Star Trak Entertainment
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| Star Trak Entertainment | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo |
| Distributing label | Interscope Records (US) Polydor Records (Non-US) |
| Genre | Various |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Official Website | StarTrakMusic.com |
Star Trak Entertainment is a record label, specializing in hip-hop music, founded by record producers Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams in 2002. Star Trak Entertainment operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Interscope Records.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Beginnings
Star Trak Entertainment was formed in 2002 by The Neptunes' duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. The label was partially funded by Arista Records in a joint-venture. Pharrell would sign longtime friends, Clipse, a duo of brothers Malice and Pusha-T. Their debut album, Lord Willin', was released in 2002 led by the hits, "Grindin'", and "When the Last Time." After the success of the album, the label would sign Kelis, Vanessa Marquez, FAM-LAY, N.E.R.D., and pop rock band Spymob, who provided backing instruments for N.E.R.D's debut album In Search Of.... The label released a compilation album during the summer of 2003, entitled, The Neptunes Present... Clones. In late 2003, Star Trak released the highly-successful album, Tasty, by Kelis led by the hit single "Milkshake." In early 2004, distributor Arista dropped imprint Star Trak, which then linked with Virgin Records for a new distribution deal. The first release from this deal was Fly or Die by N.E.R.D..
[edit] Addition of Snoop Dogg
In mid-2004, Star Trak signed EMI cousin label, Doggystyle Records to a distribution deal and soared to new heights behind veteran Doggystyle rapper, Snoop Dogg. A few months later, Star Trak left EMI's Virgin Records before completing a year with the label. They ended up moving operations over to Geffen/Interscope. Here, they would release Snoop Dogg's album, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece. The album was led by "Drop It Like Its Hot", which would be yet another hit single for the fledgling label. This album would go Platinum like all other Star Trak releases. It also had many other hit singles. After the album's release, the label was in a surplus and could afford to spend money on new things, so they signed underground Houston, Texas rapper Slim Thug and in 2005, he released his debut album, Already Platinum. This album would give Star Trak yet another monster hit, "Like A Boss", and "I Ain't Heard of That."
[edit] Decline
After the release of Slim Thug's album, Geffen Records was partially absorbed into Interscope Records, which moved Star Trak into an exclusive distribution deal with Interscope Records and ended all association with Geffen Records as Snoop Dogg decided to stay with them and took his Doggystyle imprint with him. During this time, the label added Kenna and Robin Thicke to their roster.
[edit] Resurgence
In 2006, CEO Pharrell released his debut album, In My Mind. The album provided another two hits for the label and capitilazed what is the Neptunes sound. These singles were "Can I Have It Like That", with Gwen Stefani, and "Number One", with Kanye West. Other releases in 2006 were Robin Thicke's second album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, which featured the hit, "Lost Without U." The last 2006 release was Clipse's second album, Hell Hath No Fury, the album featured another hit for the label, "Mr. Me Too." This was their first release through their Re-Up Gang imprint. Because of constant delays on the album's release date, and a small amount of production, then low record sales, Clipse asked for their release from the Jive Records label with in terms relased them from the Star Trak Label moving their Re-Up Gang imprint to Columbia Records. Star Trak has since signed Teyana Taylor to their roster, along with Chester French, Natasha Ramos, and Jack Venom. In 2007, Kenna released his album, Make Sure They See My Face. Releases for 2008 Included N*E*R*D and Robin Thicke. Releases Planned for 2009 are to include Chester French, Teyana Taylor, Kenna, Clipse and Teriyaki Boyz. Recently rapper Game inked a deal with Star Trak due to his close friendship with Pharrell where he will be executive producing Game’s fourth album The R.E.D. Album, due February 16, 2010[1].
[edit] Artists
- Clipse
- Chester French
- Fam-Lay
- Game
- Kenna
- Natasha Ramos (Tasha)
- N.E.R.D
- The Neptunes
- Pharrell
- Robin Thicke
- Rosco P. Coldchain
- Teyana Taylor
- Teriyaki Boyz
- The High Speed Scene
- Veneno
- Alyssa Bernal
[edit] Former artists
- Kelis (Active, signed to Fort Knocks Entertainment)
- Slim Thug (Active, with Koch Records)
- Vanessa Marquez (Active, unsigned)
- Spymob (Inactive)
- Snoop Dogg (Active, on Doggystyle Records)
- Supercat (Inactive)
[edit] Discography
| Year | Information |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Lord Willin' by Clipse
|
| 2003 | The Neptunes Present... Clones by The Neptunes
|
Tasty by Kelis
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| 2004 | Fly or Die by N.E.R.D
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R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece by Snoop Dogg
|
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| 2005 | The High Speed Scene by The High Speed Scene
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Already Platinum by Slim Thug
|
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| 2006 | In My Mind by Pharrell
|
The Evolution of Robin Thicke by Robin Thicke
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|
Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse
|
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| 2007 | Make Sure They See My Face by Kenna
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| 2008 | Seeing Sounds by N.E.R.D
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Something Else by Robin Thicke
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| 2009 | Serious Japanese by Teriyaki Boyz
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Love the Future by Chester French
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Fast & Furious (soundtrack) by Various Artists
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Til the Casket Drops by Clipse
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Sex Therapy by Robin Thicke
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[edit] Upcoming releases
| Information |
|---|
| The R.E.D. Album[2] by Game |
From a Planet Called Harlem[3] by Teyana Taylor
|
Dat Missile by FAM-LAY
|
The God Unwilling by Child Rebel Soldiers
|
