Reader's Guide
Roc-A-Fella Records was founded in 1994 by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem Burke. After Jay-Z had been rejected by major labels, it began as an independent outlet for his debut album. The label started through Priority Records, using finances from Payday Records due to their singles-only deal. In November 1997, they released Jay-Z's sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, as well as R&B duo Christión's debut album Ghetto Cyrano on the same day.
The label saw increasing popularity after Jay's appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s posthumous Life After Death. Jay's 1998 album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life became the label's first Platinum-RIAA certified release. In 2000, Beanie Sigel released The Truth and reached #5 on the Billboard charts, DJ Clue released The Professional 2, and Memphis Bleek released The Understanding.
All three albums were certified Gold by the RIAA. On December 4, 2001, rapper Cam'ron signed to Roc-A-Fella through his connection with Damon Dash, and his group The Diplomats as well as members Juelz Santana and Jimmy Jones also signed. In May 2002, Cam'ron released his Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home With Me, which was certified Platinum by the RIAA. In 2004, Kanye West's album The College Dropout became a huge commercial and critical success, selling multi-Platinum-RIAA certified sales. The label dissolved in 2013.
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