| Rap-a-Lot Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | James Prince |
| Distributor(s) | Fontana Distribution |
| Genre | Hip hop, Southern rap |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Official Website | www.rapalotrecords.com |
Rap-a-Lot Records is a Houston hip hop record label. Rap-a-Lot was created in 1986. Sublabels include Smoke-a-Lot Records. The label was founded by James Prince in the mid-1980s and, with its most famous act the Geto Boys, put the South on the hip hop map. Since then, it has maintained its success and focus on gangsta and southern rap. It was distributed through the 1990s by the EMI labels Priority Records (1991–1994) and Virgin Records (1994–2000). During the 2000s, it was distributed by WEA's Asylum Records. It was referenced by the Notorious B.I.G. on the song "Flava in Ya Ear (remix)" when he said, "I'm not from Houston, but I Rap-a-Lot." At the end of the Devin the Dude song "What a Job" featuring Snoop Dogg, Snoop congratulates the record company by saying, "J. Prince, Jas Prince, Rap-a-Lot, still on top, 2007." Geto Boys were the labels first nationally popular act, while Devin the Dude, whom The New York Times called "a brilliant oddball with a spaced-out flow."[1], and whose contract ended in 2008, was, for 15 years, the label's longest-running act.
J. Prince Jr., the son of J. Prince, has a label distributed by Rap-a-Lot called Southern Empire Entertainment.[2]
J. Prince's younger son Jas Prince also was responsible for discovering Young Money/Ca$h Money/Universal Records recording artist Drake" and holds the artist in a Rap-a-Lot management contract.
Drake is also part of the Rap-A-Lot family as J.Prince himself confirmed saying "Let's Welcome Drake, the newest member of the family". But he is not signed as an artist.
On May 18, 2010, Rap-a-Lot Records announced that it recently signed a distribution deal with Fontana Distribution.
2 Bad Brothers Geto Boys "Car Freaks"
Z-RO "Meth"