Fort Knocks Entertainment

infobox record label


parent = Warner Music Group
founded = 2004
founder = Just Blaze
distributor = Atlantic Records
genre = Hip hop/R&B
country = United States
url = [http://www.fortknocksentertainment.com]

Fort Knocks Entertainment is an American East Coast hip hop and R&B record label founded in 2004 by record producer, Just Blaze.

History

After his start as a local disc jockey, Just Blaze became a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. He would mainly produce for prominent Roc-A-Fella artist, Jay-Z. Jay-Z would retire in 2003 and Blaze wanted his own label, so he could occupy his spare time. Island Def Jam could not afford to supply another label during that period, so Just Blaze left Def Jam in early 2004. Upon his departure, Atlantic Records head, Craig Kallman, took advantage of his free agent status and agreed to bankroll him his own vanity label to be operated through Atlantic and its Warner Music parent.

Fort Knocks Entertainment was quickly established by June 2004. The label would go on to sign a handful of acts that he had been watching from the underground circuit. This would include Brooklyn, New York rapper Brian Carenard, better known as Saigon, Chicago, Illinois singer, Dave Young, and Jovan Dais.

The label's first release was Saigon's, "What A Life," featuring Tre Williams, which was quickly followed by his album, "The Moral of the Story." Around the time of these releases came Jovan Dais' "Another Man Will," its remix, and "Fedex." Saigon's album would be certified Gold within a year of its initial release date, while Dias' album would manage to sell over 400,000. Saigon would quickly become a mainstream star and the most popular act on Fort Knocks. Also in 2007, the label added Naledge to its ever-growing roster.

In the early stages of 2008, the label signed numerous acts including Seven Dirty, Armel, Aimee Terrin, M.E.D., and Jha Jha. The label was able to revive some of these acts careers and provide them with attention that they lacked at their previous label. They would quickly release the debut album from Seven Dirty, "The Package," which featured "Do It All Again."

For 2008, the label plans to release albums from M.E.D., Dave Young, Saigon, Seven Dirty, Aimee Terrin, Jha Jha, and Red 5. Just Blaze now has plans to begin his own career as a rapper and, in turn he will rap under the pseudonym Red 5. The first 2008 release will be Naledge's "The In Crowd."

His debut album will be "Just Getting Warm," which will feature songs from artists that Just Blaze has produced for and songs from his own artists that have joined Fort Knocks. Other releases will be "Time For Re-Up" from M.E.D, Dave Young's self-titled debut, and Jha Jha's "Git It Girl: The Album."

Fort Knocks recently added Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rapper, Ms. Jade to their growing roster. Her album is due in mid-2009 and is currently untitled. Kelis also signed with the label a few weeks later after meeting Just Blaze at a Manhattan party along with former Nas protégé, Quan.

In May 2008, Just Blaze announced that the label had parted ways with Atlantic Records, and are now searching for distribution deals with other labels.

Current Roster

Artists

Producers

* Just Blaze
* DJ Poun
* The Blazettes

Discography

Past releases

* "The Moral of the Story"
** Artist: Saigon
** Released: November 13, 2007
** Label(s): Fort Knocks/Atlantic
** Chart Position: #9
** RIAA Certification: Gold
** Single: "What A Life"

* "The Package"
** Artist: Seven Dirty
** Released: January 8, 2008
** Label(s): Fort Knocks/Atlanitc
** Chart Position: #31
** Single: "Do It All Again"

Upcoming releases

* 2008: Naledge - "The In Crowd"
* 2008: Just Blaze - "Just Getting Warm"
* 2008: Saigon - "The Greatest Story Never Told"
* 2008: Armel - "Love 101"
* 2008: M.E.D. - "Time For Re-Up"
* 2008: Dave Young - "Dave Young"
* 2008: Jha Jha - "Git It Girl: The Album"
* 2008: Aimee Terrin - "Perfect Imperfection"
* 2009: Saigon - "Belly of the Beast: Tha Yardfather"
* 2009: Seven Dirty - "Former Inmate: Life Goes On"
* 2009: Ms. Jade - "TBR"

Affiliated labels

* Atlantic Records
* Roc-A-Fella Records
* Def Jam Recordings
* Get Low Records

References

* [http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1573987&vid=18799 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1573987&vid=18799]

External links

* [http://www.fortknocksentertainment.com http://www.fortknocksentertainment.com]