Beanie Sigel

Beanie Sigel
Sigel in 2002
Background information
Birth name	Dwight E. Grant
Born	(1974-03-06) March 6, 1974
Origin	South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam (1998–2009) Ruffhouse, Universal, Capitol (2012–present)
Associated acts	Jay-Z, Freeway, Meek Mill, Young Gunz, State Property, The Lox, G-Unit, Raekwon, The Roots, Ghostface Killah, Scarface

Dwight E. Grant (born March 6, 1974),^[1] better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper^[2] from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a former member/artist of Damon Dash's Dame Dash Music Group and Roc-A-Fella Records where he 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 wilson projects. He has sold more than two million albums worldwide.

Music career

State Property and The B. Coming (2002–05)

In 2002, Sigel and much of the Roc roster starred in a Dame Dash-produced movie entitled State Property.^[3] 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 (Neef Buck & Young Chris), 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

In 2005 Sigel finished his 3rd album The B. Coming, and shot multiple videos, directed by Joe Briscella, before he had to serve a year long prison sentence for a 2004 weapons and drug possession arrest. During this time, Jay-Z ascended to the Presidency of Def Jam Records, causing former business partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to splinter 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.^[6]

Advertising his friendship with the incarcerated Beanie, Dash publicly claimed that Beanie was leaving the roster along 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:

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.^[7]

The Solution, This Time, and Mac N Brad (2006–present)

In 2006 Sigel re-signed with Roc-A-Fella Records and started to recording for his fourth studio album The Solution.^[8] On October 29, 2007 Sigel released the first single off The Solution entitled "All The Above" which featured R. Kelly it debuted on the U.S. R&B charts at #83. On May 22, 2007 Sigel released The Solution it debuted on the Billboard charts at #37.

In 2009, after finally getting out of his contracts with Roc-A-Fella Records & Def Jam Records. Beanie Sigel released his first Independent album The Broad Street Bully. In 2010 Sigel announced he was working on his fifth studio album entitled The Closure which was to be released from Universal Republic and G-Unit Records.^[9] But on May 31, 2011 Sigel cancelled the album & retired from the music industry. Two weeks later, he returned and started working on the album again, re-titling it The Classic. In 2011 Sigel signed with 50 Cent's subsidiary label G-Unit Philly and renewed his contract with G-Unit Records from 2009.^[10] On July 13, 2011 Sigel released his first single from the album entitled "B-Boy Stance".^[11] On March 30, 2012, Sigel told Statik Selektah on Shade 45 that he would be working on a collaborative album with southern veteran and long-time friend Scarface titled Mac and Brad; at the same time, Scarface tweeted the announcement via mobile. On that day, Sigel also announced that while distribution deals with E1, Orchard, and Asylum were on the table, he decided to sign a distribution deal with EMI after one of Sigel's mutual friends suggested that Chris Schwartz check out his music. Under Schwartz's guidance, Sigel released a new mixtape followed by his studio album This Time.^[12]

Other ventures

Acting career

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. He also appeared along with Kevin Hart in the 2002 film Paper Soldiers. 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.^[13] Sigel also auditioned for the lead role of the 2009 film Notorious.^[14]

Sigel also appeared in the 2011 film Rhyme and Punishment a documentary about Hip-Hop artist who have served time in county jail or state/federal prison. The film features an interview with Sigel where he discusses his conviction and life in prison.

Controversy

Jay-Z

During a controversial period, Beanie Sigel recorded a song dissing his former boss and mentor Jay-Z on the track "I Go Off" with 50 Cent who had signed Grant to his G-Unit Records label in 2009.^[15] In early 2011, Grant appeared in Travis Barker's album Give the Drummer Some, saying that it was the end of his career. On May 31, 2011, it was reported that Grant had apologized to Jay-Z. However, in an interview with DJ Green Lantern, he said that he had never "apologized" to Jay-Z, and that he was still making music.^[16]

In 2015, Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z reunited at the Tidal B-Sides Concert and performed together and ended the feud.

Jadakiss

The new millennium also saw various Roc artists, including Sigel, engage in a conflict with artists from Ruff Ryders.^[17] Sigel publicly decried Jadakiss, the rest of the L.O.X. and DMX. While Sigel and Jadakiss both denied any violent intent, they continued to exchange criticism until Sigel put out a freestyle rap over Jadakiss' hit "Put Ya Hands Up".^[18]

Personal life

On December 5, 2014, Sigel was shot at a home in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries.^[19][20] According to his lawyer, Sigel was not the intended target of the shooting; the Pleasantville chief of police stated that Sigel was standing outside his home in Pleasantville, and was shot during “some sort of altercation next to that property.”^[21]

Religion

Similar to his friend and fellow Philadelphia rapper Freeway, Sigel is a strong believer of the Islamic faith.^[22]

Friendship with Scarface

Sigel cultivated a friendship with southern rapper Scarface.^[17] 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.^[17] On April 5, 2012, in another interview (alongside Scarface) with Statik Selektah on Shade 45, regarding their upcoming collaborative album Mac N Brad, Sigel said that he had wished to produce an album with Scarface since the release of his debut album The Truth.^{[Scarface Collabo Album 1]}

Legal issues

In 2002, Sigel was arrested and charged with a federal weapons charge in West Philadelphia. He would later serve a year in federal prison.^[23]

In January 2003, Sigel was arrested after a scuffle broke out where Sigel allegedly punched a 53-year-old man in the face, fracturing his eye socket.^[24]

Sigel turned himself in to Philadelphia police on July 3, 2003 and was charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing 6 shots from 9mm handgun at a club door, injuring two people. He was also charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and possession of a criminal instrument. Sigel's first trial ended in a hung jury. A second trial resulted in a not guilty verdict.^[25]

In 2004, Sigel was convicted of federal weapons charges and sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.

On May 25, 2006, Sigel was shot multiple times during a robbery in Philadelphia. He was able to flee the scene and drive himself to a local hospital. This was one month after being released from prison after serving a brief stint for child support charges.^[26]

Sigel was arrested on a drug possession charge while traveling to a concert in New Jersey on August 15, 2009. Police found nearly 50 grams of marijuana in his vehicle.^[27]

In 2010, Sigel was charged with three counts of failing to file tax returns on income of over $1 million between 2003–2005. Sigel pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 25 months in prison.^[28] He reported to prison on September 12, 2012.

On August 29, 2012, Sigel was arrested in Philadelphia on drug, weapons, and conspiracy charges after being pulled over by police. Officers found a fully loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun inside the vehicle, as well as $4,500 in cash, unlabeled bottle of codeine cough syrup, and various pills.^[29]

Sigel began his 24-month sentence for failing to file tax returns at the Federal Detention Center, Philadelphia. Additionally, he was sentenced six to 23 months in county jail for illegal possession of prescription drugs, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence.^[30][31]

Sigel was released from Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill August 14, 2014 and was reported to be serving out the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house in Philadelphia.^[32]

Discography

Studio albums

• 2000: The Truth
• 2001: The Reason
• 2005: The B. Coming
• 2007: The Solution
• 2009: The Broad Street Bully
• 2012: This Time ^[33]

Collaboration albums

• 2002: State Property OST (with State Property)
• 2003: The Chain Gang Vol. 2 (with State Property)
• 2010: The Roc Boys (with Freeway)

References

General

Album

External links

• Beanie Sigel page at Roc-A-Fella Records
• Beanie Sigel at MTV