Chinga Chang Records

Last updated
Chinga Chang Records
Chinga Chang logo.png
Founded 2003 (2003)-present
Founder Dan Herman (CEO)
Status Active
Distributor(s) Sony Entertainment
Genre Hip hop, rap
Country of origin United States
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Official website chingachangmusic.com

Chinga Chang Records is a Philadelphia-based independent hip hop label. Founded by CEO Dan Herman in 2003, Chinga Chang has released music by artists including Kool G Rap and Lil Scrappy, including the Kool G Rap album Half a Klip in 2007. [1] The label has also released two mixtapes, which include previously unreleased music by artists such as KRS-One, Ras Kass, Big Pun, and Sean Price. [2]

Philadelphia Largest city in Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia, sometimes known colloquially as Philly, is the largest city in the U.S. state and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous U.S. city, with a 2017 census-estimated population of 1,580,863. Since 1854, the city has been coterminous with Philadelphia County, the most populous county in Pennsylvania and the urban core of the eighth-largest U.S. metropolitan statistical area, with over 6 million residents as of 2017. Philadelphia is also the economic and cultural anchor of the greater Delaware Valley, located along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, within the Northeast megalopolis. The Delaware Valley's population of 7.2 million ranks it as the eighth-largest combined statistical area in the United States.

Hip hop subculture including music, dance and graffiti

Hip hop or hip-hop, is a culture and art movement that began in the Bronx in New York City during the early 1970s. The origin of the word is often disputed. It is also argued as to whether hip hop started in the South or West Bronx. While the term hip hop is often used to refer exclusively to hip hop music, hip hop is characterized by nine elements, of which only four elements are considered essential to understand hip hop musically. The main elements of hip hop consist of four main pillars. Afrika Bambaataa of the hip hop collective Zulu Nation outlined the pillars of hip hop culture, coining the terms: "rapping", a rhythmic vocal rhyming style (orality); DJing, which is making music with record players and DJ mixers ; b-boying/b-girling/breakdancing (movement/dance); and graffiti. Other elements of hip hop subculture and arts movements beyond the main four are: hip hop culture and historical knowledge of the movement (intellectual/philosophical); beatboxing, a percussive vocal style; street entrepreneurship; hip hop language; and hip hop fashion and style, among others. The fifth element, although debated, is commonly considered either street knowledge, hip hop fashion, or beatboxing.

Kool G Rap American rapper

Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper from Queens. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is often cited as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".

Contents

History

Early years

Chinga Chang Records was founded as a boutique hip hop label in 2003, [3] by Philadelphia native Dan Herman, also known as DMAK. [1] Herman, then only 18 [3] eventually established offices in Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida. [4]

In July 2006, the label released its first single, "Meal of the Day", by company artist Temp, which became popular in Bollywood. The label then released the mixtape Chang Gang Vol. 1: Stackin' Euros, which included then unheard tracks from artists including KRS-One, Ras Kass, Big Pun, and Sean Price. Each track from the album had a video made along with it, including one for Price's song "Ground Wit Ur Niggazz", shot in Brownsville, Brooklyn. [3]

Bollywood Hindi language film industry

Hindi cinema, often metonymously referred to as Bollywood, and formerly known as Bombay cinema, is the Indian Hindi-language film industry, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The term being a portmanteau of "Bombay" and "Hollywood", Bollywood is a part of the larger cinema of India, which includes other production centers producing films in other Indian languages. Linguistically, Bollywood films tend to use a colloquial dialect of Hindi-Urdu, or Hindustani, mutually intelligible to both Hindi and Urdu speakers, while modern Bollywood films also increasingly incorporate elements of Hinglish.

KRS-One American musician

Lawrence "Kris" Parker, better known by his stage names KRS-One, and Teacha, is an American rapper and occasional producer from The Bronx, New York. KRS-One rose to prominence as part of the hip hop music group Boogie Down Productions, which he formed with DJ Scott La Rock in the mid-1980s. KRS-One is best known for his top hits, "Sound of da police", "Love's gonna get'cha " and "My Philosophy". Boogie Down Productions are sometimes considered one of the first rap groups to inspire both gangsta rap and conscious rap. They received numerous awards and critical acclaim in their early years. Following the release of the group's debut album, Criminal Minded, La Rock was shot and killed, but KRS-One continued the group, effectively as a solo project. He began releasing records under his own name in 1993. KRS-One is politically active, having started the Stop the Violence Movement, after the death of Scott La Rock.

John Austin IV, better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He returned as a member of the hip hop supergroup The HRSMN along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt in 2014. Ras is a member of the group Golden State Warriors with Xzibit and Saafir. Editors of About.com ranked him #30 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). Pitchfork Media called him "one of the best rappers of all time."

Also in 2006, CEO Herman signed Kool G Rap. [5] According to Hip Hop Weekly , Chinga Chang "helped resurrect the career of Kool G Rap by backing the hip hop icon’s first studio disc in nearly a decade". [1] Kool G Rap's album Half a Klip was produced by DJ Premier, who is associated with the label, and had vocals by actress Haylie Duff. A month later Herman signed a distribution deal for the album with Koch Entertainment. [3]

<i>Half a Klip</i> 2008 EP by Kool G Rap

Half a Klip is an EP by American rapper Kool G Rap, released on February 5, 2008 by Chinga Chang, Latchey and Koch Records. It was the first new solo release from Kool G Rap in six years, and its producers included DJ Premier, Marley Marl, Domingo, and Marks. KL of Screwball, D-Roc and Haylie Duff appeared as a guest vocalists.

DJ Premier American record producer and DJ

Christopher Edward Martin, known professionally as DJ Premier, is an American record producer and DJ, and was half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr—alongside the emcee Guru—and forms half of the hip hop duo PRhyme, together with Royce da 5'9".

Haylie Duff actress, singer-songwriter

Haylie Katherine Duff is an American actress, singer, songwriter, television host, writer, and fashion designer. She is best known for her role as Sandy Jameson in the television series 7th Heaven, Amy Sanders in Lizzie McGuire, Summer Wheatley in Napoleon Dynamite, and Annie Nelson in the made-for-television films Love Takes Wing along with its sequel Love Finds a Home. She is also the older sister of American singer and actress Hilary Duff.

In June 2007, the label released the mixtape The Official Joints LP via digital download, which included unreleased music by artists such as Rakim, Masta Ace, J Live, Guru, Beatnuts, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, and Big Pun. The first single off the album, Rakim's "Original Style", was also made into an unreleased cartoon. [3]

Rakim American rapper and producer

William Michael Griffin Jr., better known by his stage name Rakim, is an American rapper. One half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled MCs of all time.

Masta Ace American rapper

Duval Clear, known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice and rapping proficiency, and has influenced several MCs. In 2000, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but he revealed it to the public in 2013.

Guru (rapper) American rapper, producer and actor

Keith Edward Elam, better known by his stage name Guru (a backronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), was an American rapper, producer, and actor. He was a member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Boston.

Later signings

In June 2013, it was announced that former Nickelodeon actress Amanda Bynes had been offered a record deal by Chinga Chang, after Herman cleared the idea with The Orchard and Sony Entertainment. [2] According to Herman, he retracted the offer after Bynes failed to show up to a meeting with Wyclef Jean. Herman instead signed the artist D Rock Starr, [6] who had previously provided the hook for the track "I Feel Bad for You Son" on Half a Klip . [7] D Rock's first single on Chinga Chang was "Sour Patch Kid", a diss track to Bynes. [6]

Nickelodeon is an American pay television network which was launched on December 1, 1977 as the first cable channel for children. It is owned by Viacom through its Viacom Media Networks division's Nickelodeon Group unit and is based in New York City. It broadcasts usually from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. It is primarily aimed at children and adolescents aged 2–17.

Amanda Bynes American actress

Amanda Laura Bynes is an American actress, comedian and fashion designer. After appearing in commercials and in plays, she rose to prominence as a child star in the late 1990s and early 2000s on the Nickelodeon series All That and The Amanda Show. From 2002 to 2006, she starred in the sitcom What I Like About You on The WB. She has also starred in several films, including What a Girl Wants (2003), She's the Man (2006), Hairspray (2007), Sydney White (2007), and Easy A (2010). Bynes announced an indefinite hiatus from acting in 2010 as she struggled with personal problems.

The Orchard (company) music, film, and video distribution company and Multi-Channel Network working with independent artists and labels

The Orchard is an American music and entertainment company founded in 1997 by Scott Cohen and Richard Gottehrer. Wholly owned by Sony Music Entertainment and based in New York City, The Orchard specializes in media distribution, marketing and sales. It also collaborates with independent artists, labels and others to provide content worldwide.

In October 2013, Chinga Chang signed the rap group G4 Boyz, [8] with distribution provided through Sony Entertainment. [9] Also that month Chinga Chang signed Philadelphia rapper Cassidy, [4] with Wyclef and DJ Premier slated to help with Cassidy's next album; however, a few weeks later the deal fell through, with Herman quoting artistic differences. [1]

Herman instead signed Atlanta-based rapper Lil' Scrappy [10] on November 1, 2013. [3] Scrappy's first single, "They Hate Me" featuring Young Buck, was released on December 5. His solo album Reparations is meant to be released in Spring 2014, [4] with a distribution deal by Sony. [11] Another early single from Reparations, "Juicy On My Mind", was also released in December 2013. [4]

A new album by Drock Star was announced for September 15, 2014, titled American Dream. [12] Atlanta-based rapper 9Gotti signed to the label on May 20, 2014, [3] after releasing a single on the label a week earlier. [13]

Around July 2013, TMZ reported that Michael Lohan had brokered a deal with Herman for a recording contract for Ali Lohan. The deal had ended after Michael Lohan allegedly threatened Herman with violence. [14]


Artists

Current artists
Previous artists

Discography

Albums

Singles

Further reading

Related Research Articles

Rapping is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular", which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The components of rap include "content", "flow", and "delivery". Rap differs from spoken-word poetry in that rap is usually performed in time to an instrumental track. Rap is often associated with, and is a primary ingredient of hip-hop music, but the origins of the phenomenon predate hip-hop culture. The earliest precursor to the modern rap is the West African griot tradition, in which "oral historians", or "praise-singers", would disseminate oral traditions and genealogies, or use their formidable rhetorical techniques for gossip or to "praise or critique individuals." Griot traditions connect to rap along a lineage of Black verbal reverence that goes back to ancient Egyptian practices, through James Brown interacting with the crowd and the band between songs, to Muhammad Ali's quick-witted verbal taunts and the palpitating poems of the Last Poets. Therefore, rap lyrics and music are part of the "Black rhetorical continuum", and aim to reuse elements of past traditions while expanding upon them through "creative use of language and rhetorical styles and strategies. The person credited with originating the style of "delivering rhymes over extensive music", that would become known as rap, was Anthony "DJ Hollywood" Holloway from Harlem, New York.

Southern hip hop, also known as Southern rap, South Coast hip hop, or Dirty South, is a blanket term for a regional genre of American hip hop music that emerged in the Southern United States, especially in Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, Memphis, and Miami—the five of which constitute the "Southern Network" in rap music.

Cash Money Records American record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams

Cash Money Records is an American record label founded by two brothers, Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. The label is distributed by Republic Records, which used to be Universal Republic. The label itself has been home to a roster of hip hop artists that includes Drake and Nicki Minaj, which has led to Cash Money to becoming one of the most successful record labels in hip-hop history. Despite the success of the label, however, of the 22 artists signed in it's history, only 6 of them are female. Chanel West coast, a member of Cash Money, even expressed her concern for this male-female ratio in an interview by saying, "I think hip-hop doesn't give women as much of a chance as it gives guys."

Papoose (rapper) American rapper

Shamele Mackie, better known by his stage name Papoose, is an American rapper and songwriter.

Yo Gotti American rapper from Tennessee

Mario Mims, better known by his stage name Yo Gotti, is an American rapper. In 1996, Gotti released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016) and I Still Am (2017).

Juice Crew band

The Juice Crew was a Hip Hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge –based artists in the mid–to–late 1980s. Founded by producer Marley Marl and radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Crew helped introduce New School artists Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté and Kool G Rap. The crew produced many answer records and engaged with numerous "beefs" – primarily with rival radio jock Kool DJ Red Alert and the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, as well as the "posse cut", "The Symphony".

Joell Ortiz American rapper

Joell Christopher Ortiz is an American rapper and a member of the now defunct group Slaughterhouse. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. Ortiz grew up in the Cooper Park Houses in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, formerly signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. He was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of the March 2004 issue of The Source Magazine and was also selected as Chairman's Choice in XXL Magazine.

This is the discography of hip hop musician KRS-One.

Domingo Padilla, better known as Domingo, is an American hip hop producer from Brooklyn, New York of Latino descent. He has produced for some well-known hip hop artists such as Das EFX, Immortal Technique, and Rakim, among others. He is closely associated with Kool G Rap.

<i>Theres a God on the Mic</i> book by Kool Moe Dee

There’s a God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs is a 2003 book by the old school hip hop MC Kool Moe Dee, where he ranks what he believes to be the Top 50 greatest MCs of all time, giving a breakdown of each artist. The book also features a foreword from Chuck D and includes full color photos from hip hop photographer Ernie Paniccioli.

Lawrence White, best known by his stage name 40 Glocc, is a rapper from Colton, California.

Torrance Esmond, better known by his stage name Street Symphony, is an American record producer and music executive from Memphis, Tennessee.

Lil Scrappy American rapper from Georgia

Darryl Kevin Richardson, better known by his stage name Lil Scrappy, is an American rapper and record producer.

Yo Gotti discography

American rapper Yo Gotti has released nine studio albums, 22 mixtapes and 45 singles, and 4 Promotional singles. After several guest appearances, mixtapes and independent releases, he released his major-label debut album Live from the Kitchen, in 2012.

Cashville Records is an American independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee founded by rapper Young Buck. Due to a dispute with rapper 50 Cent dating back to late 2007, David Brown had to change the name from "G-Unit South" to "Cashville Records" because Brown was no longer allowed to use the G-Unit logo or name to distribute his music. The label has signed such acts as The Outlawz, C-Bo, Lil Scrappy and more.

<i>Spell My Name Right: The Album</i> 2007 studio album by Statik Selektah

Spell My Name Right: The Album is the debut studio album by East Coast hip hop producer Statik Selektah. The album was released on November 6, 2007. The album features guest appearances from DJ Premier, Termanology, Styles P, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Consequence, Joell Ortiz, Kool G Rap, Sheek Louch, Freeway, Cassidy, DJ Khaled, Red Café, Mims, Uncle Murda, Jadakiss, Royce da 5'9", Cormega, Reks, Doug E. Fresh, Tony Touch, Scram Jones, Esoteric, Clinton Sparks, Big Shug, Lil Fame, AZ, Slum Village, Granite State, Evidence, The Alchemist, Skyzoo, KRS-One and Large Professor among others.

<i>Cant Stop Wont Stop</i> (book) book by Jeff Chang

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Quality Control Music label

Quality Control Music is an Atlanta-based record label founded by Pierre "Pee" Thomas and Kevin "Coach K" Lee in 2013. Its productions were distributed through Universal Music Distribution until it was dismantled in 2015; the label's releases are now distributed through Motown and Caroline, subsidiaries of the Capitol Music Group. Tamika Howard is the general manager of the label. Simone Mitchell is also an executive of the label.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Chinga Chang Records CEO Dan Herman Drops Cassidy". Hip Hop Weekly . November 16, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  2. 1 2 Sieczkowski, Cavan (June 11, 2013). "Amanda Bynes Offered Rap Deal With Chinga Chang Records". Huffington Post . Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "About Us". Chinga Chang Music. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "News". Chinga Chang Music. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  5. ↑ J-23 (February 8, 2008). "Kool G Rap – Half A Klip | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHop DX. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Chinga Chang Records produces Amanda Bynes diss song". RumorFix. June 22, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  7. ↑ "New Artists". Chinga Changa Music. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  8. ↑ "G4 Boyz @G4BOYZ Sign With Chinga Chang Records". PaperChaster.com. October 24, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  9. ↑ James, Jesse (October 28, 2013). "The G4 Boyz Sign w/ Chinga O Chang/Sony Records - News". StupidDope. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  10. ↑ "Can I Get A Record Deal: Dan Herman Of Chinga Chang Records Signs Lil Scrappy And Cassidy". DJs Doing Work. November 3, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  11. ↑ Kyles, Yohance (November 5, 2013). "Lil Scrappy Signs New Label Deal With Chinga Chang/Sony Ent". Austin-American Statesman . Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  12. ↑ "News". Chinga Chang. May 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  13. ↑ Witness Music Video: 9Gotti
  14. ↑ "Michael Lohan: Police Probe Threats Against Music Honcho". TMZ . 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  15. ↑ "HHV Exclusive: Dan Herman talks Chinga Chang Records rumors, Lil' Scrappy, and more". Hip Hop Vibe. January 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  16. 1 2 3 "Music". Chinga Changa Music. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
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