1.
Album
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Album, is a collection of audio recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, audio tape, or another medium. Albums of recorded music were developed in the early 20th century, first as books of individual 78rpm records, vinyl LPs are still issued, though in the 21st century album sales have mostly focused on compact disc and MP3 formats. The audio cassette was a format used from the late 1970s through to the 1990s alongside vinyl, an album may be recorded in a recording studio, in a concert venue, at home, in the field, or a mix of places. Recording may take a few hours to years to complete, usually in several takes with different parts recorded separately. Recordings that are done in one take without overdubbing are termed live, the majority of studio recordings contain an abundance of editing, sound effects, voice adjustments, etc. With modern recording technology, musicians can be recorded in separate rooms or at times while listening to the other parts using headphones. Album covers and liner notes are used, and sometimes additional information is provided, such as analysis of the recording, historically, the term album was applied to a collection of various items housed in a book format. In musical usage the word was used for collections of pieces of printed music from the early nineteenth century. Later, collections of related 78rpm records were bundled in book-like albums, the LP record, or 33 1⁄3 rpm microgroove vinyl record, is a gramophone record format introduced by Columbia Records in 1948. It was adopted by the industry as a standard format for the album. Apart from relatively minor refinements and the important later addition of stereophonic sound capability, the term album had been carried forward from the early nineteenth century when it had been used for collections of short pieces of music. Later, collections of related 78rpm records were bundled in book-like albums, as part of a trend of shifting sales in the music industry, some commenters have declared that the early 21st century experienced the death of the album. Sometimes shorter albums are referred to as mini-albums or EPs, Albums such as Tubular Bells, Amarok, Hergest Ridge by Mike Oldfield, and Yess Close to the Edge, include fewer than four tracks. There are no rules against artists such as Pinhead Gunpowder referring to their own releases under thirty minutes as albums. These are known as box sets, material is stored on an album in sections termed tracks, normally 11 or 12 tracks. A music track is a song or instrumental recording. The term is associated with popular music where separate tracks are known as album tracks. When vinyl records were the medium for audio recordings a track could be identified visually from the grooves
2.
DMX (rapper)
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Earl Simmons, professionally known as DMX, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. In 1999, DMX released his best-selling album. And Then There Was X and he has been featured in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX, Soul of a Man, in 2003, DMX published a book of his memoirs entitled, E. A. R. L. DMX was born Earl Simmons in Mount Vernon, New York, the son of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker, as a child, he was brought up in the Jehovahs Witness faith. Simmons went through a childhood that included stays at group homes. In 1991, Gabriel Grevenstuk from The Source magazine praised DMX in his Unsigned Hype column that highlighted unsigned hip-hop artists, in 1991, DMX recorded his first demos, Unstoppable Force and Three Little Pigs. His stage name was a tribute to an instrument he used in the 1980s, in 1992, Columbia Records signed DMX to their subsidiary label Ruffhouse, which released his debut single Born Loser. The single did not receive much airplay, the label eventually agreed to release DMX from their contract. He also appeared on LL Cool Js single 4,3,2,1 in 1997, additional guest spots on Mase singles 24 Hrs. to Live and Take Whats Yours, and The LOXs single Money, Power & Respect created a strong buzz. DMX also made a appearance in the Sum 41 music video for Makes No Difference. In February 1998, DMX released his debut single, Get at Me Dog. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA and his first major-label album, Its Dark and Hell Is Hot, which included the single Ruff Ryders Anthem, was released in May 1998. The album debuted at one on the Billboard 200 chart in the U. S. Later that year in December, DMX released his album, Flesh of My Flesh. It debuted at one on the Billboard 200, where it remained for three consecutive weeks. Within one week of the release,670,000 units were shipped. It was eventually certified Platinum four times, as a result, DMX was the first rapper in history to have released two number one albums in the same year, both of which debuted on Billboard 200. DMX released his third and best-selling album. And Then There Was X and it was his third album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200
3.
Ruff Ryders Entertainment
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Ruff Ryders Entertainment is a record label founded by Joaquin Waah Dean and Darin Dee Dean and Chivon Dean, uncles and aunt of producer Swizz Beatz. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and was distributed by Fontana Distribution, Ruff Ryders founders were initially famous for managing rappers DMX and The Lox who became multi-platinum stars for Def Jam Recordings and Bad Boy Records in the late-1990s. After DMXs success, the management company started its own label imprint through Interscope Records, the Deans nephew Swizz Beatz is the main producer for most of the acts on the roster. In 2000, when DMX accepted an award for the best Rap album at the Billboard Music Awards, in 2001, Cassidy and the labelmate Yung Wun signed to the label Full Surface through Swizz Beatz. A Ruff Ryders Reunion Album was announced by Swizz Beatz and was set to release in 2008. In 2010, founders Joaquin and Darin Dean decided to revamp the brand through a new venture known as Ruff Ryders Indy, in addition to Ruff Ryder Indy, other brands include Ruff Ryders Films, Powerhouse Recording Studios, NatPro, a promotional company, and RR Rescue. 1 Ryde or Die Vol.2 Ryde Or Die Vol.3, In the R We Trust The Redemption Vol.4 Ruff Ryders, Past, Present, stories One Man Band Man Cassidy Split Personality Im A Hustla B. A. R. S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story Yung Wun The Dirtiest Thirstiest Official Ruff Ryders Website
4.
Def Jam Recordings
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Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused predominantly on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group. In the UK, the takes on the name Def Jam UK and is operated through Virgin EMI, while in Japan. The label distributes various record labels, including Kanye Wests GOOD Music, Ludacris Disturbing Tha Peace, Def Jam was founded by Rick Rubin in his dormitory in Weinstein Hall at New York University and its first release was a single by his punk-rock group Hose. Russell Simmons joined Rubin shortly after they were introduced to other, according to one story. Another cites DJ Jazzy Jay as their connector, Rubin has said he met Simmons on the TV show, Graffiti Rock and recognized him then as the face of hip hop, He was five years older than me, and he was already established in the music business. And I had no experience whatsoever, the first single released with the Def Jam Recordings logo was T La Rock & Jazzy Jays Its Yours. The first releases with Def Jam Recordings catalog numbers were LL Cool Js I Need a Beat, the singles sold well, eventually leading to a distribution deal with CBS Records through Columbia Records the following year. A few years later, Russell Simmons and Lyor Cohen started a label called Rush Associated Labels to handle Def Jam. RAL became the home to Nice & Smooth and EPMD after both acts were acquired due to the folding of their former label Sleeping Bag Records, other acts under the RAL umbrella included Redman, Onyx, Flatlinerz, Domino, Warren G and Jayo Felony. As the decade drew to a close, the label signed Public Enemy, Lyor Cohen became president of Def Jam/RAL in 1988, after winning a power struggle with Rubin, who would shortly thereafter leave the company to form Def American Recordings. Rubin would take Slayer with him to Def American in its initial stages, by 1992, despite recent multi-platinum selling releases from Public Enemy, and EPMD, Def Jam ran into severe financial troubles and was faced with folding. However, in 1994, PolyGram purchased Sonys 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings — subsequently bringing the label into its fold, following PolyGrams purchase, Def Jam distributed the Violator Records-signed artist Warren Gs Regulate. G Funk Era album, which went triple platinum and brought much-needed revenue to Def Jam through its distribution deal with Violator, PolyGram acquired an additional 10% in Def Jam Recordings in 1996, further strengthening its ownership of Def Jam. Shortly thereafter, Rush Associated Labels was renamed Def Jam Music Group, the label remained profitable as its veteran star LL Cool J released his successful album Mr. Smith in 1995. The label later signed Foxy Brown, whose debut album Ill Na Na became a seller in 1997. In 1998, PolyGram was purchased by Seagram and merged with the MCA family of labels and it then purchased the remaining interest of Def Jam Recordings from Russell Simmons for a reported $100 million. UMG merged 14+ record labels including, Def Jam, Island Records, despite the formation of IDJMG, the Def Jam, Mercury, and Island labels continued to operate as separate imprints underneath the bigger umbrella. Lyor Cohen was appointed co-president of IDJMG, and Kevin Liles succeeded him as president of Def Jam, Def Soul also issued recordings by Musiq, Montell Jordan, Case,112, Patti LaBelle, and Christina Milian
5.
Record producer
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A record producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performers music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many roles during the recording process, the roles of a producer vary. The producer may perform these roles himself, or help select the engineer, the producer may also pay session musicians and engineers and ensure that the entire project is completed within the record companies budget. A record producer or music producer has a broad role in overseeing and managing the recording. Producers also often take on an entrepreneurial role, with responsibility for the budget, schedules, contracts. In the 2010s, the industry has two kinds of producers with different roles, executive producer and music producer. Executive producers oversee project finances while music producers oversee the process of recording songs or albums. In most cases the producer is also a competent arranger, composer. The producer will also liaise with the engineer who concentrates on the technical aspects of recording. Noted producer Phil Ek described his role as the person who creatively guides or directs the process of making a record, indeed, in Bollywood music, the designation actually is music director. The music producers job is to create, shape, and mold a piece of music, at the beginning of record industry, producer role was technically limited to record, in one shot, artists performing live. The role of producers changed progressively over the 1950s and 1960s due to technological developments, the development of multitrack recording caused a major change in the recording process. Before multitracking, all the elements of a song had to be performed simultaneously, all of these singers and musicians had to be assembled in a large studio and the performance had to be recorded. As well, for a song that used 20 instruments, it was no longer necessary to get all the players in the studio at the same time. Examples include the rock sound effects of the 1960s, e. g. playing back the sound of recorded instruments backwards or clanging the tape to produce unique sound effects. These new instruments were electric or electronic, and thus they used instrument amplifiers, new technologies like multitracking changed the goal of recording, A producer could blend together multiple takes and edit together different sections to create the desired sound. For example, in jazz fusion Bandleader-composer Miles Davis album Bitches Brew, producers like Phil Spector and George Martin were soon creating recordings that were, in practical terms, almost impossible to realise in live performance. Producers became creative figures in the studio, other examples of such engineers includes Joe Meek, Teo Macero, Brian Wilson, and Biddu
6.
Swizz Beatz
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Kasseem Dean, better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer from New York City, New York. Born and raised in The Bronx, he began his career as a disc jockey and has since added rapper, producer, record executive, creative director and fashion designer. At the age of 16, he gained recognition in the hip hop industry, through his friendship and work with East Coast rapper DMX, Dean later found a protégé in Philadelphia-based rapper Cassidy, whose success helped the launch of his own label imprint, Full Surface Records. He went on to multiple artists to the label, including Eve and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Dean also went on to two albums under the label, the first was a compilation, titled Swizz Beatz Presents G. H. E. T. T. O. Stories, released in 2002, in conjunction with DreamWorks Records and he later released his debut studio album, One Man Band Man, in 2007. Swizz Beatz has produced hit singles for several prominent artists throughout various music genres, such as hip hop, pop, soul. His catalog includes Ruff Ryders Anthem, Banned from T. V, gotta Man, Jigga My Nigga, Party Up, Check on It, Ring the Alarm, Good Times, Bring Em Out, Hotel, Im a Hustla, Touch It and much more. Swizz Beatz was named the first Producer in Residence at New York University, about. com ranked him number 27 on its list of the Top 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Producers, while The Source placed him on its list of the 20 greatest producers in the magazines 20-year history. Fellow American rapper and music producer Kanye West has also praised Dean, Dean is married to American singer Alicia Keys, with whom he has two children. Due to his parents separation in his life, Dean did not see much of his father. He spent much of his childhood raised by his mother in the North East Bronx, after obtaining the necessary equipment from his stepfather and uncles, he began deejaying as a teenager and enjoyed a modicum of success. In his early work, he chose not to sample, instead using the Korg Trinity and Triton keyboards. With his uncles Dee and Waah, as well as his aunt Chivon Dean, all involved with the Ruff Ryders Entertainment record label, a year later he sold his first beat to Ruff Ryders artist DMX, which became his chart-topping single Ruff Ryders Anthem. Swizz Beatz then began producing major hip-hop songs released in 1998 such as Banned from T. V. by Noreaga, Money, Cash, Hoes by Jay-Z and more. The following year, he produced most of the songs of the Ruff Ryders compilation album Ryde or Die Vol.1, as well as the bulk of Eves debut album. In 2001, in a joint venture with Clive Davis, Swizz Beatz established his own label, Full Surface Records. The first artist signed was Philadelphia-based rapper Cassidy, when Swizz Beatz released his first compilation album Swizz Beatz Presents G. H. E. T. T. O
7.
Irv Gotti
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Irving Domingo Lorenzo, Jr. better known as Irv Gotti, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and is the founder of The Inc record label. Gotti was born in Queens, New York, and is of African American and Dominican descent and he is the youngest of eight siblings and the father of three children. A producer and music executive, he founded The Inc. with his brother Chris, the Inc. was originally Murder, Inc. but after legal troubles in 2003, the company was renamed in 2005. He has produced songs for artists as Jay-Z, Ja Rule. He produced Jay-Zs Can I Get A. Ja Rules Holla Holla, Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carltons third album, Heroes and Thieves, which was released October 9,2007, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin and Stephan Jenkins. In an interview with Angie Martinez in early May 2009, Gotti stated that his label and he has an estimated net worth of $15 million. In 2004, The Inc came under investigation for allegedly laundering money through the label for New York City drug kingpin Kenneth Supreme McGriff, on January 25,2005, Lorenzo and his brother Chris turned themselves in, alleging their innocence. They were released on $1 million bail, and would not be tried alongside McGriff for the charges against them, according to Haran, convicted drug dealer Kenneth Supreme McGriff, had shopping bags and shoe boxes full of cash delivered to the labels Manhattan office in 2000. The company then cut McGriff $280,000 in checks, authorities alleged that McGriff was permitted to funnel more than $1 million in drug money through Murder Inc. in return for serving as the labels protector and enforcer. Prosecutors additionally claim that the Lorenzos knew about a plot against platinum-selling rapper 50 Cent. On December 2,2005, Irving Lorenzo and his brother Christopher were acquitted of all money laundering charges, the brothers could have faced up to 20 years in prison. The defense countered all along that the brothers were victims of guilt by association with Kenneth Supreme McGriff, Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carltons third album, Heroes and Thieves, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin and Stephan Jenkins, which was released October 9,2007. Nicki Minaj’s hit “Moment For Life” was recently used in her Pepsi commercial as part of her ‘Live For Now’ campaign. During a behind-the-scenes interview with TheInsider. com on the set for the ad spot, Nicki revealed that producer and former Murder Inc. label head, Irv Gotti,1994 Shits Real 1996 Can I Live 1998 Can I Get A. Hot Spot 1999 Whats My Name Holla Holla 2000 Come Back in One Piece Between Me and You 2001 Whats Luv
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