Record Label
Founded by [James](https://www.discogs.com/artist/176613-James-Smith) "[[artist:207034]]" [Smith](https://www.discogs.com/artist/176613-James-Smith) and [[artist:192153]] in 1986, Rap-A-Lot Records is a hip-hop and R&B music label, headquartered in Smith's hometown of Houston, Texas. Upon foundation and local notoriety, it soon became a prominent independent hip-hop label in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. In 1987, the label initiated a distribution deal with [[label:Def Jam Recordings]], but former parent company [[label:Sony Music]] rejected the idea. It then received its first signage, a Houston-based gangsta rap group, the [[artist:Geto Boys]], put together by the label's co-founder, J. Prince. In 1989, Rap-A-Lot negotiated a deal with [[artist:Rick Rubin]]'s [[label:American Recordings]] (formerly [[label:Def American Recordings]]) to release the group's sophomore studio album, but [[label:Geffen Records]] (whose parent company at the time, [[label:Warner Bros. Records]]; now [[label:Warner Records]]) rejected the proposed negotiation, due to the album's lyrical nature and violent content. Warner eventually awarded Rap-A-Lot with a distribution deal with the aptly-titled *[Grip It! On that Other Level](https://discogs.com/master/125838)* eventually going platinum in ten months. A make-or-break moment for the label, Smith was on the verge of giving up from the industry and leaving Rap-A-Lot defunct until he learned of the album's success. In 1991, the label signed with [[label:Priority Records]] to manufacture and distribute its music. Three years later, Rap-A-Lot then switched over to [[label:Noo Trybe Records]] (which was a subsidiary of [[label:Virgin Records America, Inc.]]) for distribution as a result of parent company [[label:EMI]]'s changes following its acquisition of Priority. Many of the label's classic albums released under Priority were re-issued through Noo Trybe in 1995. Also, in 1995, Cliff Blodget parted ways with Rap-A-Lot Records at the height of its success. At the same time, they expanded to a West Coast hip-hop audience with the formation of [[label:Rap-A-Lot Records West]]. In 1994, an R&B division was set up under Rap-A-Lot called [[label:Sing-A-Lot Records]]; later dissolved in 2000. Upon signing with the label in 1996, rapper [[artist:Yukmouth]] formed a joint venture label with Rap-A-Lot called [[label:Smoke-A-Lot Records]]. In 1998, with Noo Trybe preparing for its closure, Virgin Records became the main parent label for Rap-A-Lot until 2004, due to yet another restructuring at parent company EMI; Virgin Records America would eventually be folded into sister label [[label:Capitol Records]]. In January 1999, Rap-A-Lot formed the [[label:Rap-A-Lot 2K]] millennium sublabel to prepare for the year 2000. The sublabel dissolved in December 2001. In January 2002, Rap-A-Lot Records began releasing music under the subtitle, [[label:Rap-A-Lot 4 Life]], and a 2000s relaunch called [[label:Rap-A-Lot Resurrection]], strategizing its resurgence in the new generation of music. In 2003, the label was on the verge of launching a distribution platform ([[label:Rap-A-Lot Distribution, Inc.]]) with [[label:Death Row Records]] co-founder [[artist:Suge Knight]] and [[label:Murder Inc Records]] co-CEO [[artist:Irv Gotti]] (1970-2025). However, a federal investigation caused plans for the platform to be scrapped immediately. In February 2004, [[label:Asylum Records]] became a distributing label for Rap-A-Lot Records. Two years later, Asylum was organized into [[label:Warner Music Group]]'s [[label:Independent Label Group]] (later [[label:Alternative Distribution Alliance]]). Then, in 2008, the label joined [[label:Fontana Distribution]] for future releases. Five years later, Rap-A-Lot signed another distribution deal with Sony's [[label:RED Music (4)]]; in 2017, Sony merged RED with [[label:The Orchard]]. As of 2018, Rap-A-Lot releases are now under the distributive control of [[label:SoSouth]]. The label, still under leadership of J. Prince, is also under management of [[label:Mob Ties]] (run by J. Prince's son, J. Prince, Jr).