Aftermath Entertainment
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- There is also another similarly titled record label, Aftermath Music, which is based in Norway.
Aftermath Entertainment | |
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Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 1996 |
Founder(s) | Dr. Dre |
Distributing label | Interscope Records (US) Polydor Records (outside US) |
Genre(s) | Hip Hop, R&B |
Country of origin | US |
Official Website | Aftermath-Entertainment.com |
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.
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[edit] History
Upon his departure from Death Row Records in March 1996, Dr. Dre quickly launched Aftermath Entertainment through Interscope Records (which at the time was Death Row's distributing label). A compilation album, Dr. Dre Presents…The Aftermath was released towards the year's end, featuring artists who were amongst the label's first signees (most of the acts featured, however, quickly became disassociated with the company). In 1997, Dawn Robinson announced her departure from the R&B group En Vogue and that she had signed with Aftermath. Before the year's end, however, she abruptly left the label, claiming that Dr. Dre had been too slow to get the ball rolling on her project.
In the fall of 1997, Aftermath released the first, and only, collaborative project by hip hop super-group, The Firm (comprised of Nas, AZ, and Foxy Brown, among others). Despite the highly anticipated album featuring production and cameo appearances by Dr. Dre himself, debuting atop the Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart and being certified platinum, it sold below commercial expectation. The group subsequently disbanded. Aftermath's next release was by rapper King Tee. His album, however, poorly performed, resulting in him leaving the label. Veteran rapper Rakim also signed with the label. Legal troubles forced Truth Hurts to leave the label, and Rakim's highly anticipated comeback album that was shelved due to production conflict also forced his departure.
Upon recommendation from Interscope Records head, Jimmy Iovine, Aftermath signed Detroit-based rapper Eminem in 1998. The following year, Eminem's major label debut, The Slim Shady LP was released. The album topped the Billboard's albums chart, went on to be certified quadruple plantinum, and arguably became the label's first successful release. Also, in 1999, Aftermath released 2001, Dr. Dre's follow-up to his 1992 album, The Chronic. The album went on to be certified 6x platinum.
Several more artists were signed to, and later dropped from Aftermath, including: Hittman, Truth Hurts, Last Emperor, and veteran rapper Rakim, whose album was ultimately shelved due to production conflict. Aftermath released 50 Cent's multi-platinum major label debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' through a joint venture with Shady Records in 2003. Rapper The Game, who signed with the label in 2003, also released his debut album The Documentary through a joint venture with 50 Cent's G-Unit Records in 2005. Shortly after the release of The Documentary, tension between The Game and 50 Cent ignited, resulting in The Game leaving Aftermath Entertainment and G-Unit Records in the summer of 2006. The Game later signed with Geffen Records.
[edit] Current roster
[edit] Artists
Act | Year signed | (Aftermath) Albums released | Description |
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Dr. Dre | 1996 | 1 | Founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment. In 1999, the label released his second solo album, 2001. Is currently working on his third (and rumored to be last) solo album, Detox. |
Eminem | 1998 | 5 | Aftermath's most successful artist. Is the founder of his own label, Shady Records, which sometimes operates in conjunction with Aftermath. Is currently working on his fifth studio album, said to be due out in 2007. |
50 Cent | 2002 | 2 | New York-based rapper signed to Aftermath through a joint venture with Shady Records, and his own G-Unit Records. The second most successful act on Aftermath, having sold over 20 million albums. His third album, Curtis, is scheduled to be released in Spring/Summer 2007. |
Busta Rhymes | 2003 | 1 | New York-based rapper, his seventh studio album (and Aftermath debut), The Big Bang, was released in 2006. His eighth studio album, Before Hell Freezes Over, is said to be due out in Spring 2007. |
Raekwon | 2006 | — | A member of Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon signed with Aftermath through a joint venture with Universal Records. His fourth studio album (and Aftermath debut), Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, is expected to be released in Summer 2007. |
Stat Quo | 2004 | — | An Atlanta-based rapper, signed to Aftermath through a joint venture with Shady Records. His debut album, Statlanta is scheduled to be released in Summer 2007. |
Bishop Lamont | 2005 | — | California-based rapper, his debut album The Reformation is rumored to be set for release in late Summer 2007. |
Joell Ortiz | 2006 | — | Brooklyn-based rapper recently signed to the company. Appeared in The Source's "Unsigned Hype" section, and "Chairman's Choice" in XXL |
Eve | 1996/2004 | — | Philadelphia-based rapper who was originally signed to Aftermath in the late 1990s, but departed the label before having released an album. Re-signed with the company in 2004. Her fourth studio album (and Aftermath debut), Here I Am, is scheduled to be released in Spring 2007. She is on a joint venture with Aftermath and Ruff Ryders as well as Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records. |
Marsha Ambrosius | 2005 | — | Member of the group Floetry. Signed to Aftermath as a solo-ist, and is the label's lone R&B act. |
[edit] Former artists
- Dawn Robinson
- Hittman
- King Tee
- Last Emperor
- Rakim
- RBX
- The Game
- Truth Hurts
- Antonio
- G.A.G.E.
- Joe Beast
[edit] Producers
Name | Description |
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Scott Storch | Former keyboard player for The Roots. Scott Storch was an apprentice to Dr. Dre, co-producing several songs. He's now a super producer in his own right, having produced hits for 50 Cent, Beyoncé, Lil' Kim and Fat Joe. Storch has his own label under Aftermath called Storchaveli Recordings. |
Mike Elizondo | Co-producer for Dr. Dre. He started out as the main bass player for studio sessions with Dr. Dre, before gaining producer credits alongside Dr. Dre for many of his productions since 50 Cent's "In Da Club". Aside from working closely with the Aftermath roster, Elizondo was also hired by Fiona Apple for work on her album. He's currently involved in the Detox project. He is also set to produce a track titled "50 Reasons" for the new DMX album which features G-Unit artists 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. |
Mel-Man | Melvin Bradford, better known as Mel-Man, is a hip-hop producer who co-produced Dr. Dre's 2001 album. Recorded a song called "Shittin' on The World" which was featured on the Dr. Dre Presents…The Aftermath compilation. |
Hi-Tek | Hi-Tek has produced for various G-Unit members' albums, including Lloyd Banks and The Game. Currently sending Dr. Dre tracks that may end up on the Detox album. Hi-Tek is creating his own label, which will be a subsidiary of Aftermath. He is also a member of the duo Reflection Eternal together with Talib Kweli. |
Denaun Porter | Though technically signed to Shady Records, Denaun Porter a.k.a. Kon Artis has produced hits for all of Shady, Aftermath and G-Unit. He has production credits on D12's albums, Busta Rhymes' The Big Bang, the 8 Mile Soundtrack and produced 50 Cent's third major single, "P.I.M.P.". |
Dawaun Parker | Keyboardist and co-producer for Dr. Dre. In addition to being heavily inolved in the Detox project, Dawaun Parker also played and co-wrote on several tracks from Busta Rhymes' The Big Bang. Parker also co-wrote 4 songs on Jay-Z's comeback album, Kingdom Come. Parker a.k.a. MostArt, is also part of the hip-hop duo The GodBody, whom are releasing their debut album in 2007. |
Focus | Producer signed to Aftermath. Credited for his work with pop artists such as 'N Sync, P!nk, and Christina Milian. Focus is now adding hip-hop tracks to his discography. Focus has produced instrumentals for The Game, Cam'ron, Tony Yayo, and Al-Gator. |
DJ Khalil | Is known for working with a variety of artists such as Xzibit, Ras Kass, Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Cypress Hill, and G-Unit. DJ Khalil is also part of the hip-hop duo Self-Scientific together with Chace Infinite. |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Past releases
Album Cover | Album Information |
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Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre Presents…The Aftermath
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The Firm - Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album
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King Tee - Thy Kingdom Come |
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Eminem - The Slim Shady LP
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Dr. Dre - 2001
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Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
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Soundtrack - The Wash
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Eminem - The Eminem Show
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Truth Hurts - Truthfully Speaking |
50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
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Eminem - Encore
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The Game - The Documentary
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50 Cent - The Massacre
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Eminem - Curtain Call: The Hits
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Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang
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[edit] Upcoming releases
- 50 Cent — Before I Self Destruct (February 4, 2008)
- 50 Cent — Curtis (June 19, 2007)
- 50 Cent — Greatest Hits (2008)
- Bishop Lamont — The Reformation (Summer/Autumn 2007)
- Busta Rhymes — Before Hell Freezes Over (Spring 2007)
- Dr. Dre — Detox (September 2007)
- Eminem — Eminem's fifth studio album (November 2007)
- Eve — Here I Am (Spring 2007)
- Raekwon — Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II (Summer 2007)
- Stat Quo — Statlanta (Summer 2007)
[edit] Affiliated labels
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Aftermath, "Aftermath Artists (scroll down for Past Artists)" AftermathMusic.com
- ^ Billboard, "Dr. Dre Presents…The Aftermath" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "The Slim Shady LP" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "2001" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "The Marshall Mathers LP" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "The Wash Soundtrack" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "The Eminem Show" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "Truthfully Speaking" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "Encore" Billboard.com
- ^ James Montgomery, 2005-01-26, "Straight Outta Compton, Straight To #1: The Game Tops Albums Chart" VH1.com
- ^ Billboard, "The Massacre" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "Curtain Call: The Hits" Billboard.com
- ^ Billboard, "The Big Bang" Billboard.com