Chinga Chang Records is a

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

-based independent hip hop label. Founded by CEO Dan Herman in 2003, Chinga Chang has released music by artists including Kool G Rap and

Lil Scrappy Darryl Raynard Richardson III (born January 19, 1984), better known by his stage name Lil Scrappy, is an American rapper. Richardson was discovered by producer and performer Lil Jon while performing at a bar in Atlanta. Along with labelmates Tr ...

, including the Kool G Rap album ''

Half a Klip ''Half a Klip'' is an album by American rapper Kool G Rap, released on February 5, 2008 by Chinga Chang, Latchey and Koch Records. It was the first new solo release from Kool G Rap in six years, and its producers included DJ Premier, Marley Marl ...

'' in 2007. The label has also released two mixtapes, which include previously unreleased music by artists such as

KRS-One Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...

, Ras Kass, Big Pun, and Sean Price.

History

Early years

Chinga Chang Records was founded as a boutique hip hop label in 2003, by

native Dan Herman, also known as DMAK. Herman, then only 18 eventually established offices in Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida. In July 2006, the label released its first single, "Meal of the Day", by company artist Temp, which became popular in

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

. The label then released the mixtape ''Chang Gang Vol. 1: Stackin' Euros'', which included then unheard tracks from artists including

, Ras Kass, Big Pun, and Sean Price. Each track from the album had a video made along with it, including one for Price's song "Ground Wit Ur Niggazz", shot in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Also in 2006, CEO Herman signed Kool G Rap. According to ''

Hip Hop Weekly ''Hip Hop Weekly'' is an American hip hop news and entertainment magazine founded in 2006. The magazine covers celebrity news, music, film, fashion, sports and features exclusive interviews with many notable figures within popular culture. Hist ...

'', Chinga Chang "helped resurrect the career of Kool G Rap by backing the hip hop icon’s first studio disc in nearly a decade". Kool G Rap's album ''

'' was produced by DJ Premier, who is associated with the label, and had vocals by actress Haylie Duff. A month later Herman signed a distribution deal for the album with

Koch Entertainment Koch Entertainment was an American record label and a distributor of film, television, and music. It was purchased by Canadian entertainment company Entertainment One in 2005. History First years The company began in 1975 as part of Koch Intern ...

. In June 2007, the label released the mixtape ''The Official Joints LP'' via digital download, which included unreleased music by artists such as Rakim,

Masta Ace Duval Clear (born December 4, 1966), known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut " The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice ...

J Live Jean-Jacques Cadet (born February 22, 1976), better known by his stage name J-Live, is an American rapper, DJ, and record producer. Life and career J-Live released his debut studio album, '' The Best Part'', in 2001. It featured production by ...

Guru Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverentia ...

, Beatnuts,

Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hi ...

, KRS-One, and Big Pun. The first single off the album, Rakim's "Original Style", was also made into an unreleased cartoon.

Later signings

In June 2013, it was announced that former

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television television channel, channel which launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. It is run by Paramount Global through its List of assets owned by Param ...

actress Amanda Bynes had been offered a record deal by Chinga Chang, after Herman cleared the idea with

The Orchard The Orchard may refer to: * The Orchard (company), American music and entertainment company * The Orchard (band), Canadian country music duo * ''The Orchard'' (Lizz Wright album), 2008 * ''The Orchard'' (Ra Ra Riot album), 2010 * The Orchard (t ...

and

Sony Entertainment Sony Entertainment, Inc. is an American entertainment company established in 2012. It focuses on most of Sony's motion picture, television and music businesses. It is a subsidiary of the Japanese Sony Group Corporation, managed by Sony's America ...

. According to Herman, he retracted the offer after Bynes failed to show up to a meeting with

Wyclef Jean Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, a ...

. Herman instead signed the artist D Rock Starr, who had previously provided the hook for the track "I Feel Bad for You Son" on ''

''. D Rock's first single on Chinga Chang was "Sour Patch Kid", a diss track to Bynes. In October 2013, Chinga Chang signed the rap group G4 Boyz, with distribution provided through

. Also that month Chinga Chang signed Philadelphia rapper

Cassidy Cassidy may refer to: Personal names * Cassidy (given name) * Cassidy (surname) People * Cassidy (musician) (born 1979), lead singer of Antigone Rising * Cassidy (rapper) (born 1982), American rapper * DJ Cassidy (born 1981), New York DJ * Jame ...

, with Wyclef and DJ Premier slated to help with Cassidy's next album; however, a few weeks later the deal fell through, with Herman quoting artistic differences. Herman instead signed Atlanta-based rapper

Lil' Scrappy Darryl Raynard Richardson III (born January 19, 1984), better known by his stage name Lil Scrappy, is an American rapper. Richardson was discovered by producer and performer Lil Jon while performing at a bar in Atlanta. Along with labelmates T ...

on November 1, 2013. Scrappy's first single, "They Hate Me" featuring

Young Buck David Darnell Brown (born March 15, 1981), best known by his stage name Young Buck, is an American rapper. He heads his own record label, Cashville, and was a member of the former hip hop group G-Unit. Early life Brown was born in Nashville, Te ...

, was released on December 5. His solo album ''Reparations'' is meant to be released in Spring 2014, with a distribution deal by Sony. Another early single from ''Reparations'', "Juicy On My Mind", was also released in December 2013. A new album by Drock Star was announced for September 15, 2014, titled ''American Dream''. Atlanta-based rapper 9Gotti signed to the label on May 20, 2014, after releasing a single on the label a week earlier.Witness Music Video: 9Gotti
/ref> Around July 2013,

TMZ TMZ is a tabloid news website owned by Fox Corporation. It made its debut on November 8, 2005, originally as a collaboration between AOL and Telepictures, a division of Warner Bros., until Time Warner divested AOL in 2009. On September 13, 202 ...

reported that

Michael Lohan Michael John Lohan ( ; born April 25, 1960) is an American television personality, best known as the father of actress Lindsay Lohan. Early life Michael Lohan is the oldest of four children born to Marilyn (née Desiderio) and Richard Lohan. He h ...

had brokered a deal with Herman for a recording contract for

Ali Lohan Aliana Taylor "Ali" Lohan ( ; born December 22, 1993) is an American singer, actress, model and television personality. Lohan is the younger sister of actress and singer Lindsay Lohan. Early life Lohan was born in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, ...

. The deal had ended after Michael Lohan allegedly threatened Herman with violence.

Artists

;Current artists *D Rock Star *KoolK (Devine Hendricks) *

King Joe Nuufolau Joel Seanoa (born March 17, 1979), is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Samoa Joe who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Joe is currently a double champion - in his first reign both as AEW ...

*Rych *9Gotti ;Previous artists *Temp * Kool G Rap *

Discography

Albums

*2006: ''Chang Gang Vol. 1: Stackin' Euros'' by Various Artists (

, Ras Kass, Big Pun, and Sean Price) *2007: ''

'' by Kool G Rap *2007: ''The Official Joints LP'' by Various Artists ( Rakim,

, Beatnuts,

, and Big Pun) *2014: ''Reparations'' by

*2014: ''Potential Genius'' by Rych *2020: ''Walk By Faith'' by ELCAMINO

Singles

*2006: "Meal of the Day" by Temp *2013: "Sour Patch Kid" by D Rock Star ft. DMAK *2013: You Only Live Once" by D Rock Star *2013: "They Hate Me" by

ft.

*2013: "Juicy On My Mind" by

*2014: "Strange Fruit" by King Joe *2014: "Witness" by 9Gotti *2014: "Imagination" by Rych *2014: "Need I Say More" by Rych

References

External links

* {{Authority control American independent record labels American hip hop record labels