Rocafella Records Pictures Of Fametime

Feb. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- this is a throwback picture,from Jay-Z private mansion party in NEWYORK ! Rapper MemphisBleek, http://www.myspace.com/memphisbleek,
Philly Promoter, http://www.myspace.com/superdoopafly,
Rapper Geda K, http://www.myspace.com/gedakthecod,  Rapper BathGate, http://www.myspace.com/bathgateharlem, rocafella records life... The foundation of Roc-A-Fella Records occurred in 1996, beginning as an independent outlet for rapper Jay-Z's first album. After being turned down by several major labels, Carter, Dash and Burke started their own label through Priority Records, using money from the music videos provided by Payday Records due to their singles only deal. Though Reasonable Doubt didn't immediately attain commercial success, it spawned several hits, a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G. and procured him a reputation in the hip-hop community. Starting out as Roc-A-Fella's only artist, Jay-Z was supported by Biggie producer DJ Clark Kent and DJ Ski, who was then working with Camp Lo; affiliated rappers included duo Da Ranjahz, Sauce Money, Jaz-O, and a young Memphis Bleek, though only Bleek would eventually sign with the label. According to Dame, the label had intended on releasing Nas' group The Firm, but the deal fell through:

“ "Nas and AZ was supposed to be on 'Bring it On,' they kept not showing up. That's when we wanted to put out the Firm. They didn't show up. We was meeting and they was saying, 'Yeah,' but they wasn't showing up. We would be waiting and we would be getting offended. So we brought Sauce [Money] and  Jaz on the song." ”
—Dame Dash, MTV News[1]


The snub, and a sample clearance issue with the Nas-sampling Reasonable Doubt song "Dead Presidents," were elements that contributed to tension between Jay-Z and Nas. As such, the Roc's only release in 1997 was Carter's second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, but the label and its figurehead artist saw increasing popularity, mainly due to a high-profile appearance by Jay on B.I.G.'s posthumous Life After Death, complete with Roc-A-Fella and Dame Dash references. While Memphis Bleek signed with the Roc, Sauce Money chose to pursue a deal with Priority, and Jaz refrained from signing anywhere and provided production for only one song on Vol. 1, "Rap Game/Crack Game." In 1998, Roc-A-Fella released the movie Streets is Watching and the accompanying soundtrack; the film compiles various Jay-Z videos into a continuous story, and the album introduced more affiliated acts, including Ranjahz member Wais, then-signed singer Christión, future Roc-A-Fella signees M.O.P., N.O.R.E. and DJ Clue, as well as producer Irv Gotti and the short-lived group, Murder Inc. (namesake of Irv's record label, Murder Inc.) which then consisted of Jay, DMX and Ja Rule.

Jay's 1998 album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, saw him largely depart from his previous entourage and venture forth with producers Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, The 45 King and Jermaine Dupri. Vol. 2 spawned his first major hit, "Hard Knock Life," and became the label's first platinum release; it was the last Roc-A-Fella release to see appearances by Jaz-O or Sauce Money, and the first to feature new Roc artists Beanie Sigel and Amil. DJ Clue released the first of his compilation-album-style series in The Professional, which saw the first Roc-A-Fella appearance of Cam'ron; meanwhile, DJ Ski had, at the time, formed the production company Roc-A-Blok, affiliated with Sporty Thievz, although the company folded after Ski moved out of New York to take a break from music[2].

Though Da Ranjahz put in appearances on Memphis Bleek's first album, Coming of Age, in 1999, they soon parted ways with Roc-A-Fella. Jay-Z's 1999 album Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter continued Jay's new affiliations with then-popular producers; in 2000, the label saw a redefinition in both sound and roster. Jay-Z put out The Dynasty: Roc La Familia as a solo album. Originally intended to be a compilation project, it nonetheless featured heavy appearances by Beanie Sigel, Amil and Memphis Bleek, along with a Philly rapper Freeway guest spot that led to his 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: The Neptunes, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Bink! and Rick Rock. Except for Rock, each beatsmith would go on to become consistently involved in future Roc-A-Fella projects.

Prominence and split
The new millennium saw Roc-A-Fella Records begin to expand one figurehead artist. While Jay-Z remained the label's prominent image—with the acclaimed[3] release of The Blueprint and the closing of his trial for the 1999 stabbing of producer "Un" Rivera[4]—other Roc artists began to gain popularity and acceptance. Beanie Sigel's The Truth had reached #5 on the Billboard charts in 2000, and DJ Clue released The Professional 2 in 2000. Despite the lackluster sales of Amil and Bleek's albums, Jay-Z and Dame Dash began signing up new talent, including Cam'ron, Freeway, and several young Philly rappers that were later compiled into the Freeway/Sigel-led group, State Property. During this time, Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel were embroiled in a feud with Ruff Ryders artists Jadakiss and DMX. Disses back and forth between Jay-Z and Jadakiss implied a conflict between Jay and former groupmate DMX, led to a full-on war of words between Sigel and Kiss, and eventually culminated in a diss by Beanie Sigel over Jada's hit "Put Your Hands Up," after which the rivalry faded[5].

Cam'ron put out his Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home With Me in 2002 to platinum sales, and shortly signed his group The Diplomats to Roc-A-Fella, as well. From 2002 to 2003, Dame Dash signed several artists in response to Jay-Z's talk of retirement after his 2002 album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse. He signed M.O.P. and Ol' Dirty Bastard, gave Grafh a joint-venture deal, and attempted to sign Twista and Joe Budden. Roc-A-Fella experienced its height in product releases and overall popularity as a brand name during this period, seeing the release of State Property's Chain Gang albums, Juelz Santana's From Me to U, Freeway's debut Philadelphia Freeway, The Diplomats' group album Diplomatic Immunity, Memphis Bleek's M.A.D.E. and Jay-Z's alleged final album, The Black Album. Rumors of friction between Carter and Dash became apparent; though denied by both camps at the time, problems involving Dame's media attention and Jay's alleged inaccessibility had been brewing since the video shoot for "Big Pimpin'"[6].

After Jay-Z's supposed last hurrah, it was revealed that he had accepted a position as CEO and President of Def Jam. Dash, poised to take greater control in the company, began heavily promoting artists Cam'ron/The Diplomats, State Property, Kanye West and Twista. In 2004, Kanye's album, College Dropout, became a huge commercial and critical success, selling multi-platinum, and Foxy Brown was signed and began work on her album, Black Rose. The infamous 'split' occurred when it was revealed that Carter, Dash and Burke had sold their 50% interest in Roc-A-Fella to Def Jam, making the label full owners. As President, Carter retained control of the Roc and his masters, ousting his two former partners. He later explained that he had offered to turn down the position and ownership for the masters to Reasonable Doubt alone

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Rocafella pictures from back in the day when they started to now,Roc-A-Fella Records - Photo GalleryRoc-A-Fella Records. Roc-A-Fella. Become a member! Previous Next. JAY-Z. buy. Now viewing: 1 of 1. Total # of photos: 131.