Star Trak Entertainment

Star Trak Entertainment
Parent company	Universal Music Group
Founded	2001
Founder	Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo
Defunct	2014
Status	Defunct; artists moved to I Am Other and Columbia Records
Distributor(s)	Interscope Geffen A&M (U.S.) Polydor Records (outside U.S.)
Genre	Hip hop, R&B
Country of origin	United States
Location	Virginia Beach, Virginia
Official website	startrakmusic.com

Star Trak Entertainment was an American record label, founded by record producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo in 2001. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and its releases are distributed by Interscope Records.

History

Beginnings

Star Trak Entertainment was formed in 2001 by The Neptunes' duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. The label was partially funded by Arista Records (from Sony Music Entertainment) in a joint-venture. Pharrell would sign longtime friends, Clipse, a duo of brothers No Malice and Pusha-T. Their debut album, Lord Willin', was released in 2002 led by the hits, "Grindin'", and "When the Last Time." After the success of the album, the label would sign Kelis, Vanessa Marquez, Fam-Lay, N.E.R.D., and pop rock band Spymob, who provided backing instruments for N.E.R.D's debut album In Search Of.... The label released a compilation album during the summer of 2003, entitled, The Neptunes Present... Clones. In late 2003, Star Trak Entertainment released the highly successful album, Tasty, by Kelis led by the hit single "Milkshake." In early 2004, distributor Arista Records dropped their imprint Star Trak Entertainment, which then linked with EMI's Virgin Records for a new distribution deal. The first release from this deal was Fly or Die by N.E.R.D..

Addition of Snoop Dogg

In mid-2004, Star Trak signed EMI cousin label, Doggystyle Records to a distribution deal and soared to new heights behind veteran Doggystyle Records rapper, Snoop Dogg. A few months later, Star Trak Entertainment left EMI's Virgin Records before completing a year with the label. They ended up moving operations over to Geffen Records and Interscope Records. Here, they would release Snoop Dogg's album, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece. The album was led by "Drop It Like Its Hot", which would be yet another hit single for the fledgling label. This album would go Platinum like some other Star Trak Entertainment releases. It also had many other hit singles. After the album's release, the label was in a surplus and could afford to spend money on new things, so they signed underground Houston, Texas rapper Slim Thug and in 2005, he released his debut album, Already Platinum. This album would give Star Trak Entertainment yet another hit, "Like A Boss", and "I Ain't Heard of That."

Decline

After the release of Slim Thug's album, Geffen Records was partially absorbed into Interscope Records, which moved Star Trak Entertainment into an exclusive distribution deal with Interscope Records and ended all association with Geffen Records as Snoop Dogg decided to stay with them and took his Doggystyle Records imprint with him. During this time, the label added Kenna and Robin Thicke to their roster. The label has been under scrutiny for poor management which inevitably led to its decline.

Resurgence

In 2006, CEO Pharrell released his debut solo album, In My Mind. The album provided another two hits for the label and capitilazed what is the Neptunes sound. These singles were "Can I Have It Like That", with Gwen Stefani, and "Number One", with Kanye West. Other releases in 2006 were Robin Thicke's second album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, which featured the hit, "Lost Without U." The last 2006 release was Clipse's second album, Hell Hath No Fury, the album featured another hit for the label, "Mr. Me Too." This was their first release through their Re-Up Records imprint. Because of constant delays on the album's release date, and a small amount of production, then low record sales, Clipse asked for their release from the Jive Records label with in terms released them from Star Trak Entertainment moving their Re-Up Records imprint to Columbia Records. Star Trak Entertainment has since signed Teyana Taylor to their roster, along with Chester French, Natasha Ramos, Epoch When and Jack Venom. In 2007, Kenna released his album, Make Sure They See My Face. Releases for 2008 Included N*E*R*D and Robin Thicke. Releases for 2009 included Chester French, Teyana Taylor, Kenna, Clipse and Teriyaki Boyz. In 2013 the label saw success once again with the chart-topping single "Blurred Lines", performed by Star Trak artist Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell and T.I..

Artists

• Chester French

• Fam-Lay
• Kenna
• N.E.R.D.
• Pharrell Williams
• Robin Thicke
• Snoop Dogg

Discography

References