Roc-A-Fella Records

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The label was founded in 1994 after Jay-Z had been rejected by major record labels, starting as an independent outlet for his debut album. The name "Roc-A-Fella" was conceived by rapper Tone Hooker as a double entendre for Rockefeller and a rapper dominating his opponent ("rocking a fella"). In June 1997, Roc-A-Fella agreed to a 50/50 partnership and distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings. By 2002, tensions between Jay-Z and Dash had become increasingly apparent. While Jay-Z was vacationing in Europe that July, Dash publicly announced the promotion of Cam'ron and Beanie Sigel to vice president positions, a move Jay-Z described as premature. Dash also began production on a film based on Roc-A-Fella without consulting Jay-Z and fired several employees, including Jay-Z's longtime assistant Carline Balan and the company's chief financial officer, John Meneilly. In January 2004, Jay-Z entered talks with Island Def Jam to launch his own entertainment company, separate from Roc-A-Fella. In December 2004, Jay-Z and Damon Dash met at Da Silvano in New York to discuss Def Jam's offer to acquire Roc-A-Fella and Jay-Z's appointment as president of the label.

In Their Own Story

In 2000, Jay-Z put out The Dynasty: Roc La Familia as a solo album. Originally intended to be a collaboration project, it featured heavy appearances by Beanie Sigel, Amil, and Memphis Bleek, along with a Philly rapper Freeway guest spot that led to him being signed to Roc-A-Fella. Rather than return to Timbaland or Swizz Beatz for production, Jay selected beats from a new crop of producers: Kanye West, Bink, The Neptunes and Just Blaze. Each beat-smith would go on to become consistently involved in future Roc-A-Fella projects. In 2004, Kanye West's album, The College Dropout, became a huge commercial and critical success, selling multi-Platinum-RIAA certified sales.

Reader's Guide

Roc-A-Fella Records was founded in 1994 by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem Burke. After Jay-Z had been rejected by major labels, it began as an independent outlet for his debut album. The label started through Priority Records, using finances from Payday Records due to their singles-only deal. In June 1997, Roc-A-Fella agreed to a 50/50 partnership and distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings. In November 1997, they released Jay-Z's sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, as well as R&B duo Christión's debut album Ghetto Cyrano on the same day. The label saw increasing popularity after Jay's appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s posthumous Life After Death. Jay's 1998 album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life became the label's first Platinum-RIAA certified release. In 2000, Beanie Sigel released The Truth and reached #5 on the Billboard charts, DJ Clue released The Professional 2, and Memphis Bleek released The Understanding. All three albums were certified Gold by the RIAA. On December 4, 2001, rapper Cam'ron signed to Roc-A-Fella through his connection with Damon Dash, and his group The Diplomats as well as members Juelz Santana and Jimmy Jones also signed. In May 2002, Cam'ron released his Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home With Me, which was certified Platinum by the RIAA. In 2004, Kanye West's album The College Dropout became a huge commercial and critical success, selling multi-Platinum-RIAA certified sales. The label dissolved in 2013.

Did You Know?

• The name 'Roc-A-Fella' was conceived by rapper Tone Hooker as a double entendre for Rockefeller and a rapper dominating his opponent ('rocking a fella').
• In June 1997, Roc-A-Fella agreed to a 50/50 partnership and distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings.
• Jay-Z selected beats from a new crop of producers including Kanye West, Bink, The Neptunes and Just Blaze for his 2000 album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia.
• On December 4, 2001 (Jay-Z's 32nd birthday), rapper Cam'ron signed to Roc-A-Fella through his connection with Damon Dash.
• In December 2004, Jay-Z and Damon Dash met at Da Silvano in New York to discuss Def Jam's offer to acquire Roc-A-Fella and Jay-Z's appointment as president of the label.