Neil Levine
Neil Levine is an American music industry executive. He is best known as the founder of the hip-hop label Penalty Recordings, and is currently the CEO of its successor company, Penalty Entertainment. Levine helped to launch the careers of artists such as Capone-N-Noreaga, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, and Tha Eastsidaz. Biography Early years and Penalty Recordings Levine graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a degree in music composition and saxophone. He began his work in the music industry as a session player, and later moved into being an independent marketing professional. Levine founded the marketing company Round the Globe Music in the late 1980s in order to promote and market hip-hop music. The organization, which offered street teaming and retail/video/radio promotions, was influential in the success of the records of artists such as A Tribe Called Quest and Mariah Carey, among others. In 1995, Levine launched Penalty Recordings, which operated as a j ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most populous city in the country. The city boundaries encompass an area of about and a population of 675,647 as of 2020. It is the seat of Suffolk County (although the county government was disbanded on July 1, 1999). The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) home to a census-estimated 4.8 million people in 2016 and ranking as the tenth-largest MSA in the country. A broader combined statistical area (CSA), generally corresponding to the commuting area and including Providence, Rhode Island, is home to approximately 8.2 million people, making it the sixth most populous in the United States. Boston is one of the oldest ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Superthug
"Superthug" is a song by New York City rapper N.O.R.E. (a.k.a. Noreaga) with background vocals from Tammy Lucas during the song's hook. It was released as the second single from his debut solo album, ''N.O.R.E.''. At the time, it became Noreaga's highest charting and most successful single, peaking at No. 36 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and reaching No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. However it was later surpassed by his 2002 single "Nothin'" which peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Along with Mase's "Lookin' at Me", the single was one of the first high-profile productions done by Virginia production team the Neptunes. It made the Neptunes well known and sought after producers in the music industry, and in the first decade of the 21st century they would become one of the most successful production teams in music history, being named the ''Billboard'' magazine Producer of the Decade for the 2000s. "Superthug" would later be sampled on Janet Jackson's "Ruff (I Like It)", record ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler
''Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler'' is the second solo studio album by the rapper Noreaga. The album was released on August 24, 1999, by Penalty Records. Critical reception The ''Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...'' wrote that "Noreaga tackles familiar topics—inferior rappers, corrupt police—yet his signature off-pace delivery and the lethal beats backing him more than compensate for his typical lyrical fare." Track listing Charts Certifications References 1999 albums Albums produced by the Neptunes Albums produced by Mannie Fresh Albums produced by Swizz Beatz Albums produced by Trackmasters N.O.R.E. albums {{1990s-hiphop-album-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Noreaga
Victor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his stage names Noreaga and later N.O.R.E., is an American rapper. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), alongside fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. He would also have success as a solo artist with the chart-topping singles "Superthug", " Banned from T.V.", " Nothin'" and "Oye Mi Canto". Santiago has released music under various record labels, including Penalty, Roc-La-Familia, Def Jam, and Babygrande Records. In June 2011, it was announced Santiago partnered with fellow American rapper Busta Rhymes' Conglomerate label, where he released his 2013 album ''Student of the Game'', issued under E1 Music. Santiago is also chief executive officer (CEO) of his own label imprint, Militainment Business. Musical career 1995–1997: Career beginnings with Capone Santiago's career began to take off in 1995, while unde ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Half A Mill
Jasun Wardlaw (April 6, 1973 – October 22, 2003) better known by his stage name Half a Mill, was a Brooklyn-based American rapper. Career Half a Mill was considered an underground rapper in the early 1990s. His mainstream breakthrough came in 1997 when he scored a guest spot on supergroup The Firm's only release, '' The Album''. Personal life and death Wardlaw was shot and killed in Brooklyn's Albany Projects on October 22, 2003. His body was found by police inside his apartment. He left behind a son, Jasun Jabbar Wardlaw Jr., who is a rapper and actor. Half a Mill was the subject of the 2010 full-length documentary '' Player Hating: A Love Story'' by filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West. Discography See also *List of murdered hip hop musicians This is a list of rappers and hip hop musicians murdered since 1987. Two studies in the mid-2010s concluded that murder was the cause of 51.5% of hip hop musician deaths. The average age of death is between 25–30 years of age. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
David Banner
Lavell William Crump (born April 11, 1974), better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Banner's family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he was raised. Banner graduated from Southern University with a bachelor's degree, then attended University of Maryland Eastern Shore to pursue a master's. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz, before going solo in 2000 with the release titled '' Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1''. In 2003, Banner signed to Universal Records, where he released four albums: '' Mississippi: The Album'' (2003), '' MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water'' (2003), ''Certified'' (2005), and ''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (2008). Banner is also a noted producer, having produced music for himself, Trick Daddy, T.I., Lil Boosie and Lil Wayne among others. Early life Lavell William Crump was born in Brookhaven and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, the elder so ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Crooked Lettaz
Crooked Lettaz was an American hip hop duo from Jackson, Mississippi, composed of Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin and Lavell David Banner Crump. In 1998, Crooked Lettaz signed to independent label Penalty Recordings. Later that same year, the duo's first promotional-only single, "Caught Up In The Game", was released followed by 1999's two-track single, "Firewater" (featuring Noreaga)/"Get Crunk" (featuring Pimp C from UGK UGK (short for Underground Kingz) was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman. They released their first major-label album, ''Too Hard to Swallow'', in 1992, followe ...). Crooked Lettaz's full-length album, '' Grey Skies'', was released on April 20, 1999, peaking at #75 on the ''Billboard's'' R&B chart. After the release of the album, Banner and Kamikaze embarked on solo careers. Discography References American hip hop groups Musical groups from Mississippi Southern hip hop ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Skull Duggery (rapper)
Andrew Jordan (September 24, 1971 – June 4, 2022), better known as Skull Duggery, was an American rapper best known for his time spent with Master P's No Limit Records in the late 1990s. Skull Duggery made his first appearance on No Limit's 1995 compilation, '' Down South Hustlers: Bouncin' and Swingin''' on the song entitled "Darkside". About a year later, Master P released a trailer on Silkk the Shocker's first album '' The Shocker'' promoting Duggery's debut album, and setting the album's release date for September 24, 1996, but the release was pushed back to a week later. Skull Duggery released '' Hoodlum Fo' Life'' on October 1, 1996, under the alias Skull Dugrey, but the album failed to sell well, only peaking at #29 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #8 on the Top Heatseekers. His next album, 1998's ''These Wicked Streets ''These Wicked Streets'' is the second studio album by American rapper Skull Duggery. It was released on September 8, 1998 via No Limit/ Penalty Rec ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
SOHH
SOHH (Support Online Hip Hop) is a hip hop news website. Felicia Palmer and Steven Samuel founded the website in 1996. In 2000, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine writer Mark Binelli called it the "best overall hip-hop site". History Felicia Palmer attended Cornell University to become a veterinarian, but due to the intense science courses, she changed her focus to business management studies. After graduating, she worked for a small licensing firm founded by two young women. She credited her experience there for giving her the motivation to launch SOHH.Jenkins, Jennifer (February 15, 2007)Taking hip-hop to new heights. CNN. Accessed June 17, 2008. Her husband, Steven Samuel, was part the rap group, the Troubleneck Brothers, who released their first album, ''Fuck All Y'all'', in 1992. After leaving the group, Samuel worked as a postal foot messenger in New York. Palmer and Samuel officially launched the website in 1996. After twelve months, the membership grew to 75,000 people.Brown, C ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Warner Bros
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. Founded in 1923 by four brothers, Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner, the company established itself as a leader in the American film industry before diversifying into animation, television, and video games and is one of the "Big Five" major American film studios, as well as a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The company is known for its film studio division the Warner Bros. Pictures Group, which includes Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, the Warner Animation Group, Castle Rock Entertainment, and DC Studios. Among its other assets, stands the television production company Warner Bros. Television Studios. Bugs Bunny, a cartoon character created by Tex Avery, Ben Hardaway, Chuck Jones, Bob Givens and ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Tom Silverman
Tom Silverman is an American entertainment executive. He is most notable for founding the pioneering hip-hop and electro-funk music label, Tommy Boy Records, now known as Tommy Boy Entertainment. Early life and education Silverman grew up in White Plains, New York, and earned a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Colby College in 1976. He also attended graduate school at Western Michigan University, where he majored in environmental geology. Career Tom Silverman co-founded the Dance Music Report magazine in 1978, which ran until 1992. He then most notably launched the Tommy Boy Records label in 1981 as its founder and CEO. Silverman later became a senior vice president at the Warner Music Group from 1986 to 2001, after Warner acquired a 50% stake in Tommy Boy in 1985, although Tommy Boy continued to maintain independent distribution for most releases domestically and all releases internationally during that time. Then as part of his split negotiations from the Warn ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |