Penalty Recordings

Last updated

Penalty
Penalty Entertainment logo.png
Parent company Sony
Founded1995 (1995)
Founder Neil Levine
Distributor(s) Tommy Boy
Genre Hip hop
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York
Official website penaltyent.com

Penalty is an American record label and entertainment company, founded and run by CEO Neil Levine. The company was founded in 1995 as a record label specializing in hip-hop music.

Contents

The original Penalty label was acquired by its distributor, Tommy Boy, in 1999. [1] A second version, Penalty Associated Labels, was operated by Levine in association with Rykodisc from 2002 to 2006. [2] The third and current incarnation was established in 2014.

Artists on Penalty have included Capone-N-Noreaga (as well as both Capone and Noreaga/N.O.R.E. as solo artists), Lord Finesse, Ali Shaheed Muhammed of A Tribe Called Quest, and The Beatnuts, among others.

History

1995–1999

After a career as an independent marketing professional, [3] Neil Levine founded Penalty Recordings, launching it in 1995 as a joint venture between himself and Tom Silverman. [1] Silverman was the founder and original owner of Tommy Boy, a division of Warner Bros. Records which served as Penalty's distributor. In 1996, Silverman re-purchased half of the interest in Tommy Boy, which continued as Penalty's distributor.

Specializing in Hip-Hop music, The initial releases on Penalty included the single "Crime Saga" by Shabazz the Disciple and both the single "Hip 2 Da Game" and the album The Awakening by Lord Finesse. Other early Penalty artists included Crooked Lettaz, Blackjack, Foesum, and the group Capone-N-Noreaga, whose first release on the label was the single "Stick You" in 1996. [4] The Capone-N-Noreaga album The War Report followed in 1997, which reached a peak of #21 on The Billboard 200 album sales chart. [5]

Between 1997 and 1999, Penalty released albums by artists such as Skull Duggery, Crooked Lettaz (David Banner and Kamikaze), Half a Mill, [6] and 187 Fac. [4] It also released the first two solo albums by Noreaga. The first, N.O.R.E., reached a peak of #3 on The Billboard 200 and featured the Top 40 hit "Superthug", one of the earliest hits produced by The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo). [7]

Levine sold the remaining 50% of Penalty to Tommy Boy in 1999, [8] staying on long enough to complete the transition before moving on to eventually become Vice-President of Urban Marketing and Artist Development at TVT Records. [9] The artists on Penalty became Tommy Boy artists following the close of the acquisition. [8]

2002–2006

In 2002, Levine reestablished Penalty in partnership with Rykostar. [2] a company for which Levine would also serve as the general manager of. [3] [6] The re-established label featured J-Live, The Beatnuts, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, MC Eiht, and Zion I among its roster, [4] many of them with their own imprints on Penalty. [10] Three of its key releases during this period between 2002 and 2006 were Milk Me by the Beanuts, Shaheedullah And Stereotypes by Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and The Hear After by J-Live.

Penalty was also one of the partners involved in producing and marketing the AND1 Mixtape Tour series of DVDs, featuring gameplay and interviews of streetball players. [11] The label closed in 2006, when Levine became the head of Imperial Records for EMI Music.

2014–present

On January 21, 2014, Penalty was reactivated as an independent label distributed by RED, in 2014. [12] Among its 1st signings were Penalty alumni Capone-N-Noreaga, who released a new album Lessons , in 2014. The label has also put out releases by Lil' Mo, [13] Joell Ortiz, BeatKing, Hi-Rez and EMC, which includes Masta Ace, Wordsworth and Strick. [12] Penalty released BeatKing's album 3 Weeks on October 30, 2015, [14] with upcoming releases by Statik KXNG (Statik Selektah & KXNG Crooked) [15] and Trina set for release before the end of the year. [16]

Current artists

See also

Related Research Articles

Tommy Boy Records Record label

Tommy Boy Entertainment is an American independent record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digital Underground, Coolio, De La Soul, House of Pain, Naughty By Nature, and Force MDs. Tommy Boy is also credited with introducing genres such as EDM, Latin freestyle, and Latin hip hop to mainstream audiences in America.

Victor Santiago, Jr., better known by his stage names Noreaga and later N.O.R.E., is an American rapper. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), alongside fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. He would also have success as a solo artist with the chart-topping singles "Superthug", "Banned from T.V.", "Nothin'", "Oye Mi Canto" and "Mas Maiz".

Capone-N-Noreaga are an American hip hop duo formed in 1995 from Queens, New York. The duo features East Coast rappers Capone and N.O.R.E.

Good vs. Evil is the third studio album by American rapper KXNG Crooked. The album was released on November 11, 2016 through RBC Records & Entertainment One., marking KXNG Crooked's second release in a year. The album features cameo appearances from notable rappers such as Eminem, RZA, Xzibit, Tech N9ne among other guests.

<i>The Reunion</i> (Capone-N-Noreaga album) 2000 studio album by Capone-N-Noreaga

The Reunion is the second studio album by rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga. It is not as critically acclaimed as their first album, The War Report, but did feature a number of well-received tracks, most notably "Invincible," produced by east coast producer/DJ DJ Premier. Because of a manufacturing error, the album was released with two catalog numbers. The album was certified platinum.

Joell Ortiz American rapper from New York

Joell Christopher Ortiz is an American rapper and a former member of the group Slaughterhouse. 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.

Crooked I American rapper from California

Dominick Antron Wickliffe, better known by his stage names Crooked I and Kxng Crooked, is an American rapper from Long Beach, California. He is best known as a former member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse with other members Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9". He is CEO of his own record labels, Dynasty Entertainment and C.O.B. Digital as well as Senior Vice President of Treacherous Records. Before starting his own label, he was also signed to Virgin Records and Death Row Records.

Crooked Lettaz was an American hip hop duo from Jackson, Mississippi, composed of Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin and Lavell David Banner Crump.

Rotate (song) 2009 single by Capone-N-Noreaga featuring Busta Rhymes and Ron Browz

"Rotate" is a song by American East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga, released as the lead single from their third studio album Channel 10. The song features fellow American rappers Busta Rhymes and Ron Browz and was produced by the latter. It is Capone and Noreaga's first single together in nine years.

Slaughterhouse (group) American hip hop group

Slaughterhouse was an American hip hop supergroup consisting of rappers Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Royce da 5'9". They released two studio albums as a group: Slaughterhouse (2009) independently and Welcome to: Our House (2012) under Shady and Interscope Records.

<i>Channel 10</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Capone-N-Noreaga

Channel 10 is the third studio album by rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga, released on March 17, 2009. It was the duo's first album in nine years.

Termanology American rapper

Daniel Carrillo, better known by his stage name Termanology, is an American rapper and record producer. He first gained major attention with the 2006 single "Watch How It Go Down". A solo album, Politics as Usual, was released in 2008. He has made a number of collaborative albums, such as 1982 and is known also for his prolific mixtape output. He is of Puerto Rican and French descent.

Statik Selektah American record producer and DJ

Patrick Baril, professionally known as Statik Selektah, is an American record producer, disc jockey (DJ) and radio personality originally from the Boston, Massachusetts area. He is also the founder of Showoff Records. In 2010, he formed the hip hop group 1982, alongside American rapper Termanology. He has resided in New York City since 2004.

The discography of N.O.R.E., consists of six studio albums, two compilation albums, five mixtapes and 28 singles.

<i>Lessons</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Capone-N-Noreaga

Lessons is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga. The album was released on July 24, 2015, by Thugged Out Militainment and Penalty Records. The album features guest appearances from fellow American rappers Tragedy Khadafi, Royal Flush, The LOX and Raekwon. The album includes production from American record producers Ayatollah, Jahlil Beats, Large Professor, Scram Jones and Statik Selektah, among others.

Joell Ortiz discography Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of Joell Ortiz, an American rapper, consists of five studio albums, five singles and eight mixtapes.

Neil Levine is an American music industry executive. He is best known as the founder of the hip-hop label Penalty Recordings, and is currently the CEO of its successor company, Penalty Entertainment. Levine helped to launch the careers of artists such as Capone-N-Noreaga, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, and Tha Eastsidaz.

This is the discography for American hip hop musician Crooked I aka KXNG Crooked.

<i>Statik Kxng</i> 2016 studio album by Statik Kxng (Statik Selektah and Kxng Crooked)

Statik Kxng is the eponymous debut studio album by American hip hop duo Statik Kxng, consisting of Statik Selektah and Kxng Crooked. The album was released on February 12, 2016, through Penalty Entertainment and Showoff Records. The album features only one guest appearance from Termanology, who is in the group 1982 with Statik Selektah as well as being signed to Statik's label Showoff Records.

<i>Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse</i> 2022 studio album by Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz

Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz. It was released on March 11, 2022, by Hitmaker Music Group. It features guest appearances by Sly Pyper, Blakk Soul, and Traxx Sanders, and production by The Heatmakerz, DJ Pain 1, and Hesami, among others.

References

  1. 1 2 "Penalty Venture". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 44. November 4, 1995. p. 37.
  2. 1 2 Miller, Louis (August 19, 2002). "The Week". CMJ New Music Report.
  3. 1 2 "NYC Independent Film Festival - Session - music-licensing". NYC Indie Film Festival. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Penalty Recordings". Discogs. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  5. "Capone-N-Noreaga: Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Mitchell, Gail (June 8, 2002). "Rhythm, Rap, and The Blues". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 23. p. 37.
  7. Aaron, Charles (December 1998). "Singles". SPIN. 12 (12).
  8. 1 2 Mitchell, Gail (September 25, 1999). "Tommy Boy Fully Acquires Penalty". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 39. p. 6.
  9. Baraka, Rhonda (June 9, 2001). "Words & Deeds". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 23. p. 25.
  10. Hall, Rashaun (August 14, 2004). "Beats & Rhymes". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 33. p. 37.
  11. Hall, Rashaun (March 13, 2004). "Beats & Rhymes". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 11. p. 36.
  12. 1 2 "Penalty Recordings Is Relaunching". XXL. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  13. "Penalty Entertainment". Discogs. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  14. Hernandez, Victoria (October 30, 2015). "BeatKing "3 Weeks" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, iTunes Purchase Link & Album Stream". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  15. Balfour, Jay (February 8, 2015). "KXNG CROOKED & Statik Selektah Announce "Statik KXNG" Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  16. Kyle, Yohance (March 9, 2015). "Trina Signs Imprint Deal With Penalty Entertainment, Set To Release New Album". All Hip-Hop. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  17. "Capone-N-Noreaga Rejoins Penalty Entertainment". XXL. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  18. "Joell Ortiz Is Releasing A New Album". XXL. Retrieved March 11, 2015.