Konvict Muzik is a record label founded by Melvin Brown [1] and R&B singer Akon. Other than Akon, there are popular artists such as Colby O'Donis, Lady Gaga, Kardinal Offishall, Kat DeLuna, Rock City, American Yard and Brick & Lace signed to the label. At the beginning of most Konvict Muzik artists' songs there is the sound of the clank of a jail cell, followed by Akon uttering "Konvict". Akon started his own label after the success of his debut album. T-Pain released three albums under the label, two of them achieving gold status.
Akon recently signed a deal with Columbia Records and Epic Records for new artists signed to Konvict.
an American record label founded by R&B, singer-songwriter T-Pain.[1] The label is an imprint of Konvict Muzik and is distributed by Jive Records & Zomba. The label's roster of artists includes Tay Dizm and the group Sophia Fresh.
In May 2008, T-Pain announced that he would like to take Nappy Boy Entertainment to a new business venture which will turn his company digital, by releasing albums and songs online via iTunes, ringtones and other types of online distribution some time in the future. The new venture, Nappy Boy Digital, focuses on albums and songs released as downloads and ringtones, with few physical releases.[2][3]
Universal Music Group (UMG) is the largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations. Universal Music Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of international French media conglomerate Vivendi.
Universal Music Group owns a music publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group, which became the world's largest following the acquisition of BMG Music Publishing in May 2007.
Vivendi's headquarters are in Paris, France. The UMG global headquarters are located New York City. Other major offices are located in Universal City and Santa Monica, along with Universal Music Group Nashville in Nashville; in the UK the group has a number of offices in London and Romford.
group formed in 1999 when Universal Music Group merged together two of its daughter companies, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings, to create a super label. Island Def Jam is the largest label in the world with 400 artists on the label. Also incorporated into the venture was the staff, roster, and back catalog of Mercury Records, which was then dismantled. (It was revived in 2007). The Island and Def Jam imprints, meanwhile, continue to operate as their own respective labels underneath the larger IDJMG umbrella. The company also encompasses Lost Highway and formally Stolen Transmission.[1]
Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dorm room at New York University[1] and its first release was a single by his punk-rock group, Hose. Russell Simmons joined Rubin shortly after they were introduced to each other by DJ Jazzy Jay. The first single released with a Def Jam Recordings logo was T La Rock & Jazzy Jay "It's Yours." The first releases with a Def Jam Recordings catalogue number were LL Cool J's "I Need a Beat" and the Beastie Boys' "Rock Hard," both in 1984. The singles sold well, eventually leading to a distribution deal with CBS Records' (which would later become Sony Music Entertainment) Columbia Records the following year. This created a short-lived subsidiary label called OBR Records, catered toward R&B artists — the first artist signed to that imprint was Oran "Juice" Jones, who enjoyed success with his hit single "The Rain". Def Jam also signed thrash metal band Slayer. As the decade drew to a close, the label signed Public Enemy, whose controversial lyrical content garnered the company both critical acclaim and disdain.
Lyor Cohen became president of Def Jam in 1988, after winning a power struggle with Rubin, who would shortly thereafter leave the company to form Def American Recordings (now known as American Recordings).
[edit] Def Jam under PolyGram
In the early 1990s, the company created "Rush Associated Labels," a larger moniker under which Def Jam and its various auxiliary labels would operate as subsidiaries. By 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases from ONYX, LL Cool J., Public Enemy, and EPMD, Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. Salvation came in 1994, however, when PolyGram purchased Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings — subsequently bringing the label into their fold. Following PolyGram’s acquisition of the company, Def Jam released Warren G's Regulate... G Funk Era, which went triple platinum and effectively revived the label.[2]
PolyGram acquired an additional 9.8% in Def Jam Recordings in 1995, further strengthening their ownership of the company. Shortly thereafter, "Rush Associated Labels" was renamed "Def Jam Music Group." Def Jam remained in the black, as its veteran star LL Cool J released his widely successful album Mr. Smith in 1995. The label later signed a then-teenaged Foxy Brown, whose début album Ill Na Na became a platinum seller in 1997.
[edit] Def Jam under Universal Music Group
In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagrams and merged into its Universal Music Group. Following Universal Music Group's takeover of PolyGram, it purchased the remaining interest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons for a reported $100 million. Simmons went on to focus more on his Phat Farm clothing line and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN). [3] Universal merged Def Jam with Island Records to form The Island Def Jam Music Group. In spite of the formation of IDJMG, Def Jam and Island continue to operate as separate imprints underneath the bigger umbrella.
Lyor Cohen was appointed president of IDJMG, and Kevin Liles succeeded him as president of Def Jam. In 1999, Def Jam created an R&B spin-off label called Def Soul Records, which inherited many of Island Records' urban artists, including Dru Hill and its lead singer Sisqo, The Isley Brothers and Kelly Price. Def Soul also issued recordings by Musiq, Montell Jordan, Case, 112, Patti LaBelle, and Christina Milian.
Also in 1999, the label also began distributing releases by Murder Inc. Records, run by former Def Jam executive Irv Gotti. Murder Inc.'s roster of artists would include Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Vita. The following year, it launched another subsidiary, Def Jam South, which focused on Southern rap and distributed releases from labels such as Disturbing tha Peace Records, whose successful artists have included Ludacris, Chingy, and Bobby Valentino. Def Jam South would begin distributing Slip-N-Slide Records releases, featuring Trina, Rick Ross, Plies, and others, in 2006.
[edit] Def Jam in the 2000s
In 2000, Lyor Cohen announced Def Jam Germany, the first international Def Jam company. This increased the label's presence around the world. Def Jam Germany signed German rappers Spezializtz, and Philly MC. The label was located in Berlin and opened in May 23, 2000. In addition to signing and marketing local artists, Def Jam Germany also marketed all U.S. signed Def Jam artists in the German territory.
In 2002, Def Soul was absorbed into its Def Jam parent. A year later, Murder Inc. became the center of a money laundering investigation involving illegal profits from drug trade, [4] leading to the label's eventual release from its distribution contract by 2005. Roc-A-Fella Records was sold to the company in 2004, by which time it had launched the career of producer-turned-rapper Kanye West.
DMX helped the company to great heights during 1998 and 1999 selling millions of records and revived hardcore hip hop during this time. The same year, Cohen left IDJMG for Warner Music Group, and was replaced by former Arista executive L.A. Reid. An unhappy Liles eventually decided to follow Cohen to Warner. [5] A bidding war for Jay-Z's contract began, and Reid appointed Jay-Z president of Def Jam. [5]
Under Jay-Z's leadership, Def Jam launched new successful acts such as pop and contemporary R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo. Jay-Z's contract as president of Def Jam was not renewed, forcing him to step down at the end of 2007, remaining with Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam as a recording artist. [6] Following Jay-Z's resignation as president, L.A. Reid took over leadership of the label, as opposed to hiring a replacement. It was announced in early June 2008 that Def Jam A&R executive Shakir Stewart, credited with bringing Rick Ross to the label, would take over as vice president of Def Jam. Stewart committed suicide on November 1, 2008.[7][8]
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Will I Am - Check It Out Ft. Nicki Minaj 
G Fresh - iHustle Ft. OJ Da Juiceman 
8Ball & MJG - Aint No 
Waka Flocka - Dont Be Mad At Me Ft. Frenchie & Murdah Baby 
Wiz Khalifa - Black & Yellow 
Big Sean - Money & Sex Ft. Bun B 
Lil Flip & Smoothvegas - Payin Dues Ft. Royal South & King Corleone 
Gucci Mane - A Hoe Gon Be A Hoe 
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