Beanie Sigel

Beanie Sigel
Sigel in 2002
Background information
Birth name	Dwight Equan Grant
Also known as	Beans, Mack, The Broad Street Bully
Born	(1974-03-06) March 6, 1974
Origin	South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genres	Hip hop
Years active	1995–Present
Labels	Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Associated acts	Jay-Z, Eve, N.O.R.E., DJ Clue, Memphis Bleek, Tha Dogg Pound, The Lox, G-Unit, Raekwon, The Roots, Ghostface Killah, Scarface, Kanye West, Freeway, State Property

Dwight Equan Grant (born March 6, 1974),^[1] better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper and actor^[2] from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a former artist of Roc-A-Fella Records he is closely associated with rappers Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek and others from the label. His stage name comes from a street in South Philadelphia.

Music career

Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam years (2002–09)

Beanie Sigel's debut album, The Truth was released by Roc-A-Fella on February 29, 2000 to critical and commercial success.

In 2002, Sigel and much of the Roc roster starred in a Damon Dash–produced movie State Property.^[3] Its release coincided with the creation and promotion of State Property, a group of Philadelphia artists signed to Roc-A-Fella who were organized by Sigel and Freeway. Its members included Peedi Crakk, the Young Gunz (Neef Buck & Young Chris), Oschino and Omillio 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] It was followed by 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, before serving a one-year prison sentence stemming from an earlier arrest, Sigel shot multiple videos, directed by Joe Briscella, and finished his third album The B. Coming. During this time, Sigel's label head at Roc-A-Fella, Jay-Z, became President of its parent label, Def Jam, which caused former business partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to splinter off and form the Dame Dash Music Group. Sigel's The B. Coming was released on Dame Dash Music Group and Def Jam rather than Roc-A-Fella, but still contained production from a slew of Roc/Jay Z affiliated producers including Chad West, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Boola, and Buckwild. Additionally, Sigel recruited cross–label MC talent for his album, including Cam'ron and Jay-Z. Sigel's record produced a hit track, "Feel it in the Air", and 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. Sigel's group, State Property was thrown into turmoil but eventually chose to remain at Roc-A-Fella—apparently against Sigel's wishes. Upon his release, Beanie questioned the loyalty of his group and stated that he was signing with Dame and Biggs due to 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 elected to re-open talks with Roc-A-Fella instead of moving to Dame Dash Music Group.^[7]

In 2006, Sigel re-signed with Roc-A-Fella Records and started 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. The single debuted on the U.S. R&B charts at #83. On May 22, 2007 Sigel released The Solution which debuted on the Billboard charts at #37.

Post Roc-A-Fella (2009–Present)

In 2009, Beanie Sigel released his first independent album The Broad Street Bully after his contracts with Roc-A-Fella Records & Def Jam Records had expired.

In 2010 Sigel announced he was working on his fifth studio album entitled The Closure which was to be released on Universal Republic and G-Unit Records.^[9] However, on May 31, 2011 Sigel cancelled the album and retired from the music industry for two weeks before deciding to return and work 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. Scarface also tweeted the announcement at the same time via mobile. On that same day, while distribution deals with E1, The Orchard, and Asylum were on the table, Sigel also decided to sign a distribution deal with EMI after one of his mutual friends garnered the interest of Chris Schwartz. 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 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 2005.^[13] Sigel also auditioned for the lead role in the 2009 film Notorious.^[14]

Sigel appeared in the 2011 film Rhyme and Punishment a documentary about hip hop artists 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 while incarcerated.

Controversy

Jay-Z

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] 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, ending the feud.

Jadakiss

During the beginning of the new millennium, Sigel and various other Roc artists engaged in a conflict with artists from the Ruff Ryders.^[17] Sigel publicly decried Jadakiss, the rest of The LOX and DMX. Although 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]

Meek Mill

On September 26, 2016, Sigel and Meek Mill, a former friend and neighbor, got into an altercation when the former ridiculed the latter's intelligence as well as claiming to be "the ruler of all of Philly" during a radio interview.^[19] Minutes after the interview, Sigel was punched on the back of his head by who was believed to have been one of Meek Mill's affiliates.^[20] Three days later, Sigel was criticized by Mill via Instagram.^[21] Later, Sigel was dissed again in a freestyle on Funkmaster Flex's radio show.^[22] Sigel responded by releasing his own diss track titled “I'm Coming”.^[23]

Personal life

Religion

Sigel is a strong believer of the Islamic faith.^[24]

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.^[25]

In January 2003, Sigel was arrested after allegedly punching a 53-year-old man in the face, fracturing his eye socket.^[26]

On July 3, 2003, Sigel turned himself in to Philadelphia police and was charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing 6 shots from a 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.^[27]

In 2004, Sigel was convicted of federal weapons charges and sentenced to year and one 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.^[28]

On August 15, 2009, Sigel was arrested on a drug possession charge while traveling to a concert in New Jersey . He was found in possession of nearly 50 grams (1.8 oz) of marijuana in his vehicle.^[29]

In 2010, Sigel was charged with three counts of failing to file tax returns on income of over $1 million between 2003–2005. He pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 25 months in prison.^[30]

On August 29, 2012, two weeks before reporting to prison, Sigel was arrested again 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.^[31]

On September 12, 2012, 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.^[32][33]

On August 14, 2014, Sigel was released from Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill and was reported to be serving out the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house in Philadelphia.^[34]

On December 5, 2014, Sigel was wounded in a drive-by shooting outside his Pleasantville, New Jersey home.^[35][36] He was rushed to the hospital where he had a lung removed due to complications during surgery. According to police, Sigel was not the intended victim.^[37][38][39]

Discography

Studio albums

• 2000: The Truth
• 2001: The Reason
• 2005: The B. Coming
• 2007: The Solution
• 2009: The Broad Street Bully
• 2012: This Time ^[40]

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

External links

• Beanie Sigel at MTV