Roc-A-Fella Records prepares to leave Def Jam

After 11 years on the famous record label, Roc-A-Fella Records is preparing to leave Def Jam for good. It was with Def Jam that we realized that Jay-Z was a bonnafide star, it was with Def Jam that we really got to know Dame Dash. Also, with Def Jam, we saw Damon Dash get booted from the label. Things haven’t been the same since. At one point, not so long ago, Jay-Z was over the entire operation at Def Jam. He reigned supreme from 2004-2008. In that time, he signed The-Dream, Mike Shorey, Ne-Yo, Fabolous, DJ Clue, Rihanna, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chingy, Jadakiss, Nas, Mannie Fresh, Sterling Simms, and Uncle Murda. Also in this process, he started a feuds with Lil Wayne and Cash Money, then ended it, got rid of Irv Gotti and Murder Inc., almost joined Aftermath Entertainment, did an album with Dr. Dre, and got into a high-profile feud with LL Cool J, which hasn’t been completely ended. Now, after all of that, Jay-Z stepped down in 2008 from his position. If he had kept it for a little longer, he could have taken every artist he signed to Def Jam for this new Roc Nation deal, but it did not go down that way. So, here’s how Roc Nation will work, it is much like The Island Def Jam Music Group. Roc-A-Fella, now is nothing more than a sub-label of the bigger Roc Nation. Now, artists like Beanie Sigel, and Memphis Bleek are no longer signed to the actual label, Roc-A-Fella, instead they are artists on their own imprints, which are distributed by Roc Nation. Jay-Z, however will remain a Roc-A-Fella artist as he will run both Roc-A-Fella and Roc Nation. He will now attempt to rebuild Roc-A-Fella Records to the size it was in 1998-1999. Even though the core artist of the Roc (A-Fella, excluding Kanye West) are no longer on the label, they will still promote everything Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation. Here’s a short list of the artists currently signed to the labels. This is not including the people signed to Bleek’s and Sigel’s records.

Jay-Z (Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation)

Memphis Bleek (Get Low/Roc Nation)

Beyonce

Beanie Sigel (State Property/Roc Nation)

Kanye West (Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation)

I assume that Beyonce will now leave Columbia Records. If/when she does leave, she will be the only artist on Roc Nation not signed to an imprint, thus being the only artist signed to the Roc Nation label.

Albums to look for on Roc Nation

Memphis Bleek – The Process (Get Low/Roc Nation)

Jadakiss – Kiss My Ass (Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation)