Arista Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously a division of BMG Entertainment, the North American division of German conglomerate Bertelsmann. Founded in November 1974 by Clive Davis and deactivated in 2011, Arista was re-stablished in 2018. Along with Epic Records, RCA Records, and Columbia Records, it is one of Sony Music's four flagship record labels.
Bad Boy Records is an American record label founded in 1993 by rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs.
Monica Denise Arnold is an American singer, rapper and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, she began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir at the age of ten. Monica rose to prominence after she signed with Rowdy Records in 1993 and released her debut album Miss Thang two years later. She followed it with a series of successful albums, including her highest-selling album The Boy Is Mine (1998) as well as the number-one albums After the Storm (2003), The Makings of Me (2006) and Still Standing (2010).
Volcano Entertainment is an American all-round music record label founded in 1996 which released albums by Tool, 311, Size 14, Survivor and "Weird Al" Yankovic. The Volcano Records catalog is owned by RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.
So So Def Recordings is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and owned by producer Jermaine Dupri, specializing in Southern hip hop, R&B and bass music. So So Def has managed artists such as Bow Wow, Kris Kross, Xscape (group), TLC, and Usher.
Dallas L. Austin is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He is the founder and served as co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of Epic Records and The Island Def Jam Music Group, as well as the president and CEO of Arista Records.
Full Surface is a record label founded in 2001, by American hip hop recording artist and record producer Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean. With the help of his protégé, Cassidy, who was the 1st artist signed, the label was established. The label used to operate through Sony's J and through Universal's Interscope, Motown and Universal Motown. However, the label also had released material through joint ventures with other companies outside the Sony BMG group. It operates as a subsidiary of Warner and is distributed by Atlantic.
Miss Thang is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy Records and distributed through the Arista label on July 18, 1995, in the United States. Recorded throughout her early teenage years, the album was conceived under the guidance of Rowdy head Dallas Austin who would emerge as a tutor and father figure to Monica and serve as Miss Thang's sole executive producer. Austin recruited protégés from his DARP production camp such as Tim & Bob, Arnold Hennings, and Colin Wolfe as well as Daryl Simmons, and Soulshock & Karlin to work on the album. It incorporates a wide range of contemporary genres such as soul, pop, hip hop and blues.
Da BackWudz, also known by the name Labratz, was a rap duo from Decatur, Georgia consisting of Marcus "Big Marc" Thomas and James "Sho Nuff" Redding. The duo released one album, Wood Work, in 2006 and the album reached the position of 94 on the Billboard 200. They were signed to Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records and they released their first single, "You Gonna Luv Me", in 2004. Da BackWudz has performed in multiple tours, including BET's 2005 Black College Tour and MTV's Sucker Free Sunday Tour. Thomas and Redding later renamed themselves Labratz, joined together with Heavy Slim and G Wiz, and released one album, Atlantis Rising, before disbanding.
Roger McNair, known professionally as Rampage, is an American rapper who is a member of the Flipmode Squad. He is a long-time collaborator with his cousin Busta Rhymes.
The Untold Truth is the only studio album by American rap duo Illegal, composed of rappers Jamal and Mr. Malik. It was released on August 24, 1993 through Rowdy Records with distribution via Arista Records. Recording sessions took place from late Fall 1992 to mid-Summer 1993 at D.A.R.P. Studios in Atlanta, at Soundtrack Studios in New York City and at BMV Digital Studios in Newark. Production was handled by nine record producers, including Dallas Austin, Diamond D, Erick Sermon, Biz Markie and Lord Finesse.
Wood Work is the only studio album by Decatur-based Southern hip hop duo Da BackWudz. It was released on April 18, 2006 via Rowdy Records. Production was handled by Milwaukee Black and Dallas Austin, both also served as executive producers, as well as Aleem Hood, Chris "Hammy" Norman, DJ Toomp, Mr. DJ, Organized Noize, and The Execs. It features guest appearances from Aleem Hood, BIg Gipp, Bo Hagon, Bud, Caz Clay, George Clinton, Jasper Cameron, Jeff B, Killer Mike, Milwaukee Black, Nas, Sleepy Brown and Slim Thug.
"Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written by Dallas Austin, Willie James Baker, and Derrick Simmons for her debut album, Miss Thang (1995), while production was helmed by the former. The song is built around samples of "Bring the Noise" (1987) by American hip hop group Public Enemy, and "Back Seat (Of My Jeep)" (1993) by American rapper LL Cool J, which itself samples elements from the song "You're Gettin' a Little Too Smart" (1973) by R&B vocal group The Detroit Emeralds. Due to the inclusion of the samples, several other writers are credited as songwriters.
Freeworld Entertainment was a record label formed in 1997 by Dallas Austin and Kevin Czinger.
Van Full of Pakistans is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Y'all So Stupid. It was released on May 25, 1993 via Rowdy Records. Recording sessions took place at DARP Studios, Doppler Studios and Bosstown Recording Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled mostly by member Spearhead X, who plays the narrating prank caller on every skit, Da King & I, Sylvan Sargeant, co-producers The Soul Merchants, with Dallas Austin serving as executive producer.
Yall So Stupid was an American alternative hip hop group based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was formed by H2O, Unkle Buk, Sha Boogie, Spearhead X and Logic in 1991. After performing extensively in Atlanta's underground circuit, the group was signed by Dallas Austin & L.A. Reid to Rowdy Records in 1992. Their debut album, Van Full of Pakistans, was released on May 25, 1993.
Andrea Latrelle Simmons, better known simply as Latrelle and later as MzMunchie, is an American singer.
LaFace Records was an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated as a unit of Sony Music Entertainment from 2008 to 2011 and was historically a part of Bertelsmann Music Group from 1989 to 2004. It was most active and achieved its greatest commercial success during the 1990s, dealing largely in the field of urban music. It was originally distributed by its co-creator Arista Records from 1989 through 2001, after which it was shuttered and absorbed into Arista. In 2004, the label was rebooted, and it began operating through Jive Records until both were absorbed into RCA Records in 2011. Today, the label's back catalog and reissues are managed by Legacy Recordings.
