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" in September of that year. The following year, he guest appeared on T.I.'s promotional single "I'm Flexin'", which became Scott's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
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 professionally as Joey Badass, is an American rapper and actor. Born in Brooklyn, New York City, he formed the regional hip-hop group Pro Era in 2011, with whom he has released three mixtapes and formed the larger collective, Beast Coast the following year.
1999 is the debut mixtape by American rapper Joey Bada$$. It was released independently as a free digital download on June 12, 2012. The mixtape is a tribute to 1990s East Coast hip hop, featuring boom bap production and lyrical themes reflecting Joey's experiences as a teenager in Brooklyn. The mixtape incorporates elements of jazz rap, conscious hip hop, and old school hip hop. The mixtape contains guest appearances from fellow Pro Era members Capital STEEZ, CJ Fly, and Chuck Strangers, as well as T'nah Apex. Production was handled primarily by various members of Pro Era, including Chuck Strangers and Kirk Knight, along with established producers like Lord Finesse, MF DOOM, and J Dilla. Videos were released for the tracks "Hardknock", "Survival Tactics", "FromdaTomb$", and "Waves". The mixtape's cover art features a childhood photo of Joey Bada$$, emphasizing the youthful perspective presented in the lyrics. 1999 was widely acclaimed by music critics and is considered Joey Bada$$'s breakthrough project.
B4.Da.$$ 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.
Summer Knights is the second 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.
"Unorthodox" is the debut single by American hip hop recording artist Joey Badass, taken from his second solo mixtape, Summer Knights. The song was produced by DJ Premier. "Unorthodox" was released as the mixtape's first single on January 14, 2013 on iTunes.
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 47, and Rokamouth, 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.
The Golden Age is the sixth official mixtape by American rapper Dizzy Wright. The mixtape was released on August 19, 2013, by independent record label Funk Volume for free and digital download, along with autographed hardcopies via the Funk Volume website. The mixtape featured guest appearances by Wyclef Jean, Hopsin, Joey Bada$$, Jarren Benton, SwizZz, Logic, Kid Ink and Honey Cocaine among others. Along with production from DJ Hoppa, Rikio, Kato, 6ix, and Cardo, among others. Due to its retail release, the mixtape debuted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 39 becoming his highest charting project at the time.
Cadillactica is the second studio album by American rapper Big K.R.I.T. It was released on November 10, 2014, by Cinematic Music Group and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Raphael Saadiq, E-40, Wiz Khalifa, Kenneth Whalum III, Mara Hruby, Rico Love, Bun B, Devin the Dude, Big Sant, Jamie N Commons, Lupe Fiasco and ASAP Ferg.
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 committed suicide on December 23, 2012, 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.
Jayson Andrew "Mick" Jenkins is an American rapper based in Chicago and signed to Cinematic Music Group. His mixtape, The Waters, was released in 2014, followed by the Waves EP in 2015.
The Waters is the fourth mixtape by American rapper Mick Jenkins. It was released on August 12, 2014, by Cinematic Music Group.
Lucky 7 is the seventh studio album by hip hop record producer Statik Selektah. The album was released on July 7, 2015, by Duck Down Music Inc. and Showoff Records. The album features guest appearances from Rapsody, Action Bronson, Joey Badass, Your Old Droog, Chauncy Sherod, Dave East, Big K.R.I.T., Royce Da 5'9", Mick Jenkins, Smif-n-Wessun, Young M.A, Buckshot, Illa Ghee, Sean Price, Lil' Fame, Bodega Bamz, Skyzoo, Ea$y Money, Domo Genesis, Masspike Miles, Termanology, Bun B, Styles P, A$AP Twelvyy, Kirk Knight, Wais P, Jared Evan, Ab-Soul, Elle Varner, CJ Fly, Talib Kweli and Cane.
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.
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.
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.
