NEW YORK — Contrary to online rumors, Def Jam has not dropped the entire Roc-A-Fella Records roster. Roc-A-Fella artists include Kanye West, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Tru Life, DJ Clue, Memphis Bleek, Young Gunz and Hector Bambino.
“Beans and Freeway didn’t get dropped,” said Beanie Sigel’s manager, Mark Byers. “I just got off the phone with L.A. Reid talking about the next video for ‘Rain’ featuring Raheem DeVaughn that we’re about to release. We’re re-launching Beanie’s project and releasing a ‘Rain’ remix with State Property.”
Roc-A-Fella’s cohesiveness and brand strength waned after its leaders Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem Burke parted ways in 2004. Since then, Roc-A-Fella artists haven’t received the same attention as Def Jam stars like Ne-Yo and Rihanna, says an insider.
Jay-Z’s inner camp, including A&R senior vp Jay Brown and A&R vp Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, tendered their resignations this month. However, the rest of Def Jam’s A&R department is intact. Still, things are tenuous for hip-hop at the company.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a Roc-A-Fella anymore,” the insider said. “I do think each artist will have to go to the new people in charge and have a meeting separately. But the Roc artists aren’t going to roll over and die.”
Sources say that it’s unclear whether Roc-A-Fella artist Peedi Peedi has been dropped but the word is that he hasn’t. Meanwhile, the entire State Property camp, including Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Oschino and Sparks, the Young Gunz and Peedi Peedi, are preparing a new group album to be released in the summer. The State Property album will most likely be released via Def Jam.
Def Jam was unavailable for comment.
