Block Starz Music

Block Starz Music
Founded 2008
Founder Bayer Mack
Kai Denninger
Distributor(s) Select-O-Hits
Genre Various
Country of origin US
Location Louisville, Kentucky
Sarasota, Florida
Official website www.blockstarztv.com

Block Starz Music is an American independent record label owned and operated by award-nominated writer, record executive, and film producer Bayer Mack.[1] Its catalog includes independent releases by Machine Gun Kelly, Lega-C, Wiz Khalifa, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Big Sean, Rhymefest and Ceddy Bu Rap Sumo. [2] The label formed the independent film and television production company Block Starz Music Television in 2013.[3]

History

2008–2009: Early years

Block Starz Music began as a promoter of free online mixtapes by recording artists signed to other labels before developing its regionally themed compilation series as a way to attract and market its own talent. Block Starz Music's first official mixtape, Suburban Empire by ex-VH1 reality show star John Brown, was released in early 2009. An alumnus of Ego Trip’s The White Rapper Show, XXL Magazine put Brown "in the same category as Weird Al Yankovic" and lampooned the project.[4] The first Block Starz compilation, West Coast Block Starz, was released in early February 2009 and featured various independent artists and guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, E-40, Keak da Sneak, and Daz Dillinger. While well received by reviewers,[5][6] the effort was a commercial disappointment.

East Coast Block Starz cover art


In the summer of 2009, Block Starz partnered with Atlanta-based D-Lo Entertainment to release Certified, the debut mixtape from future Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta cast member Rasheeda.[7][8][9] The company would go on to have more success with the mixtape release What's High? by a nineteen-year-old Jewish rapper from Youngstown, OH named Throwback,[10] who at the time had the same manager as a then unsigned Wiz Khalifa. Block Starz Music quickly signed Throwback, who had recorded two songs with Khalifa, as its first official artist and began work on East Coast Block Starz in the fall of 2009.[11] Released on December 29 with the song "Was It" by Throwback featuring Wiz Khalifa as the lead single, East Coast Block Starz received generally favorable reviews,[12] though critics noted it had a decidedly more commercial slant than its predecessor.[13] In addition to "Was It", which benefited from the growing popularity of Wiz Khalifa, Boston native Supastar LT's collaboration, "I Love My City", with Kardinal Offishall and Red Cafe also became a popular-selling download from the project.

2010–2011: Rise of the brand

As part of a grassroots marketing effort to promote its brand and scout new talent, Block Starz began co-sponsoring regional music awards, beginning in February 2010 with the 4th Annual Pittsburgh Hip-Hop Awards[14] and later with the 3rd Annual South Carolina Music Awards held on July 10, 2010.[15] It was also during this time that the label came across a young, unsigned Cleveland, Ohio artist named Machine Gun Kelly, who had won "Best Performer" at the Ohio Hip-Hop Awards in 2009, and signed an agreement to release the rapper's single "Alice In Wonderland" as part of its upcoming Midwest Block Starz compilation.

On March 5 of 2010, Block Starz announced that Grammy Award winner Rhymefest had signed on to the Midwest Block Starz project,[16] which by then already featured appearances by rappers Twista, Shawnna, and newcomer Big Sean.[17] Released on May 26, the compilation spawned a minor hit with Rhymefest's radio-friendly "Say Wassup" featuring Phonte of Little Brother, but "Alice In Wonderland" would go on to become the company's best-selling single to date, with the music video winning "Best Video" at the 2010 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards.[18]

Block Starz Music signed Topeka, Kansas rapper Mike Schpitz after his appearance on Midwest Block Starz and released his 11-track EP debut, Stanley Ipkiss: Year of the Nice Guy on August 3, 2010.[19] Inspired by Jim Carrey's character from the 1994 box office smash The Mask, critical response to project was mixed,[20] but the EP debuted in Amazon.com's Top 20 new Hip-Hop releases and Top 50 new Alternative releases in Germany, becoming the label's best-selling solo release to date.[21]

In April 2011, it was widely reported that Jay-Z had outbid executives at Universal Records and Jive Records to acquire Block Starz Music.[22][23][24]

Lega-C and Machine Gun Kelly

On September 1, 2011 the label announced the signing of Tulsa, Oklahoma rapper/singer/producer Lega-C,[25] whose viral YouTube video, "White Girl Raps Fast", would go on to generate millions of views at various popular music and entertainment websites online.[26][27][28][29] Seeking to capitalize off Lega-C's growing YouTube popularity, Block Starz Music announced the release of a video mixtape titled "Who Got Tha Heater" featuring eight freestyle remixes of popular singles by artists like Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Drake, Kanye West, and two original songs.[30][31] On December 5, 2011, in a statement released through her label, Lega-C confirmed the existence of a pornographic home video and pictures taken by an ex-boyfriend years earlier.[32]

On November 29, 2011, Block Starz Music released "Macho Man" by Delwin Tha Krazyman, which featured the national debut of 650-pound Plaquemine, Louisiana rapper Ceddy Bu Rap Sumo. Ceddybu also collaborated with Lega-C for track "Don't F Around" featured on the CD version of the female rapper's major indie debut Off My Medication.[33][34]

2012: Left Eye, "Bath Salts", Off My Medication

On February 9, 2012, Block Starz signed 16-year-old Auburn, New York rapper and Floyd Mayweather Jr protégé Cameron Sanders, aka Young Siege, and announced plans to feature him on East Coast Block Starz 2. [35] On February 22, 2012, the label signed Bootleg of Flint, Michigan rap group The Dayton Family and unveiled the rapper’s previously unreleased collaboration with Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC to commemorate the upcoming tenth anniversary of the pop star’s death on April 25, 2002. Recorded a few months before her death, Left Eye‘s verse on the song “Fantasies” is the only 16-bar feature she ever recorded with another rapper.[36][37][38][39][40][41]

Off My Medication cover art


Block Starz Music's newly signed satirical comedy rapper, Dickward Codgers, made national headlines in August 2012 with the release of his controversial music video, “Bath Salts”, which featured what label executives deemed to be excessive drug references and graphic depictions of violence and was the company's first to carry an official disclaimer.[42]

Lega-C's debut album on Block Starz Music, titled Off My Medication, was released October 31, 2012.[43] The first music video from Off My Medication, "That Bitch", debuted online October 22 as a street release to the official radio single, "Speaking Sublimely", which features Wrekonize of Strange Music’s acclaimed rap/rock band ¡Mayday!.[44][45] Reviews for the album have been positive, with critics declaring, "the Tulsa Twista is more than a one trick pony" and the release as "a collection of defiant grit anthems that exhibit how Lega-C continues to prove that looks can be deceiving". The album's sound has been praised as, "real rap; kinda West-Coastish from the late 90's but definitely 2012. Hard beats and a sleek, clean lyrical flow." [46][47][48] One day after the digital release of Off My Medication, it was announced that a CD version of the album would be distributed nationally by Select-O-Hits.[49][50]

Waffle House® Controversy

J.R. Bricks

Less than a week after the July 20, 2011 digital release of “Waffle House”, the debut single from newly signed Block Starz Music recording artist J.R. Bricks, legal counsel for WH Capital, LLC and Waffle House, Inc., owner and licensee of the Waffle House® trademarks respectively, issued a cease and desist letter to the label claiming improper and unauthorized usage.[51][52][53] In response, Block Starz Music changed the song's title to “After the Club”. This sparked cries of racism by some in the online Hip-Hop community who saw the southern restaurant chain's move as an effort to distance itself from its, predominately black and Latino, early morning weekend customers.[54] In a statement to Billboard Magazine, a Waffle House spokesperson denied claims of racial or cultural discrimination saying, "We embrace all cultures within Waffle House. All you have to do is come eat with us and you see that."[55]

Removal of CEO

On December 24, 2012, the label announced that its German chief executive officer, Kai Denninger, would no longer be with the company and that the label's founder and president, Bayer Mack, would take over Denninger's duties, effective immediately.[56]

“Kai Denninger will no longer be with the company,” Mack said in a brief statement posted to his personal LinkedIn profile on Christmas Eve. “Kai was instrumental in helping us build the Block Starz Music brand. He will be greatly missed and we wish him nothing but the best in all his future endeavors.”[57]

Block Starz Music Television

Origins

Block Starz Music Television LLC is an American independent film and television company based in Sarasota, Florida. The studio is best known for its documentary film The Czar of Black Hollywood,[58] as well as its leadership in developing and distributing online video and original web series. Block Starz Music Television was founded by independent record executive and filmmaker Bayer L. Mack as The BlockStarz.Tv Network in 2013 and organized as Block Starz Music Television LLC in 2014.

Ceddy Bu Da Rap Sumo (right) with Shaquille O'Neal, Delwin tha Krazyman


In February 2013, after arranging for Block Starz Music artist Ceddy Bu Da Rap Sumo to appear on the TruTV comedy series Upload with Shaquille O'Neal,[59] the label announced the formation of the spinoff company The BlockStarz.Tv Network to produce an original web series around Ceddy Bu and other recording artists on the label's roster.[60] On January 3, 2014, it was reported that Ceddy Bu (born Cedrick Smith) was killed when a car he was a passenger in ran off the road and flipped.[61][62]

This Is Dante

On May 8, 2013, Block Starz Music Television co-produced “This Is Dante”, a half-hour comedy web series that followed the misadventures of Bronx, NY native Dante Hillmedo (Andrew Hillmedo Jr.), an American actor, who most notably appeared in 2008's major motion picture Baby Mama starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and his struggles to launch a rap career.[63][64][65]

Oscar Micheaux: The Czar of Black Hollywood

Poster for the 2014 documentary film Oscar Micheaux: The Czar of Black Hollywood

The Czar of Black Hollywood is an award-nominated 2014 documentary film chronicling the early life and career of African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951). Block Starz Music founder Bayer L. Mack conceived, wrote and produced the film about Micheaux using Library of Congress archived footage, photos, illustrations and vintage music. An eight-minute trailer premiered online March 31, 2014.[66]

The documentary is narrated by William Bell, features an original score by Nicholas Jones and art direction by Julie Anderson.[67]

On February 13, The Czar of Black Hollywood was announced by American radio host Tom Joyner on his nationally syndicated program, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, as part of its "Little Known Black History Fact" on Oscar Micheaux.[68]

In an April 2014 interview with The Washington Times, Block Starz Music founder Bayer L. Mack said that he read the 2007 biography Oscar Micheaux: The Great and Only by Patrick McGilligan and was inspired to produce The Czar of Black Hollywood because Micheaux's life mirrored his own.[69][70] In a June 2014 interview with The Huffington Post, Mack said he was shocked there "was virtually nothing out there about Micheaux's life" in spite of his historical significance.[71]

The film's executive producer, Frances Presley Rice, told the Sun Sentinel that Micheaux was the first "indie movie producer."[72]

Oscar Micheaux: The Czar of Black Hollywood had its official premiere on September 27, 2014 at the 99th Annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History Convention in Memphis, TN[73] and received a Best Independent Documentary nomination from The Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) at the 2015 Black Reel Awards.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5679045/
  2. ↑ "Block Starz Music Llc". blockstarzmusic.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.radiofacts.com/block-starz-music-is-first-record-label-to-launch-online-tv-network/
  4. ↑ "John Brown: Suburban Empire". Xxlmag.Com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Yo! Raps Magazine | REVIEWS: West Coast Block Starz". yoraps.com. February 19, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  6. ↑ "various artists :: West Coast Block Starz :: Block Starz Music". Rapreviews.com. March 17, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  7. ↑ http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/atlantas-boss-chick-rasheeda
  8. ↑ http://globalgrind.com/2009/07/27/rasheeda-amp-block-starz-released-official-mixtape/
  9. ↑ http://www.blog.thehypemagazine.com/2009/08/rasheeda-unveils-tracklisting-for-block.html
  10. ↑ "> Unsigned Bands: Throwback". Hightimes.Com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  11. ↑ Hatfield, Quinton (December 28, 2009). "Block Starz Music Releases Second Album In Coastal Series | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  12. ↑ Gibson, Luke (January 21, 2010). "Various Artists – East Coast Block Starz | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHop DX. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  13. ↑ "various artists :: East Coast Block Starz :: Block Starz Music". Rapreviews.com. January 12, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  14. ↑ Mervis, Scott (February 4, 2010). "X-Clan reunion highlights hip-hop awards". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  15. ↑ "2010 Video Nominees". Scmusicawards.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  16. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin (March 5, 2010). "DX News Bits: Block Starz Music, Kurupt, Lil Wayne | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  17. ↑ "various artists :: Midwest Block Starz :: Block Starz Music". Rapreviews.com. May 25, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Account Suspended". Mannywallace.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Stanley Ipkiss: Year Of The Nice Guy EP". Chicago.thedelimagazine.com. July 6, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Stanley Ipkiss: Year of the Nice Guy". Shakefire.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Yo! Raps Magazine | NEXT 2 BLOW: Mike Schpitz Likes Being A White Rapper". yoraps.com. September 27, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  22. ↑ The Hollywood Reporter http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nyc-power-list-179993. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ http://perezhilton.com/2011-04-05-jay-z-outbids-universal-jive-records-for-smal-independent-german-label
  24. ↑ http://www.contactmusic.com/news/jay-jay-z-acquires-independent-german-label_1211060
  25. ↑ http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=145625
  26. ↑ http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/axwYYfi0O_4/search/bloc-starz
  27. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MS7g-ki7iw
  28. ↑ http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh9zi5N7ZY2z3tmx0L
  29. ↑ http://faygoluvers.net/main/?id=news/comments&nid=EFEyyVEppuXKYrbMeB
  30. ↑ http://juicyjofthree6mafia.com/video/lega-c-who-got-tha-heater-ll-www-blockstarzmusic-com
  31. ↑ http://www.hiphopcanada.com/2011/10/lega-c-she-will-freestyle-video/
  32. ↑ http://celebs.gather.com
  33. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/macho-man-feat.-ceddy-bu-rap/id796978152
  34. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmuL6AOvRWs
  35. ↑ http://auburnpub.com/blogs/citizen_pop/auburn-rapper-young-siege-signs-to-block-starz/article_e07c34f4-5361-11e1-8dbd-001871e3ce6c.html
  36. ↑ http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2012/02/22/new-music-unreleased-lisa-left-eye-lopes-track-w-bootleg-fantasies/
  37. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.19160/title.bootleg-of-the-dayton-family-f-lisa-left-eye-lopes--fantasies
  38. ↑ http://www.kpr1.com/singles-bootleg-of-the-dayton-family-f-lisa-left-eye-lopes-fantasies/
  39. ↑ http://www.hot108.com/blog/2012/singles-bootleg-of-the-dayton-family-f-lisa-left-eye-lopes-fantasies/
  40. ↑ http://allhiphop.com/2012/04/24/t-boz-chilli-talk-left-eye-unreleased-track-feat-dayton-family-hits-net/
  41. ↑ "New song featuring Left Eye released on eve of death anniversary". The San Francisco Chronicle. April 1, 2024. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ↑ http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/08/dickward_codgers_bath_salts.php
  43. ↑ http://www.thesource.com/articles/248780
  44. ↑ http://www.faygoluvers.net/v5/2012/10/lega-c-that-bitch/
  45. ↑ http://siccness.net/lega-c-gets-bloody-in-disturbing-new-music-video-that-bitch
  46. ↑ http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2012_10_offmymedication.html
  47. ↑ http://www.yoraps.com/news1.php?subaction=showfull&id=1351677568&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
  48. ↑ http://www.shakefire.com/reviews/cd/lega-c-off-the-medication
  49. ↑ http://www.selectohits.com/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&products_id=24340
  50. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151234436383259&set=a.118669278258.98725.72674403258&type=1
  51. ↑
  52. ↑ Slind, Victoria (August 22, 2011). "Louboutin, Waffle House, Davis, Levi,: Intellectual Property". Bloomberg. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  53. ↑ Rahman, Ray (August 4, 2011). "The James Weird Awards: Drunk Mayors, Waffle House Rappers, and More Breastaurants! – Grub Street New York". Newyork.grubstreet.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Waffle House Wants No Part Of Hip-Hop'S "After The Club" Business?". Mi2N.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  55. ↑ "Waffle House Claims Trademark Infringement Against Rapper J.R. Bricks' 'Waffle House' Song". Billboard.biz. August 4, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  56. ↑ http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=160387
  57. ↑ http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=29533714
  58. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3501904
  59. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtFTMP2dPMs
  60. ↑ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22387/title.dx-news-bits-mc-eiht-prepares-ep-block-starz-music-launches-new-website-rise-ascend-direction-lead-petition
  61. ↑ http://www.wafb.com/story/24359811/plaquemine-rapper-dies-in-car-crash
  62. ↑ http://allhiphop.com/2014/01/06/rapper-ceddy-bu-killed-in-car-accident/
  63. ↑ http://www.eurweb.com/?p=329913
  64. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2909928/
  65. ↑ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Dante-s-struggles-for-comedy-series_14306511
  66. ↑ http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmovies/article/New-Documentary-Underway-on-Americas-First-Black-Filmmaker-Oscar-Micheaux-20140212
  67. ↑ http://www.eurweb.com/2014/01/black-royalty-meet-the-czar-of-black-hollywood-watch
  68. ↑ http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/02/13/little-known-black-history-fact-oscar-micheaux
  69. ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/30/black-side-of-silver-screen-filmmaker-oscar-michea/
  70. ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/30/love-of-history-spurred-rap-mogul-bayer-l-mack-to-/
  71. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-kelly/new-documentary-about-bla_b_5448566.html
  72. ↑ http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-07-10/news/fl-boca-black-film-festival-20140710_1_abff-american-black-film-festival-palm-beach-state-college
  73. ↑ http://americacomesalive.com/2014/06/04/oscar-micheaux-homesteader-bestselling-author-filmmaker

External links

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