Empire Distribution
Empire | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Founded | 2010 |
Founder | Ghazi Shami |
Distributor(s) | Self-distributed (digital) AMPED Distribution (physical) |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
Official website | empi.re |
Empire Distribution, Records and Publishing Inc. (stylized as EMPIRE) is an American distribution company and record label founded in 2010 by Ghazi Shami [1] located in San Francisco with offices in New York City, London, Nashville, and Atlanta. It has released albums in various genres but it is predominantly focused on hip hop music. Many prominent companies and artists have partnerships with EMPIRE (see below), with music being distributed across platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Deezer, Spotify, Vevo, SoundCloud, and Rdio, along with physical CDs and vinyl being distributed to traditional record stores.
EMPIRE has supported the debut albums and early singles of a number of early artists, frequently signing young talent. In the Atlanta scene, orchestrated by their SR. Marketing Executive John Hill, they were the first label to release Trinidad James, Rich Homie Quan, Migos, Rocko, and K Camp. In Los Angeles, they have distributed and/or are still distributing artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Problem, Snoop Dogg, and Crooked I. They've also been involved in New York with releases from Fat Joe, Styles P, Cam'ron, and Busta Rhymes. On the R&B side, they have signed artists such as Eric Bellinger, Jacquees, Jesse Boykins III, Jonn Hart, and Lyrica Anderson. EMPIRE has also had several chart topping reggae albums including reggae artist J Boog's album Backyard Boogie.[2]
A number of albums and singles distributed by EMPIRE have charted on Billboard, including "Taste" by Tyga featuring Offset, "Look at Me" by XXXTentacion, "All the Way Up" by Fat Joe and Remy Ma, "Broccoli" by DRAM, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)" by Rich Homie Quan, "Might Be" and "OTW" by DJ Luke Nasty, Malibu by Anderson .Paak, Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar, "Gas Pedal" by Sage the Gemini, Phantom and the Ghost by Styles P, "#IWantDat" by Mindless Behavior, Knock Madness by Hopsin, and Stoner's EP by Snoop Dogg.[3]
History
Founding
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 by CEO Ghazi Shami,[4] a music technology graduate of San Francisco State University and the former Director of Urban Music at INgrooves.[5] In operating the company, Shami was joined by Nima Etminan, an MBA graduate in Media Management from Hamburg Media School. Etminan, co-founder of the hip hop platform DubCNN.com,[6] worked to expand the mission and services and as of 2011 was handling Marketing and A&R. Etminan now serves as Vice President of Operations and A&R. [7]
Releases
One of the label's first charting releases was Authenticity by hip hop duo The Foreign Exchange, released on October 12, 2010. It peaked at #145 on the US Billboard 200, and #23 on the US R&B chart. Rapper ScHoolboy Q's album Setbacks, released on January 11, 2011, also charted, reaching #100 on the Billboard 200. Longterm Mentality by Ab-Soul, released the following April, peaked at #32 on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers. In November 2013, Hopsin's Knock Madness album peaked at #76 on the Billboard 200[8] and at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[9]
Nima Etminan soon signed California hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar to the distribution company, and as of early 2012 Empire began handling distribution for all the projects by Top Dawg Entertainment, including Lamar's Section.80.[6] Released on July 2, 2011, the album reached #113 on the US Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums.
2012 saw releases by artists such as Slum Village, Trinidad James, Snoop Dogg, and Freddie Gibbs, several of which charted. In 2012 the label helped organize a 2013 tour between Trae tha Truth and J. Stalin.[10] Also in 2013, Empire distributed the album Still Goin In (Reloaded) by Rich Homie Quan, which was named tenth best mixtape of 2013 by Rolling Stone.[11] Recent albums include Phantom and the Ghost by Styles P, released on April 29, 2014. It charted at #74 on US Billboard 200, and #14 on US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
In 2013, Empire established its recording division, with Fairfield, CA native Sage The Gemini being the first signee.[12]
In 2017, it was announced that Rayya Lioness launched a new Independent label called Lioness Music Style Records, LLC, which will be distributed by Empire. LMS Records is home to such artists as Albino Redz, BLK XLNZ, and more...[citation needed]
In 2018, it was announced that record producer and label executive L.A. Reid founded a new label Hitco Entertainment, which will be distributed by Empire.[13][14] In the same year, Australian and rapper Iggy Azalea announced her own record label originally titled New Classic Records and later renamed to Bad Dreams with its distribution being handled by Empire.[15][16]
On August 5, 2021, Blackground Records signed a distribution deal with EMPIRE to re-release its discography, most notably the catalogue of singer Aaliyah.[17]
On January 23, 2023, EMPIRE announced a partnership with Web3 music investment platform Nebula.[18]
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | "Out of Many, One Music" (Shaggy) | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
2016 | "Strictly Roots" (Morgan Heritage) | Best Reggae Album | Won |
2017 | "Malibu" (Anderson .Paak) | Best New Artist | Nominated |
"Malibu" (Anderson .Paak) | Best Urban Contemporary Album | Nominated | |
"All The Way Up" (Fat Joe & Remy Ma) | Best Rap Performance | Nominated | |
"All The Way Up" (Fat Joe & Remy Ma) | Best Rap Song | Nominated | |
"Broccoli" (DRAM) | Best Rap/Sung Performance | Nominated | |
"Rose Petals EP" (J Boog) | Best Reggae Album | Nominated |
Artists
Notable artists who have released music on EMPIRE:
- 9th Wonder
- 2nd Nature
- 50 Cent
- Aaliyah
- Ab-Soul
- A.Chal
- Adam Lambert
- Afgan
- Alexis & Fido
- Amanda Perez
- Amber Liu
- Anderson .Paak
- Andre Nickatina
- Asake
- Bankroll Mafia
- B-Legit
- Berner
- B.o.B
- Bobby V
- Benny the Butcher
- Boosie Badazz
- Black Sherif
- BONES
- Brockhampton
- Busta Rhymes
- Che’Nelle
- Chronixx
- Clyde Carson
- Crooked I
- Daz Dillinger
- DRAM
- Diamond D
- Dinah Jane
- Dizzy Wright
- DJ Kay Slay
- DJ Pauly D
- Doe B
- Drakeo the Ruler
- Dounia
- Dru Hill
- D Smoke
- EarthGang
- Emilio Rojas
- Eric Bellinger
- Ester Dean
- Fashawn
- Fireboy DML
- Flipsyde
- Freddie Gibbs
- Glasses Malone
- Hayley Kiyoko
- Hopsin
- Hustle Gang
- Iamsu!
- Iggy Azalea
- Jacquees
- J Dilla
- J. Valentine
- Justina Valentine
- Jacob Latimore
- Jake Miller
- Jarren Benton
- Jesse Boykins III
- Jewel
- Jim Jones
- Joji
- Keak Da Sneak
- Kilo Kish
- King Von
- king soloman 13
- Kizz Daniel
- KiDi
- Konshens
- Kurupt
- Kwengface
- Lamont Sincere
- Lil Duval
- Lloyd
- Lloyd Banks
- Loote
- Lyrica Anderson
- Lucki
- Mac Dre
- MAJOR.
- Mandy Rain
- Mann
- Mario
- Mars
- Members Only
- Messy Marv
- Mistah F.A.B.
- Mitchy Slick
- MO3 (rapper)
- Mozzy
- Mack Wilds
- NIKI
- Nef the Pharaoh
- Nefew
- No Malice
- Olamide
- Philthy Rich
- Pia Mia
- Phresher
- PnB Rock
- Popcaan
- Problem
- Pleasure P
- Raisa
- Rakeem Miles
- Rapper Big Pooh
- Rapsody
- Rayven Justice
- Riff Raff
- RBL Posse
- Remy Ma
- Rich Brian
- Rich Homie Quan
- Robin Thicke
- Robyn Ottolini
- Rocko
- Robb Banks
- Rotimi
- Saba
- Sean Garrett
- Sean Kingston
- Selfish
- Shaggy
- Show Banga
- Skeme
- Skyzoo & Torae
- Slim Thug
- SOB X RBE
- SpaceGhostPurrp
- Supa Bwe
- Starlito
- Styles P
- Tank
- Tenille Arts
- The Alchemist
- The Foreign Exchange
- The Grouch & Eligh
- The Jacka
- Trae tha Truth
- Travis Garland
- Trevor Jackson
- Trinidad James
- Troy Ave
- Turf Talk
- Tyra B
- Tink
- Victoria Monet
- WC
- We Are Toonz
- Wande Coal
- XXXTentacion
- Yaw Tog
- Young Chop
- Young Dolph
- Yung Beef
- Yung Bleu
- Zion I
- Zion y Lennox
- Z-Ro
Selected discography
G-Town BlackTrab
Year | Cat | Title | Artist(s) | Details | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | ERE | Authenticity | The Foreign Exchange | Oct 12, 2010 | #145 on the Billboard 200 #23 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |
2011 | ERE | Setbacks | ScHoolboy Q | Jan 11, 2011 | #100 on the US Billboard 200 |
ERE | Longterm Mentality | Ab-Soul | April 5, 2011 | #32 on the US Top Heatseekers #73 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |
ERE | Section.80 | Kendrick Lamar | July 2, 2011 | #113 on the US Billboard 200 #1 on the US Top Heatseekers Albums | |
ERE | Charity Starts At Home | Phonte | Sep 27, 2011 | ||
ERE | Element of Surprise | P.Watts | Oct 25, 2011 | ||
ERE | In None We Trust | Crooked I | Nov 17, 2011 | ||
ERE | Gift Of Gab 2 | Rocko | Nov 24, 2011 | ||
2012 | ERE | Dirty Slums | Slum Village | Mar 27, 2012 | |
ERE | Stoner's EP | Snoop Dogg | April 17, 2012 | #31 on the US Independent Albums #33 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |
ERE | Don't Be S.A.F.E. | Trinidad James | Sep 18, 2012 | #103 on the US Billboard 200 #8 on the US Top Heatseekers Albums | |
ERE | Baby Face Killa | Freddie Gibbs | Sep 25, 2012 | ||
2013 | ERE | Still Goin In (Reloaded) | Rich Homie Quan | Feb 8, 2013 | Named tenth best mixtape of 2013 by Rolling Stone.[11] |
ERE | The Year of the Underdogz | Young Noble & Gage Gully | May 7, 2013 | ||
ERE | West Coast Gangsta Shit | Daz Dillinger and WC | June 19, 2013 | ||
ERE | ESGN (Evil Seeds Grow Naturally) | Freddie Gibbs | June 20, 2013 | #8 on US Top Heatseekers Albums[19] #24 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | |
ERE | Cold Turkey | Starlito | July 2, 2013 | ||
ERE108 | Apex Predator | Crooked I | July 30, 2013 | #33 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[20] | |
ERE110 | 3ChordFold | Terrace Martin | Aug 13, 2013 | #43 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums #9 on US Top Heatseekers Albums | |
ERE | Travis Garland | Travis Garland | Sep 10, 2013 | ||
ERE | Gas Pedal EP | Sage The Gemini | Sep 10, 2013 | ||
ERE | O.K.E. (Deluxe Edition) | The Game | Oct 8, 2013 | #89 on the US Billboard 200 #19 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |
ERE | Knock Madness | Hopsin | Nov 24, 2013 | #1 on US Top Heatseekers Albums[21] #7 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums #6 on US Independent Albums | |
2014 | ERE135 | Tortoise and the Crow CD | Grouch, Eligh | Mar 04, 2014 | |
ERE136 | Keep It On the D-Lo | D-Lo | Apr 01, 2014 | ||
ERE139 | Phantom and the Ghost | Styles P | Apr 29, 2014 | #74 on US Billboard 200 #14 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums #18 on US Independent Albums | |
ERE | Barrel Brothers | Skyzoo and Torae | May 27, 2014 | ||
ERE141 | Venice | Anderson .Paak | Oct 28, 2014 | ||
2015 | ERE | Strictly Roots | Morgan Heritage | June 8, 2015 | Grammy Award Winning : Best Reggae Album |
ERE141 | Fuk Wat They Talkin Bout | Tyga | Aug 24, 2015 | ||
ERE141 | Shadow of a Doubt | Freddie Gibbs | Nov 20, 2015 | #76 on US Billboard 200 | |
2016 | ERE141 | Malibu | Anderson .Paak | Jan 15, 2016 | #79 on US Billboard 200 |
ERE141 | King of Memphis | Young Dolph | Feb 19, 2016 | #49 on US Billboard 200 | |
ERE | Highway Music: Stuck in Traffic | DJ Luke Nasty | May 13, 2016 | ||
ERE256 | Rosecrans | DJ Quik & Problem | 2016 | ||
2017 | ERE310 | Plata O Plomo | Fat Joe and Remy Ma | Feb 17, 2017 | #44 on US Billboard 200 |
ERE | Acoustic Levitation | Devin The Dude | Mar 10, 2017 | ||
ERE344 | Neva Left | Snoop Dogg | May 19, 2017 | #54 on US Billboard 200 | |
ERE | For Your Girl Too | SELFISH. | May 23, 2017 | ||
ERE | BitchImTheShit2 | Tyga | Jul 21, 2017 | ||
ERE | 17 | XXXTentacion | Aug 25, 2017 | #2 on US Billboard 200 | |
2018 | ERE381 | Kyoto | Tyga | Feb 16, 2018 | |
ERE453 | Tru LP | Lloyd | Aug 31, 2018 | ||
ERE | Dancing Shadows | Mario | Oct 5, 2018 | ||
ERE | Skins | XXXTentacion | Dec 7, 2018 | #1 on US Billboard 200 | |
2019 | ERE | Walk with Me | Rotimi | May 24, 2019 | |
ERE | Legendary | Tyga | Jun 7, 2019 | #17 on US Billboard 200 | |
ERE | In My Defense | Iggy Azalea | Jul 19, 2019 | #50 on US Billboard 200 | |
ERE524 | I Wanna Thank Me | Snoop Dogg | Aug 16, 2019 | #76 on US Billboard 200 | |
ERE | Wicked Lips | Iggy Azalea | Dec 2, 2019 | ||
ERE537 | Bad Vibes Forever | XXXTentacion | Dec 6, 2019 | ||
2019 | ERE | S.O.L.A.R | Inayah Lamis | Dec 12, 2019 |
Singles
Notable singles released by EMPIRE
- 2011
- Kendrick Lamar – "ADHD"
- 2012
- Hopsin – "Ill Mind of Hopsin 5"
- Trinidad James – "All Gold Everything"
- 2013
- Alexis y Fido" – "Rompe La Cintura"
- Problem – "Like Whaaat"
- Rocko – "U.O.E.N.O."
- Sage The Gemini – "Red Nose"
- T.I. – "Memories Back Then"
- 2014
- Busta Rhymes – "Calm Down" ft. Eminem
- Rayven Justice – "Hit or Nah"
- Rich Homie Quan – "Walk Thru"
- Sage The Gemini – "Gas Pedal"
- Troy Ave – "About The Money"
- 2015
- Alexis y Fido – "Una en un Millón"
- Colonel Loud – "California" ft. T.I., Young Dolph & Ricco Barrino
- D.R.A.M. – "Cha Cha"
- Jermaine Dupri – "WYA" ft. Bow Wow
- Kane Brown – "Used To Love You Sober"
- Nef The Pharaoh – "Big Tymin’"
- P Diddy – "Finna Get Loose" ft. Pharrell
- Popcaan – "Never Sober"
- Rich Homie Quan – "Flex" (Ooh Ooh Ooh)
- Rich Homie Quan – "The Most"
- Tyga – "Stimulated"
- 2016
- D.R.A.M. – "Broccolli" ft. Lil Yachty
- Fat Joe & Remy Ma – "All The Way Up" ft. French Montana & Jay-Z (Remix)
- Lloyd – "Tru"
- Luke Nasty – "Might Be"
- Luke Nasty – "OTW"
- Mario - "I Need More"
- Mario – "Let Me Help You"
- Wizkid – "Shabba" ft. Chris Brown, Trey Songz & French Montana
- Young Dolph – "Get Paid"
- 2017
- Sammie – "Coa"
- Lamont Sincere – "Where It Came From"
- Eric Bellinger – "Be The Change"
- Mario – "Pain is the New Pleasure"
- Trinidad James – "Father FiGGA"
- Lamont Sincere – "Broken"
- Xai Beats – "Can't Relate" ft. Ellah & Young Gully
- J-HAZE - "The Body Guard"
- 2018
- Mario - "Dancing Shadows"
- Mario - "Drowning"
- Tyga - "Taste" ft. Offset
- Dinah Jane - "Bottled Up" ft. Ty Dolla Sign and Marc E. Bassy
- J-Haze - "Hussein on Cocaine" ft. Conway The Machine
- 2019
- Adam Lambert - "Feel Something"
- Iggy Azalea - "Sally Walker"
- Mario - "Care for You"
- Adam Lambert - "New Eyes"
- Shapiro - "Urgent"
- Shapiro - "Bleu Chanel"
- Xai Beats – "Miss Me" ft. GreedyBoyFred, J.Star & 1.TakeOcho
- Free Nationals - "Beauty & Essex" ft. Daniel Caesar & Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- 2020
- King Von - "Took Her To The O"
- Young Dolph - "RNB" ft. Megan Thee Stallion
- T-Pain - "Wake Up Dead" ft. Chris Brown
- August Alsina - "Entanglements" with Rick Ross
- Busta Rhymes - "YUUUU" with Anderson .Paak
- T.I. - "Pardon" ft. Lil Baby
- French Montana - "Double G" ft. Pop Smoke
- King Von - "The Code" ft. Polo G
- Rich The Kid & YoungBoy Never Broke Again - "Bankroll"
- Yung Bleu - "You're Mines Still" ft. Drake
- Shapiro - "Fast Pace"
- Shapiro - "Red Handed"
- 2021
- 50 Cent - "Part of the Game" ft. NLE Choppa and Rileyy Lanez
- French Montana - "Hot Boy Bling" ft. Jack Harlow and Lil Durk
- Fat Joe - "Sunshine" (The Light) with DJ Amorphous
- Busta Rhymes - "Czar" ft. M.O.P. and CJ
- Yung Bleu - "Ghetto Love Birds" with A Boogie Wit da Hoodie
- Shapiro - "Never Change"
- Shelley FKA DRAM - "All Pride Aside" with Summer Walker
- T-Pain - "I Like Dat" with Kehlani
- OG Parker, Chris Brown - Rain Down ft. Latto and Layton Greene
- Yung Bleu - "Baddest" with Chris Brown and 2 Chainz
- Tyga - "Mrs. Bubblegum"
- Sean Kingston - "Love Is Wonderful" ft. Travis Barker
See also
References
- ^ Payne, Ogden. "Empire: The Distribution Company That Turned Music Streaming Pennies Into Profit". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
- ^ "J Boog – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- ^ "Top Artists". Empire Distribution. Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
- ^ "EMPIRE: The Music Industry's Quiet Giant". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- ^ "Ghazi Shami". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
- ^ a b "Nima Etminan: The Man Behind DubCNN". 2DBZ. 2011-12-01. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
- ^ "EMPIRE: A Music Industry Giant in an Unlikely City". 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Hopsin – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- ^ "Hopsin – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- ^ Caples, Garret (December 11, 2012). "YEAR IN MUSIC 2012: Waiting for Four-O". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Archived from the original on 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
- ^ a b "10 Best Mixtapes of 2013: Rich Homie Quan, 'Still Goin' In Reloaded'". Rolling Stone. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
- ^ "Bay Area's Sage The Gemini Signs Deal with EMPIRE/Republic Records". DubCNN.com. 2013-08-22. Archived from the original on 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
- ^ Karp, Hannah (26 March 2018). "L.A. Reid's Hitco Ramps Up With 25 Hires and Handful Of New Acts". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
- ^ Halperin, Shirley (2018-03-22). "L.A. Reid's First Post-Sony Signing Is a Member of Outkast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ "Iggy Azalea has announced that her new label is named 'Bad Dreams'". Twipu. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Iggy Azalea Signs New Partnership Deal With EMPIRE". hotnewhiphop.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh (August 5, 2021). "20 Years After Her Passing, Aaliyah's Music is Finally Coming to Streaming Services". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ "EMPIRE partners with Web3 music investment platform Nebula". Music Business Worldwide. 2023-01-23. Archived from the original on 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums : Jul 06, 2013 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 2013-07-06. Archived from the original on 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
- ^ "Crooked I – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2018-12-17. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ "Hopsin – Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2014-01-26.