Parent company | Universal Music Group |
---|---|
Founded | 2007 |
Founder | Jonny Shipes |
Distributor(s) | |
Genre | Hip hop |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | New York City, New York |
Official website | cinematicworldwide |
Cinematic Music Group is an American record label, management, publishing & touring company distributed by Geffen Records founded in 2007 by Jonny Shipes. Their roster as of 2020 consists of Joey Bada$$, [1] Pro Era, T-Pain, Smoke DZA, Va$htie, Mick Jenkins, G Herbo, Caveman, Public Access TV, Flipp Dinero, and others.
In August 2023, Shipes sold Cinematic's recording catalogue to Interscope Geffen A&M and formed a new music company named GoodTalk.
Cinematic Music Group [2] made one of its earliest signings in 2007 with Harlem’s Smoke DZA. That same year, Cinematic signed Sean Kingston whose self-titled debut album included two #1 Billboard singles, including the double platinum "Beautiful Girls." The album sold in excess of 1,000,000 units. [3] Cinematic’s next signee, West Coast MC Nipsey Hussle, signed to the company in 2010 and was included on XXL’s Annual Freshman List [4]
In 2010, Shipes signed Big K.R.I.T., who that same year released his mixtape "Krit Wuz Here" [5] KRIT followed up this success with his “Returnof4eva” mixtape in March 2011. K.R.I.T debuted the #1 hip hop album on the billboard charts with his debut album Live from the Underground. [6]
In 2010 Cinematic added Vashtie Kola, an artist, designer, and DJ to the roster. [7] Shipes then signed Joey Bada$$ & the collective Pro Era, short for the Progressive Era, which , a group of emcees, producers, and young tastemakers. Musical members of Pro Era include Joey Bada$$, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, CJ Fly, Dessy Hinds, A La Sole, Chuck Strangers, Dyemond Lewis and more. After viewing a video of a 16-year-old Joey Bada$$ freestyling on popular hip hop and viral video website WorldstarHipHop.com, Shipes saw his potential. After writing for two years, Bada$$ released his debut mixtape “1999”, receiving critical acclaim from Complex Magazine. [8] Bada$$ & Pro Era have been noted for their lyricism and return to the 90s sound.
In 2013, Shipes expanded the roster of Cinematic and signed indie R&B/electronic duo ASTR. ASTR released their “Varsity” EP in January 2014. On July 16, 2014, Cinematic Music Group President Jonny Shipes announced the signing of Chicago emcee Mick Jenkins [9] whose "The Water[s]" album was released, and received a rave review from Stereogum. [10] Jenkins finished off 2014 by touring the country (40 plus cities) on The Smoker's Club tour and saw his first headlining tour with Pro Era’s Kirk Knight in early 2015.
On January 20, 2015, Joey Bada$$ released his debut studio album “B4.DA.$$”. The album sold an impressive 56,000 units opening week making it the #1 rap album in the country that week.
On September 1, 2015, Chicago rapper Lil Herb was added to the roster of Cinematic. His album, Ballin' Like I'm Kobe, was released on September 27, 2015.
On February 4, 2016, Cinematic announced the signing of Brooklyn rock band Caveman on February 11 announced the addition of Public Access TV.
In summer 2023 Shipes sold the Cinematic Music Group catalog to Interscope Geffen A&M in a deal reported to be worth eight figures, and launched a new venture, GoodTalk, [11] a full-service entertainment company with divisions including talent management, a new record label, clothing and festivals verticals, and 4Lifers Entertainment, the film and TV production company he and Druski co-founded. [12]
Act | Year signed |
---|---|
Smoke DZA | 2007 |
Joey Bada$$ | 2010 |
Pro Era | 2010 |
Vashtie Kola | 2010 |
Kirk Knight | 2010 |
ASTR | 2013 |
Mick Jenkins | 2014 |
G Herbo | 2015 |
Mobsquad Nard | 2015 |
Cam'ron | 2016 |
Caveman | 2016 |
Public Access TV | 2016 |
Splashh | 2016 |
T-Pain | 2016 |
Cat Clyde | 2017 |
Yungeen Ace | 2018 |
Lil Trevo | 2018 |
Shawn Scrilla | 2018 |
Flipp Dinero | 2018 |
Slayter | 2019 |
ABG Neal | 2019 |
Nipsey Hussle | 2010 |
Luh Kel [13] | 2019 |
BBG Kobe | 2020 |
C Glizzy | 2020 |
Xanman | 2021 |
Ray Antenna 2023
This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2023) |
Artist | Album | Details |
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Big K.R.I.T. | K.R.I.T. Wuz Here |
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Big K.R.I.T. | Return of 4Eva |
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Big K.R.I.T. | 4eva N a Day |
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Joey Bada$$ | 1999 |
|
Pro Era | The Secc$ Tape |
|
Pro Era | P.E.E.P: The aPROcalypse |
|
Big K.R.I.T. | Live from the Underground |
|
Big K.R.I.T. | King Remembered in Time |
|
Joey Bada$$ | Summer Knights |
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CJ Fly | Thee Way Eye See It |
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ASTR | Varsity EP |
|
Pro Era | The Secc$ Tape 2 |
|
Pro Era | The Shift |
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Mick Jenkins | The Water[s] |
|
Big K.R.I.T. | Cadillactica |
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Joey Badass | B4.Da.$$ |
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Mick Jenkins | Wave[s] |
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G Herbo | Ballin Like I'm Kobe |
|
Kirk Knight | Late Knight Special |
|
Mobsquad Nard | Everything Clean But Da Ashtray |
|
Mick Jenkins | The Healing Component |
|
Joey Badass | All-Amerikkkan Badass |
|
Yungeen Ace | Life of Betrayal |
|
Justin Lewis Scott, better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T., is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he began his musical career in 2005. He was signed to Def Jam Recordings by Sha Money XL in 2010, and first gained recognition following the release of his single "Country Shit". The following year, he guest appeared on T.I.'s promotional single "I'm Flexin'", which became his sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Marathon is a mixtape by American rapper Nipsey Hussle. It was released on December 21, 2010 for free legal download and for download on iTunes. The mixtape was released by All Money In.
Drew "Dru Ha" Friedman is an American music and marketing executive based in New York City. Friedman is Co-Founder and CEO of Duck Down Music Inc., 3D Consulting & Distribution, General Manager for Cinematic Music Group, and former Director of Urban Music at Cornerstone Promotion. Born and raised in White Plains, New York, he is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications where he studied advertising.
American hip hop recording artist and music producer Big K.R.I.T. has released five studio albums, five extended plays (EP), fourteen mixtapes and 45 singles and three promotional singles.
Sean Joseph Pompey, better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American rapper and songwriter.
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, known by his stage name as Joey Badass, is an American rapper and actor. A native of Brooklyn, New York City, he is a founding member of the hip-hop collective Pro Era, with whom he has released three mixtapes as well as his numerous solo projects.
1999 is the debut mixtape by American rapper Joey Badass. It was released on June 12, 2012. It features production by Chuck Strangers, Lewis Parker, Lord Finesse, MF DOOM and J Dilla, among others. The mixtape also features guest appearances from members of Pro Era, a hip hop collective of which Joey Badass is a member. The mixtape is based heavily around musical samples. Music videos have been released for "Hardknock", "Survival Tactics", "FromdaTomb$" and "Waves".
B4.Da.$$ is the debut studio album by American rapper Joey Badass. It was released on January 20, 2015, his 20th birthday, by Cinematic Music Group and Relentless Records. The album was released in North America and United Kingdom, as well as being made available for digital download on iTunes.
King Remembered In Time is the tenth mixtape by American rapper Big K.R.I.T., released on April 10, 2013, through Cinematic Music Group. The mixtape has guest appearances from fellow rappers Bun B, Future, Trinidad James, Wiz Khalifa, Smoke DZA, and Big Sant. The production was handled almost entirely by Big K.R.I.T. himself, with producer 9th Wonder being the only other contributor.
Summer Knights is the third mixtape by American rapper Joey Bada$$. It was released on July 1, 2013, by Cinematic Music Group. The mixtape was planned to be released as an EP, to prelude the release of his debut album B4.DA.$$, but instead it was announced to be a full-length mixtape. The mixtape features production from Chuck Strangers, Kirk Knight, MF Doom, Statik Selektah, DJ Premier, Lee Bannon, Oddisee, Navie D, and Bruce Leekix. The mixtape features more original instrumentals than his first mixtape 1999 which was primarily samples.
The discography of American rapper Joey Badass consists of three studio albums, 2 extended play (EP), three mixtapes, and 24 singles.
Pro Era is an American hip hop collective group from Brooklyn, New York. The group is a collective of rappers and record producers that includes East Coast rappers Joey Badass, CJ Fly, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, Dyemond Lewis, Aaron Rose, Dessy Hinds, Dirty Sanchez, Rokamouth, J.A.B. and Jakk Da Rhymer, along with producers Chuck Strangers and Powers Pleasant. The collective was formed in 2011 by Capital STEEZ and Powers Pleasant, with Joey Badass and CJ Fly among its founding members.
Courtney Everald Dewar Jr., better known by his stage name Capital Steez, was an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He was a founder of the Brooklyn-based rap collective Pro Era, along with childhood friend Joey Badass. Capital Steez was also a co-founder of the Beast Coast movement, which consists of three main groups based in Flatbush: Pro Era, Flatbush Zombies, and The Underachievers. Capital Steez died by suicide on December 24, 2012, after jumping from the roof of the Cinematic Music Group headquarters aged 19. Both Pro Era and Beast Coast went on to gain international success in the years following his death.
Chaine St. Aubin Downer Jr., better known by his stage name CJ Fly, is an American rapper and producer from Brooklyn, New York City. He is a founding member and the oldest member of the hip-hop collective group Pro Era. Throughout 2012 and 2013, he was featured on many of the collective's projects and towards the end of 2013, he released his critically acclaimed mixtape Thee Way Eye See It.
The Waters is the fourth mixtape by American rapper Mick Jenkins. It was released on August 12, 2014, by Cinematic Music Group.
Jonny Shipes is an American music entrepreneur and producer. Credited with discovering Nipsey Hussle, Joey Bada$$, Sean Kingston, Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, and Druski, he is the founder and CEO of GoodTalk, an independent record label, artist management, merchandise and music publishing company, and the successor to his earlier company Cinematic Music Group.
The discography of Smoke DZA, an American hip hop artist, consists of eight studio albums, twenty-five mixtapes, and thirteen singles,.
Roland Collins, better known by the stage name Troy Ave, is an American rapper from the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. His moniker derives from Troy Avenue, a street near his childhood home. In November 2013, his first studio album, New York City: The Album, was released. It debuted at number 47 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He was named in XXL magazine's 2014 Freshmen Class.
Late Knight Special is the debut album by American rapper and record producer Kirk Knight. It was released on October 30, 2015, by Cinematic Music Group.
All-Amerikkkan Badass is the second studio album by American rapper Joey Badass. It was released on April 7, 2017, through Pro Era Records and Cinematic Music Group. The album features guest appearances from Schoolboy Q, J. Cole, Kirk Knight, Meechy Darko, Styles P, and Chronixx. Production of the album was handled executively by Joey Badass himself and Jonny Shipes, along with 1-900 as an associate producer. Production contributions also came from Pro Era members Kirk Knight and Chuck Strangers, as well as industry producers such as DJ Khalil and Statik Selektah.