All Def Music: Record Label Transformations

Hip hop's most dramatic label changes.

Murder Inc Becomes Simply, The Inc. - Murder Inc. launched the lucrative careers of Ashanti, Ja Rule and Lil’ Mo. Founded by music executive Irv Gotti, the label got off to a speedy start, garnering the reputation as one of the most successful labels of its time. But things became rocky for the label when Gotti was accused of money laundering, and Ja Rule feuded with 50 Cent. The public image was further damaged by murders in beefing rappers' crews. Gotti ultimately decided that the label would simply be called "The Inc." and spent the next years recovering considerably. Now, however, the label is inactive (but not defunct).(Photo: The INC Records)
Cash Money Yields YMCMB - Brothers Birdman and Slim founded Cash Money in 1991. For the first few years it had regional popularity and signed young talents like B.G., Young Buck and Lil Wayne. By 1997, the label launched the Hot Boys and got the attention of Universal. And though it's still releasing records (like the recent Rich Gang album), it spawned one of the most notable label offshoots, Young Money Entertainment (aka Young Money Cash Money Billionaires), founded by a now grown up Wayne. Since its start in 2005, YMCMB has quickly taken hold of the industry, already having released a whopping seven U.S. No. 1 albums including Nicki’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Drake’s Take Care and Weezy’s Tha Carter III.(Photos from left: YMCMB, Cash Money Records)
Brick Squads Survive Label Head Disputes - After a stint in jail Gucci Mane decided to rename his independent label So Icy Entertainment. The name Gooch chose: 1017 Brick Squad. He signed himself and Waka Flocka Flame (despite also breaking from Waka's mom's management team, Mizay Entertainment). Flame then launched his own label under the Brick Squad umbrella label, Brick Squad Monopoly, and the belief has been so strong in the brand that even after public disputes with Gooch, Waka has maintained that he'll always rep the Squad. Gucci hasn't given up either, saying that any beefs with Waka are just disagreements between friends. He's now focused on building the label's roster, recently adding Chief Keef.(Photos from left: WireImage, Brick Squad Records)
Loud Records Joins Uncle Russ - Loud Records, founded by Steve Rifkind, produced Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and Three 6 Mafia, but after a series of failed deals, the label folded in 2002. In 2011, it looked like Loud Records was making a comeback as Rifkind took to Twitter to announce that the label will be revamped with the release of rapper Asher Roth’s new project. (“Not only are we partnering up with Def Jam on @asherroth album it will be under the LOUD RECORDS imprint.”) But now both Roth and Rifkind are over at All Def Music with Russell Simmons.(Photos from left: Bob Berg/Getty Images, Loud Records)RuffHouse Records Relaunches With Beanie Sigel - As one of the first to ever do it in the hip hop community, Ruffhouse Records was founded by music and film tycoon Chris Schwartz in 1989. In a collaborative effort with Columbia Records, it released Cyprus Hill's Black Sunday, both full-length albums from The Fugee's and the 5-time Grammy-winning Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Still, the label folded in 1999. More than a decade later, Schwartz decided to relaunch the brand, starting with Beanie Sigel's This Time in 2012 and Canadian crooner Glenn Lewis' Moment of Truth (scheduled for Oct. 15, 2013).(Photos: Ruffhouse Records)

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Cash Money Yields YMCMB - Brothers Birdman and Slim founded Cash Money in 1991. For the first few years it had regional popularity and signed young talents like B.G., Young Buck and Lil Wayne. By 1997, the label launched the Hot Boys and got the attention of Universal. And though it's still releasing records (like the recent Rich Gang album), it spawned one of the most notable label offshoots, Young Money Entertainment (aka Young Money Cash Money Billionaires), founded by a now grown up Wayne. Since its start in 2005, YMCMB has quickly taken hold of the industry, already having released a whopping seven U.S. No. 1 albums including Nicki’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Drake’s Take Care and Weezy’s Tha Carter III.(Photos from left: YMCMB, Cash Money Records)

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