Aftermath Entertainment

:"There is also another similarly titled record label, Aftermath Music, which is based in Norway."infobox record label


parent = Universal Music Group
founded = 1996
founder = Dr. Dre
distributor = Interscope Records (U.S.) Polydor Records (outside U.S.)
genre = Hip hop, contemporary R&B
country = United States
location = Santa Monica, California
url = [http://aftermath-entertainment.com/ www.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.

History

Upon his departure from Death Row Records in June 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 autumn of 1997, Aftermath released the first, and only, collaborative project by hip hop super-group, (comprised of AZ, Foxy Brown, Nas, and Nature). Despite the highly anticipated album featuring production and cameo appearances by Dr. Dre himself, debuting atop the "Billboard" 200 and being certified platinum, it sold below commercial expectation. The group subsequently disbanded. Aftermath's next release was supposed to be by rapper King Tee. His album, however, was shelved, and King Tee also left 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 now multi-platinum rapper Eminem in 1998. The following year, Eminem's major label debut, "The Slim Shady LP" was released. The album topped the Billboard 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 and Last Emperor. 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 in mid-2006 and G-Unit Records in mid-2005.

Busta Rhymes was also signed, and later dropped from the label. It was originally reportedFact|date=September 2008 that his album, then titled "Blessed", since retitled B.O.M.B., would still be released on Aftermath, though it was later reported that when he signed a deal with Universal Motown, that the album would be released on his label, Flipmode Records, through his Universal Motown deal. [Jokesta (September 18, 2008). [http://www.defsounds.com/news/Busta_rhymes_inks_new_deal_jay_z_starts_yet_another_label Busta Rhymes Inks New Deal, Jay Z Starts Yet Another Label?] DefSounds. Accessed September 18, 2008.]

Current roster

Artists

Producers

*Focus...
*Dawaun Parker
*Che Vicious
*Mark Batson
*Hi-Tek
*Mike Elizondo
*Mel-Man
*Dr. Dre

Former artists

*Busta Rhymes
*Tiffany Villarreal
*Joell Ortiz
*Eve
*Raekwon
*G.A.G.E.
*Dion
*The Game
*Brooklyn
*Joe Beast
*Antonio
*Rakim
*Shaunta
*Truth Hurts
*Hittman
*Aimee Terrin
*RBX
*Dawn Robinson
*Last Emperor
*King Tee

Past releases

Upcoming releases

Below is a list of upcoming releases from Aftermath Entertainment. [Aftermath, " [http://www.aftermathmusic.com/vs2008/_releases/index.html Upcoming Aftermath Releases] " "AftermathMusic.com"]
*50 Cent – "Before I Self Destruct" – December 9, 2008
*Bishop Lamont – "The Reformation" – 4th Quarter 2008
*Dr. Dre – "Detox" – 4th Quarter 2008
*Marsha Ambrosious – "TBA" – TBA
*Eminem – "Eminem's sixth studio album" – TBA
*Stat Quo – "Statlanta" – TBA

Affiliated labels

"See Universal Music Group."
*G-Unit Records
*Shady Records

References

External links

* [http://www.aftermathmusic.com/ Aftermath Music official website]
* [http://aftermath-entertainment.com/ Aftermath Entertainment official website]
* [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2008/02/4032/ Aftermath Entertainment's Focus Interview with Jonathan Hay on BallerStatus]
* [http://www.uvcmag.com/music/archives/interview_focus.html Aftermath Entertainment's Focus Interview with Jonathan Hay on UVC Magazine]