Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered.
Uptown Records is an American record label, based in New York City, founded in 1986 by old school rapper ‘Dr Jekyll’ - Andre Harrell. From the late 1980s into the early 1990s, it was a leader in New Jack Swing, R&B, hip hop., and Hip Hop-Soul
Dwight Arrington Myers, known professionally as Heavy D, was an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Myers was the leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, a group that included dancers/hype men G-Whiz and "Trouble" T. Roy, as well as DJ and producer Eddie F. The group maintained a sizeable audience in the United States through most of the 1990s. The five albums the group released included production mainly by Teddy Riley, Marley Marl, DJ Premier, Myers's cousin Pete Rock, and "in-house" beatmaker Eddie F. Myers also released four solo albums and discovered Soul for Real and Monifah.
Donell Jones is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer from Chicago, Illinois. He met record producer Eddie F in the mid-1990s and signed with his record label Untouchables Entertainment, beginning his career as a songwriter for its parent label, LaFace Records. He signed with the label as a recording act to release his debut studio album, My Heart (1996), which was met with lukewarm commercial reception despite yielding his first Billboard Hot 100 entries with its singles "In the Hood", and his cover of Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me Off My Feet."
112 is the debut album from the American R&B group 112. It was released on August 27, 1996, as one of the first R&B records on Sean Combs' Bad Boy label. The majority of the album was produced primarily by Combs, Tim & Bob and one of the first Hitmen, Stevie J. It also included contributions from group member Daron Jones, Al B Sure!, Kyle West, Arnold Hennings and Boyz II Men vocalist Wanya Morris. The album features label mates the late The Notorious B.I.G., Mase and Faith Evans. Three singles were released from the album: "Only You", "Come See Me" and "Cupid". All of the singles had music videos released.
Def Jam Recordings is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
"U Know What's Up" is a song by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was written by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for his second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999), while production was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.
My Heart is the debut album by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was released by LaFace Records and Arista Records on June 4, 1996, in the United States. After the dissolution of his group Porché, Jones turned to songwriting and production, writing songs for R&B group Jade from their 1994 second album Mind, Body & Song as well as co-writing for Usher's self-titled debut album in that same year. He signed a recording contract as a solo performer with LaFace under Untouchables Entertainment, a production company and record label founded by Heavy D. & The Boyz member Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell. Most of the album was produced by Jones with additional help from Ferrell's Untouchables Entertainment production team. The album featured three singles, including "In the Hood", "Knocks Me Off My Feet" and "You Should Know".
Andre O’Neal Harrell was an American record executive, media proprietor, and former rapper. He formed the short-lived East Coast hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde with Alonzo Brown in 1980; they signed with Profile Records the following year. After disbanding in 1986, he founded the record label Uptown Records that same year, which saw commercial success in contemporary R&B, new jack swing, and hip hop music releases into the coming decade. The label entered a distribution deal with MCA Records and signed artists including Jodeci, Heavy D & the Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Guy, and Al B. Sure, as well as then-unknowns the Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy, among others. He is credited with discovering and giving the latter his start in the industry in 1990. Harrell was later appointed as CEO of Motown from 1995 to 1997.
Jeff Le’Mar Jones aka Jeff Jones is an American rapper and hip-hop and R&B songwriter.
Living Large... is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on October 27, 1987, through Uptown Records. The production was handled by Andre Harrell, DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Marley Marl and Heavy D. The album was a success for the group, reaching number 92 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold over 300,000 copies. Living Large... is today considered to be a classic. Three singles were released: "Mr. Big Stuff", "Chunky But Funky" and "Don't You Know".
Big Tyme is the second album by American hip hop group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on June 12, 1989 through Uptown Records. The production on album was handled by DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Al B. Sure!, Marley Marl, Pete Rock and Heavy D himself. This is also the final album to feature bandmate Trouble T Roy, who died from a fall in 1990.
Peaceful Journey is the third album by American rap group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on July 2, 1991, for Uptown Records and was produced by Pete Rock, DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Marley Marl and Howie Tee. This marked the group's first album since the death of member Trouble T Roy, who died almost a year before the album's release, and several songs on the album pay tribute to him. Though not as successful as the group's previous album, Big Tyme, the album was able to reach Platinum status and made it to number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Blue Funk is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on December 22, 1992 via Uptown Records. Recording sessions took place at The Hit Factory, Soundtrack Studios, Axis Studios, Greene St. Recording and D&D Studios in New York. Production was handled by Jesse West, Pete Rock, Tony Dofat, DJ Premier, Skeff Anselm, Steely & Clevie, with DJ Eddie F, Heavy D and Puff Daddy serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from 3rd Eye, Busta Rhymes, Gang Starr, Notorious B.I.G., Phat Doug and Rob-O. The album peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 17, 1993 for selling 500,000 units in the US alone.
Nuttin' but Love is the fifth and final studio album by American rap group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on May 24, 1994, by Uptown Records and was produced by DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Marley Marl, Erick Sermon, Kid Capri, Easy Mo Bee, Poke of The Trackmasters, and Pete Rock. The first track on the album, "Friends & Respect", featured spoken intros by the likes of LL Cool J, Buju Banton, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Little Shawn, MC Lyte, Martin Lawrence, Pete Rock, Positive K, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, Spike Lee and Treach.
In Effect Mode is the debut album by Al B. Sure!. It was released on May 3, 1988, on Uptown Records with distribution handled by Warner Bros. Records. It was one of two albums by Sure! that was released under Uptown that were not issued under its parent company MCA Records.
Darren Lighty is an American hip-hop and R&B record producer and songwriter.
The Who's the Man? Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1993 film Who's the Man?. The album was released in 1993 on Uptown/MCA Records. The soundtrack peaked at 32 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1993.
Crystal Johnson is an American singer and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York. She has performed in a variety of stage productions and has collaborated with a wide array of well-known artists including Anthony Hamilton, Dr. Dre, Heavy D, Mobb Deep, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Angie Stone, Usher and many others.
Horace Brown is the only studio album by American contemporary R&B singer Horace Brown. It was released on June 18, 1996, via Motown Records. Recording sessions took place at Giant Recording Studios, Daddy's House Recording Studios, Sony Music Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Platinum Island Studios, Reflections Studio and Unique Recording Studios in New York City, Caribbean Sound Basin in Port of Spain, and DMH Studios in Elmsford. Production was handled by Dave "Jam" Hall, Puff Daddy, Stevie J, Big Bub, Charles Farrar, DeVante Swing, Dr. Ceuss, Kevin Deane, Troy Taylor, and DJ Eddie F, who also served as executive producer together with Andre Harrell and Lewis Tillman. It features a lone guest appearance from Faith Evans.
