| Beanie Sigel | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dwight Grant |
| Born | March 6, 1974 |
| Origin | South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam Records (1998–2009) State Property/[1] (2005/2010–present) |
| Associated acts | Scarface, Freeway, Raekwon, Young Gunz, The Roots, State Property, The Lox, 50 Cent |
Dwight Grant (born on March 6, 1974),[2] also known as Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper[3] from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is in talks with 50 Cent to sign with G-Unit Records[4] and had formed a close association with rappers Jay-Z, Freeway and other former and current artists on the Roc-A-Fella roster. His stage name comes from a street in South Philadelphia, the rapper's former stomping grounds where he worked alongside Senior Durham in the projects. He has sold more than two million albums worldwide.
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The new millennium also saw various Roc artists, including Sigel, engage in a conflict with artists from Ruff Ryders. Beanie was a forerunner of the beef, publicly decrying Jadakiss, the rest of the L.O.X. and DMX. While Sigel and Jadakiss both denied any violent intent, they continued to send shots back and forth until Beanie put out a freestyle over Jada's hit "Put Ya Hands Up".[5] Conversely, Sigel cultivated a friendship with southern rapper Scarface. Having first appeared together on "This Can't Be Life" with Jay-Z from Dynasty, the two would go on to collaborate on Sigel's first two records, Scarface's The Fix, and later on Sigel's 2007 album The Solution. In 2002, Sigel and much of the Roc roster starred in a Dame Dash-produced movie entitled State Property.[6] Its release coincided with the creation and promotion of State Property, a group of artists signed to Roc-A-Fella that hailed from Philadelphia and organized by Sigel and Freeway. Its members included Peedi Crakk, the Young Gunz, Oschino and Omilio Sparks. Their first collaboration was for the movie's soundtrack, an eponymous release that featured the original "Roc the Mic" by Sigel and Freeway.[7] They followed up with 2003's The Chain Gang Vol. 2, featuring the single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" by the Young Gunz; the record was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group.[8]
In 2004, Sigel was found guilty of federal weapons charges and sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison. He finished his 3rd album, The B. Coming, and shot multiple videos, directed by Joe Briscella, before he had to start his sentence. During this time, Jay-Z ascended to the Presidency of Def Jam Records, causing former business partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to split off and form the Dame Dash Music Group. Sigel's B. Coming was released on DDMG and Def Jam rather than Roc-A-Fella, but contained production from a slew of Roc/Jay-Z-affiliated producers including Chad West, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Boola and Buckwild. Artists from both sides of the split were present on the record, from State Property members to Cam'ron and Jay-Z; the record spawned Sigel a hit with "Feel it in the Air," sold 131,000 copies in its first week.[9]
Advertising his friendship with the incarcerated Beanie, Dash publicly claimed the artist was leaving the roster with him; during the sentence, State Property was thrown into turmoil, eventually choosing to remain at Roc-A-Fella—apparently against Sigel's wishes. Upon his release, Beanie called the loyalty of his group into question and stated that he was signing with Dame and Biggs courtesy of a stronger casual relationship with the pair than with Jay-Z:
| “ | I've never been around Jay on an off day. It ain't like I made a choice of running with Dame and Biggs or 'Dame and Biggs held me down through my whole trial.' It's not that. I would be a sucker if I said I [signed with the Damon Dash Music Group] because they did that for me. It's love. You see how we chillin' now, this ain't about no business.[10] | ” |
Soon after, he clarified his comments, saying he simply didn't want to be involved in the conflict and electing to re-open talks with Roc-A-Fella instead of moving to DDMG; rumors also surfaced that he was in talks with G-Unit.[10]
On October 30, 2009, Beanie Sigel abruptly released a track called "What You Talkin' Bout"; using the beat to Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 intro, Sigel appeared bitter and frustrated with his former mentor on the song, making several claims about the way he was treated by both Jay-Z and Dame Dash while he was signed to Roc-A-Fella. Clarifying his stance in an interview given to Philadelphia radio station The Beat, Sigel alleged that Jay-Z and Dash split over financial issues, pointing out several subliminal Jay-Z lines that were meant for his former partner; he also claimed that Jay-Z blocked his sales by never appearing on the rapper's singles, and putting out his own singles and albums at the same times Sigel would try to promote his own records, placing them in competition for record sales, as well as refusing to let him leave Roc-A-Fella to sign with 50 Cent's G-Unit Records.
To sum up his relationship with his former mentor, Beanie recounted an occasion when Jay caused his bail to be denied by refusing to be responsible for his protege's whereabouts, and recently had police and undercover federal agents called in to escort him out of a concert the former Def Jam CEO was performing at. Despite all of this, the rapper claimed there was still love between them, that it was never about money and that all he wants from Jay-Z is a conversation. During the course of the interview, Sigel revealed that his next album would be called The Closure, seeking answers and attempting to provide the closure to his years on Roc-A-Fella Records. On November 3, 2009, Beanie Sigel and 50 Cent confirmed in an interview that he is considering signing Sigel to G-Unit Records. In an interview, Sigel stated that he didn't mind if 50 Cent was only using him as long as he didn't misuse him because he was also using 50 Cent. Beanie said his latest work was going to be "Roc Boys" with Freeway and it consists of 13 song guest appearances include Young Chris, Wale, DMX and other State Property members.[11]
Main Article:Beanie Sigel Discography
| Year | Album | Chart positions | RIAA certifications[12] | Sales[13] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap | ||||
| 2000 | The Truth
|
5 | 2 | * |
Gold |
700,000 |
| 2001 | The Reason
|
5 | 1 | * |
Gold |
585,000 |
| 2005 | The B. Coming
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 431,700 | |
| 2007 | The Solution
|
37 | 7 | 3 | 346,000 | |
| 2009 | The Broad Street Bully
|
77 | 13 | 5 | 34,000 | |
| 2010 | The Roc Boys
|
53 | 23 | |||
| 2010 | The Closure
|
TBR | TBR | TBR | ||
Beanie Sigel first appeared in the documentary "Backstage" but his first main role was in the hood movie "State Property" which spawned a sequel "State Property 2". Sigel released a DVD shortly after his third solo release "The B. Coming" entitled "The B. Coming of Beanie Sigel"in the year of 2005[14]. Sigel also auditioned for the lead role of the 2009 film "Notorious"[15]
| Film | Year |
|---|---|
| Backstage | 2000 |
| Brown Sugar | 2002 |
| State Property | |
| Paper Soldiers | |
| Death of a Dynasty | 2003 |
| Fade to Black | 2004 |
| State Property 2 | 2005 |
| Beef IV | 2007 |
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