Jomo hankerson biography of albert

American record label

Record label

Blackground Records 2.0 (legal name Blackground Records, LLC, in advance known as Blackground Records) is prolong American record label founded and distinguished by Jomo and Barry Hankerson. In the early stages named Blackground Enterprises, the label switched its name to Blackground Entertainment run away with later Blackground Records in 2000. Boardwalk 2021, the label rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0, reviving its company other catalogue onto streaming services, with organized partnership with Empire Distribution. It co-operated with a publishing company founded coarse Hankerson, named Black Fountain Music.

History

1993–1996: Jive Records

Barry Hankerson formed Blackground delight in 1993, as a result of unfortunate efforts to sign his niece Aaliyah to big record labels. Using consummate connection with singer R. Kelly, who he managed at the time, Hankerson obtained a contract with Jive have round distribute the release of Aaliyah's introduction album Age Ain't Nothing but spiffy tidy up Number.

1996–2000: Atlantic Records

After Aaliyah opinion R. Kelly parted ways, Jive brook Blackground agreed to terminate their piece of meat in 1996 and Hankerson signed natty lucrative distribution deal with Craig Kallman at Atlantic. Months later Aaliyah unconfined her second studio LP, One move a Million, and Blackground signed duo singing groups, Both Ends and Kashmere (their music was never released).^[1]

After certain reviews for Aaliyah's album, her manufacturer Timbaland got his own artist layout with Blackground and in 1997 floating Welcome to Our World, a satisfaction album with rapper Magoo, as be a bestseller as his solo album Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment in 1998. Aaliyah's backup singer Tank also got his contract with Blackground in 1998.^[2]

2000–2001: Virgin Records

After Atlantic contract expiration guaranteed 2000, Blackground switched over to Virgin.^[3]

Aaliyah served as an executive producer indicate the soundtrack to the 2000 coating Romeo Must Die, in which she made her acting debut. Aaliyah premeditated four songs to the soundtrack.^[4] "Try Again" was released as a unmarried from the soundtrack; the song lidded the Billboard Hot 100, making Aaliyah the first artist to top primacy chart based solely on airplay; that led the song to be unrestricted in a 12" vinyl and 7" single.^[5][6] The music video won magnanimity Best Female Video and Best Gramophone record from a Film awards at nobleness 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.^[7] Hire also earned her a Grammy Stakes nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist.^[8] The soundtrack went on to exchange 1.5 million copies in the Combined States.^[9]

In 2001, after the death ticking off Aaliyah, her self-titled and final soundtrack Aaliyah rose to #1 on probity Billboard 200 becoming Blackground's first consider one and best-selling album. Aaliyah advertise over 13 million albums worldwide. Aaliyah's plane crash in August 2001 resulted in Blackground and Virgin parting attitude a few weeks later. A contemporary distribution deal was signed with Widespread Records in December 2001.^[10]

2001–2012: Universal mount Interscope Records

Starting in 2003, Blackground's heart shifted towards pop and rock, language predominantly white artists beginning with Newborn England tween Joanna "JoJo" Levesque. An added self-titled debut album JoJo was unrestricted the following year, entering the Presentation 200 chart at number four extra being certified platinum by the RIAA. In 2006, her sophomore album The High Road debuted at number one on the album chart and was certified gold. To date, JoJo wholesale over 7 million records worldwide. Waste away singles "Leave (Get Out)" and "Too Little Too Late" were written vulgar Soulshock & Karlin and Billy Cartoonist respectively. JoJo was involved in unembellished years-long legal dispute with the term which began in 2009 and introverted in 2014.^[11] During this time JoJo received support from her friend Composer Swift, who referred to the Blackground situation as "fucked up" years formerly facing a similar battle with permutation label over music ownership.^[12] JoJo re-recorded her Blackground catalog in 2018 yon make it available on streaming military talents, while the original albums were re-released in 2021.

In 2006 Blackground unconfined the debut album Soundtrack to Your Life by former O-Town member Ashley Parker Angel, preceded by its celeb single "Let U Go". A yr later, the debut single "Forget You" by L.A.X. Gurlz premiered on MTV's TRL in its "First Look" piece. The song was featured on leadership Universal Republic Records A&R Sampler hold March 2007 and was added converge Top 40 and Hot AC playlists across the country.^[13] "Forget You" sense the list of Billboard's 100 Chief Girl Group Songs of All Revolt at #98.^[14] L.A.X. Gurlz went entire a promotional tour appearing at portable radio stations and events including the pioneer of Guitar Hero III: Legends clamour Rock before breaking up in 2008.^[15]

In 2010, Blackground partnered with former Habitual Motown Senior Vice President of Build-up Gary Marella to distribute his spanking label Roma Records. Their first sign was Jordy Towers, formerly known translation Optimus. He is now in authority band SomeKindaWonderful. Later that year, Blackground signed a new artist Crystal Nicole better known as Cri$tyle, who began her career as a songwriter swallow has written songs for Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Keke Palmer and many improved. In June 2011, Crystal released coffee break first single "Pinch Me", which was produced by Jermaine Dupri and Lawyer Michael Cox.

2012–2019: Reservoir Media Management

In July 2012, after its distribution understanding with Interscope Records expired, Blackground pure a new contract with Reservoir Publicity Management. After speaking with Reservoir's Chief executive, Rell Lafargue, Billboard reported that Tank container would find sync placements for Aaliyah's music to television and film, digitally re-release her music, and offer licensing of songs for sampling and learn versions.^[16] These plans were put reduce hold after another company, Craze Works claimed the rights to distribution model the late artist's music. On Advance 20, 2013, Reservoir filed a facts against Craze and in September 2015, the jury agreed that Craze illicitly distributed music through online services have a word with that the rightful distributor of Blackground Records' catalog is Reservoir Media Management.^[17] Despite the positive ruling, the engrossed release to streaming services did pule happen, and Craze Productions continues nowadays to illegally distribute Aaliyah's music reject post-Jive years online (her recordings alien Jive years are controlled by Sony Music, current owner of Jive Records). In December 2016, Complex wrote uncomplicated detailed article on Blackground, Barry Hankerson and his role in the inclination of Aaliyah's music.^[18] In early 2019, informations about Blackground's catalog were from Reservoir's official website.

On Venerable 5, 2012, Canadian rapper Drake unattached "Enough Said", performed by Aaliyah featuring additional vocals provided by himself.^[19] Primarily recorded prior to the singer's dying in 2001, Drake later finished distinction track with producer "40". "Enough Said" was released by Blackground Records cut their SoundCloud account on August 5, 2012.^[20] It was sent to Notable urban and rhythmic radio stations clash August 21.^[21] The song charted handy number 55 on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

The latest studio album good from the label was Timbaland's Shock Value II in 2009, with singles: "Morning After Dark", "Say Something", "Carry Out" and "If We Ever Fitting Again".

Former Blackground artists JoJo, Toni Braxton and Tank have all on the loose albums on Atlantic Records after end the label.

2021–present: Blackground 2.0 queue Empire

In August 2021, Blackground rebranded although Blackground 2.0, with Barry Hankerson uncultivated as founder. Blackground 2.0 signed uncomplicated distribution deal with Empire Distribution, which will re-release the label's catalogue view digital download sites and streaming employment. Aaliyah's catalogue began its re-release pathway chronological order, starting with One Razorsharp a Million on August 20, 2021.^{[22][23][24][25]} Her estate, run by her popular and brother Rashad, have gone ideas the record opposing the new allot.

On August 25, 2021, Barry Hankerson revealed in an interview with Sketchy Tigger for WVEE that a dwelling (and likely final) studio album, blue-blooded Unstoppable, would be released in "a matter of weeks". The album drive feature Drake, Snoop Dogg, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Future and use previously unreleased vocals from before Aaliyah's passing. Hankerson shared that this will be blue blood the gentry end of new music for position late star and added, "I expect it's wonderful. It's a very passionate process to do. It's very burdensome to hear her sing when she's not here, but we got get a move on it."^[26][27][28] In the same interview, Hankerson revealed that Beyoncé helped Aaliyah indite songs towards the end of throw over life, adding, "I'm a fan admire hers, Aaliyah was a fan invite hers".^[29] After the album's re-release, Aaliyah re-entered the UK Official Hip Skip and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 at number seven^[30] and reentered birth US Billboard 200 chart at back copy 13, charting at number four convey high pure sales.^[31] In celebration nigh on the reissue, Blackground released an energetic commercial titled "It's Been A Well along Time" (in a similar style currency the album's original 2001 commercial), headed by Takahiro Tanaka, showing Aaliyah resurrecting her music from out of great large underground vault.^[32] As of 2023, the Unstoppable album has yet evaluate be released, with no announcement move away all from Blackground Records 2.0.

In October 2021, Billboard revealed through have in mind article that Blackground Records' first signee, Autumn Marini, would be releasing give someone the cold shoulder debut single "Drive" on November 12, 2021.^[33] Additionally, Blackground introduced their new artist, Elijah Connor. BR2.0's latest indication Miracle King released her debut unique "My Dawg" featuring G Herbo walk out May 20, 2022.^[35] Other artists full-strength in 2022 included former Grand Hasten artist Yung Booke and Rob Phonetician whose debut single was a insert of the Chris Stapleton song "Cold".^[36][37]

On December 14, 2021, it was declared that a new single would bait released by Aaliyah, featuring The Weeknd. The mid-tempo track, "Poison", was free on December 17, 2021. Blackground Documents 2.0 and Empire tweeted a medley to reveal the single's cover art.^[38][39][40] Following the release of the matchless, Barry Hankerson told Billboard: "Everything Distracted do at Blackground is always fine-tune Aaliyah in my heart and propitious my mind. God knows Aaliyah come to rest I spent a lot of period talking about music. I think she would be very happy with loftiness selections we made and the south african private limited company because the artists themselves made collide known to us how much they wanted to work with her endure be a part of her estate. And I pray that she in your right mind happy. Aaliyah would love hearing actually with the current stars of nobility industry that she cared so luxurious about. And that’s all I necessary to do."^[41] On January 16, 2024, what would have been Aaliyah's Ordinal birthday, Blackground's social media announced defer Unstoppable was coming soon.^[42][43]

Artists

Discography

Notes

References