Rebuilding: When Rap Bosses Revamp Their Crews
Master P is the just latest rap boss to revive his label.
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Rebuilding: When Rap Bosses Revamp Their Crews - The No Limit tank is rolling again. Well, sort of. Master P recently unveiled his new crew, The Louis V Mob, featuring him and two young mixtape upstarts, D.C.'s Fat Trel and Atlanta's Alley Boy. The collective will also reportedly include his son Romeo, Eastwood and others, and if it pops, Master P could find his footing as one of rap's biggest moguls for the first time since his legendary No Limit label began to falter in the early 2000s. But P isn't the only hip hop exec who's attempted to revamp his flagging clique. Read on for more examples. (Photos from left: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images, Duct Tape Ent., Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)
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Jay-Z and Roc Nation - After his record label Roc-A-Fella's golden-era incarnation — which included Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and more — dwindled in the wake of co-founders Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke's departure, Jay Z kept the diamond alive in 2008 by forming Roc Nation, his partnership with Live Nation that features talents like Rihanna, J. Cole and Rita Ora. (Photos from left: Michael Kovac/Getty Images For GQ, Cindy Ord/Getty Images, Christopher Polk/Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
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Diddy and Bad Boy 2.0 - Diddy refreshed his legendary Bad Boy brand — once home to Biggie and Ma$e — with Bad Boy 2.0, a spate of signees that includes French Montana, Machine Gun Kelly and Red Cafe. Cassie, who first signed with the label back in 2006, is making a renewed push under the brand as well. (photo: John Ricard / BET)
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T.I. and Grand Hustle - T.I. started his Grand Hustle imprint with a roster that included Young Dro and members of his own group, P$C. But when Tip appeared on the Cypher at the BET Hip Hop Awards earlier this year, the label showed a new face, featuring B.o.B., Chip, Iggy Azalea and Trae tha Truth.
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Rick Ross and Maybach Music Group - Aside from a newly resurrected Gunplay, the current front men of Rick Ross' MMG — Meek Mill, Wale, Stalley and Maybach O — are totally different than the label's first generation, which was highlighted by Masspike Miles and Triple Cs. (photo: John Ricard / BET).
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Kanye West and G.O.O.D. Music - Early G.O.O.D. Music artists Consequence and GLC were pushed to the side by more prominent recent members, including Pusha T, Kid Cudi and Big Sean, who dominated the crew's recent compilation album, Cruel Summer. John Legend and Common, two faces from the old regime, were featured on the LP, however. (Photo: Courtesy mtv.com)
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Dr. Dre and Aftermath - Dr. Dre has repeatedly shown a knack for revamping his entourage to fuel his own career comebacks. In 1996, Dre departed from Death Row, leaving West Coast legends like Tupac, Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound behind to form Aftermath Entertainment. The label floundered initially, with acts including King Tee and the Firm, but blew up after Dre signed Eminem in 1998. That signing led to Dre working with 50 Cent, Game and, most recently, Kendrick Lamar. It's a new day indeed. (Photos from left: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, Jason Merritt/Getty Images, Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, John Ricard / BET, Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
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Eminem and Shady 2.0 - Eminem's Shady Records came to prominence with acts including D12, Obie Trice and, of course, 50 Cent. When Slim took over the Cypher at last year's BET Hip Hop Awards, though he rolled with Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf, whom he dubbed Shady 2.0. (Photo: BET)
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Suge Knight and Death Row - After the departure of his label's name-brand stars — Dr. Dre, Snoop and Tupac — Suge Knight attempted to revive Death Row Records in 2002, when he hit the cover of XXL with a new crop artists, including Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez of TLC, Crooked I, Eastwood and re-signed O.G. Kurupt. (Photo: XXL Magazine)