Musicians Who Turned Their Careers Around With New Deals
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Pusha T - As part of the rap duo the Clipse, Pusha T and his brother Malice dropped four acclaimed records on various labels, but after several album delays and underpromotion, their careers seemed to be stagnating. However, in 2010, Pusha struck out on his own and signed a deal with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. The deal paid off almost immediately, with a killer appearance on Ye's "Runaway" and a newfound buzz.Don't miss Pusha T in the new video "Untouchable" alongside of DJ Absolut, Ace Hood, and French Montana tonight on 106 at 6P/5C!(Photo: Ben Hider/PictureGroup)
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Christina Milian - After a baby and a painful divorce from The-Dream, Christina Milian is looking to revive her music career—and Lil Wayne and Birdman want to help. At the Young Money/Cash Money pre-Grammys part this past Saturday (Feb. 11), Weezy announced—in between taking shots at Jay-Z and Kanye—that the sultry singer was signing to Young Money. The following day, Milian confirmed the news via Twitter, writing, "The answer is....yes. Let's get to work! I heart you guys. It's now or never."(Photo: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)
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2 Chainz - 2 Chainz, formerly Tity Boi of Playaz Circle, who had a Weezy-featuring hit in 2007 with "Duffle Bag Boy," capitalized off his metoric mixtape success by officially leaving Ludacris' Disturbing Tha Peace imprint and inking a new deal with Def Jam. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)
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Meek Mill - Philly spitter Meek Mill first made noise when he signed to T.I.'s Grand Hustle Entertainment in 2008, but he didn't truly break through until he signed with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group and released the fiery Bawse-featured "I'ma Boss" earlier this year. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)
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T.I. - After Tip's debut album, I'm Serious, flunked commercially and critically, Arista unceremoniously dropped him. Bad move. T.I. regrouped quickly, forming Grand Hustle Entertainment and inking a new partnership with Atlantic that has helped him become one of the biggest rap stars of the last decade. (Photo: Jeff Daly/PictureGroup)
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Wale - Wale came into the game under the wing of Grammy-winning pop super-producer Mark Ronson, who signed the D.C. rapper to a joint venture between Interscope and his own Allido Records. But Wale's first album, Attention Deficit, sold a disappointing 28,000 copies its first week. The "Lotus Flower Bomb" rapper was unbowed, inking a new deal with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group and selling 162,000 copies of his sophomore set, Ambition, the first week of its release. (Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/PictureGroup)
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50 Cent - After his near-fatal 2000 shooting, 50 Cent was dropped from Columbia Records despite a completed album, Power of the Dollar, and an underground hit single, "How to Rob." 50 picked up the pieces with a series of incredible mixtapes, which lead to a bidding war and a deal with Shady/Aftermath. We all know what happened next. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Motorola)
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Rick Ross - The Bawse was originally signed to legendary Houston label Suave House, but his career didn't go anywhere until he jumped ship to a joint venture between Miami mainstay Slip-N-Slide and Def Jam. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)
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Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre has already presided over two label deals with major career-altering consequences. After bouncing from pioneering gangsta rap super-group N.W.A in 1991, Dre founded Death Row Records with Suge Knight and released two game-changing smash albums, The Chronic and Snoop's Doggy Style. After tiring of Suge and his alleged shady practices, Dre formed a new label, Aftermath, in 1996. A few years later, he was back on top with his own Chronic 2001 and the signings of Eminem, 50 Cent and Game. (Photo: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup)
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Common - After angering fans and underwhelming industry expectations with his experimental fifth album, 2002's Electric Circus, Com resurrected his career by signing to fellow Chi-Town up-and-comer Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. His first album with West, Be and second, Finding Forever, were easily two of his best and most successful. (Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)
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The Roots - The Roots have reached new levels of respect and flawless consistency under their deal with Def Jam, which they signed in 2005 after bouncing from Geffen Records.(Photo: Def Jam)