Misplaced Pages

#897102

98-538: Jonathan Lyndale Kirk (born December 22, 1991), known professionally as DaBaby (formerly Baby Jesus ), is an American rapper. After releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018, he signed with Interscope Records in January 2019 in a joint venture with the North Carolina–based record label, South Coast Music Group. His debut studio album, Baby on Baby (2019), spawned the single " Suge ", which peaked within

196-518: A battery charge. According to TMZ and other outlets, members of his crew allegedly assaulted and robbed a music promoter who only paid Kirk $ 20,000 of the $ 30,000 he was owed for a performance in Miami. Reports state that he and his associates allegedly took $ 80 cash, an iPhone 7, and a credit card from the promoter. Kirk was charged with battery and released from Miami-Dade County jail 48 hours later. During Kirk's 2020 "Up Close N Personal" tour, he slapped

294-653: A concept album . Mixtapes have become staples in the music industry and are sometimes released as holdovers or low-key releases between studio albums . Lesser-known artists may release them free online on more accessible streaming platforms like SoundCloud to gain exposure, while well-known industry artists who release mixtapes usually promote them as "commercial mixtapes" as they are released on profitable streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music . Notable examples of commercial mixtapes include Street Gossip by Lil Baby , MMM (Money Making Mitch) by Puff Daddy , and Dark Lane Demo Tapes by Drake . While

392-428: A label . This also allowed for more artistry as mixtapes were not confined by the legal restrictions of a record label. As a result of his mixtapes' success, he released his critically acclaimed album, Get Rich or Die Tryin' . By the mid-to-late 2000s, the definition of the original mixtape in the 1970s seemed to vanish, and instead became the term for any musical project to promote rising artists. The creation of

490-453: A $ 20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Music Group and Interscope Communications , it differed from most record labels by letting A&R staff control decisions and allowing artists and producers full creative control. Interscope's first hit records arrived in under a year, and it achieved profitability in 1993. Chair and CEO until May 2014, Iovine was succeeded by John Janick . In 1992, Interscope acquired

588-571: A 19-year-old man in the abdomen at a Walmart in Huntersville, North Carolina . The man, Jaylin Domonique Craig died soon after. Kirk confirmed his involvement in the shooting and said that he acted in self-defense. The most serious charges were dropped in March 2019, and he pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon , a misdemeanor. In April 2022, Rolling Stone released the surveillance tape of

686-512: A UMG label after being under four different labels with Sony Music since 2006. The singer also announced she will release her fourth album, The Gift of Love , her first ever Christmas album which is set to be released on October 18, 2024. Several artists have criticized Interscope for delaying albums. The label was embroiled in controversy over delaying the release of the singer Bilal 's second album, Love for Sale , because of its creative direction. Dr. Dre had assisted Bilal's production for

784-466: A cameo appearance in the music video for his protégé, Rich Dunk's single "High School". Kirk closed 2019 having 22 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 for the year, the most of any artist that year. At the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards , held in 2020, Kirk received two nominations, both for "Suge" , in the categories Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song . His third studio album, Blame It on Baby ,

882-428: A cellphone light in the air. Ladies, if your pussy smell [ sic ] like water, put a cellphone light in the air. Fellas, if you ain't sucking dick in the parking lot, put a cellphone light in the air." In the wake of his remarks, DaBaby's scheduled appearance at Lollapalooza on August 1 was cancelled and later replaced by G Herbo . The fashion brand BoohooMAN ended its collaboration with Kirk. On August 2,

980-464: A division of his film company, Interscope Communications . To run it, he hired John McClain, who had played a central role in Janet Jackson 's success at A&M Records , and Tom Whalley, who had been the head of A&R at Capitol Records . Separately, Iovine, who had produced records for U2 , Bruce Springsteen , Stevie Nicks , and John Lennon , among others, was trying to raise money to start

1078-523: A feature on the remix of " Levitating " by English singer Dua Lipa . Though the remix was released in late 2020, the song began climbing up the charts and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021. In January 2021, DaBaby released the single " Masterpiece " alongside a music video for the track directed by Gemini Visions. The track includes references to his relationship with DaniLeigh and to his past legal troubles. In February, DaBaby released

SECTION 10

#1732869314898

1176-462: A female fan on his way to the stage for a performance in Tampa, Florida . The crowd responded by booing, and he left the venue without performing any songs. He said that he struck her because she placed her phone too close to his face while taking a video with the flash on. In a video posted on Instagram , Kirk said, "I do apologize that there was a female on the other end. I think by this time, you know it's

1274-448: A full album rollout. As an example, R&B artist 4Batz released his debut mixtape U Made Me a St4r shortly after his significant mainstream blowup from his single, " Act II: Date @ 8 ". While mixtapes used to be distributed for free, Spotify , Apple Music , and Soundcloud have blurred the line between what is considered a full-on album versus what is considered a mixtape. However, artists typically distinguish an album from

1372-453: A global partnership for Blackpink . Interscope and Universal Music Group would represent the girl group worldwide, outside of Asia. In May 2019, Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer signed with Interscope Records, following their departure from Capitol Records . On March 27, 2020, the band released their fourth studio album Calm . The album was a commercial success and received generally positive reviews from critics who praised

1470-532: A label of promotion and marketing for album-like projects. The idea of mixtapes was conceived in the early 1970s with the genesis of hip-hop . In the 1970s, DJs such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five , Afrika Bambaataa , and DJ Hollywood would often distribute recordings of their club performances through cassette tapes, bringing a wider audience to the hip-hop sound. These cassettes eventually became colloquially known as mixtapes. The introduction of

1568-480: A label. "I thought, 'Music is going to change,'" Iovine said in 1997. "'Young bands aren't going to be asking for me.' But I love working with the new thing. I always liked the part of the business that's the first time you hear something, and I knew I wasn't in that business anymore." Iovine and Field were introduced by Paul McGuinness , then U2 's manager. After a series of negotiations led by David Geffen , they came to an agreement, and in 1990, Interscope Records

1666-563: A line of sneakers, and when he told Iovine about the idea, Iovine said: "You know speakers, not sneakers." 'Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Headphones' were introduced in January 2008 at the annual Consumer Electronics Show . "It took us two years to get them right, but when I heard I knew it was going to be big," Iovine said in 2010. "It's just like listening to a hit record." The marketing for Beats integrated endorsements from Interscope artists including Gwen Stefani , M.I.A. and Pharrell , Lady Gaga, and will.i.am . Lady Gaga's studio debut The Fame

1764-583: A member of N.W.A . The Chronic was released in December 1992. By the end of the following year, The Chronic had sold almost 3 million copies. Snoop Dogg 's debut Doggystyle had sold more than 800,000 copies in its first week alone, and Primus and 4 Non-Blondes had released records which hit the US Top 20. In 1993, with an estimated gross of $ 90 million, Interscope became profitable ahead of projections. Interscope further established its strength in

1862-492: A mixtape in two ways: The marketing of a mixtape is usually minimal, spontaneous, and unorthodox. In contrast, studio albums often have more professional media campaigns, music videos and a set release. Because of a mixtape's "unpredictability" that varies from artist, mixtapes may entertain fans with excitement due to surprise releases. On streaming platforms, mixtapes are nearly identical in format, as both include album art, titles, and track lists. However, mixtapes may lack

1960-578: A new label. Described as an amicable parting, Field said he was "anxious to become an entrepreneur again." An agreement with Universal allowed Field to resign a year before his contract was set to expire. Conversely, Whalley, Interscope's president since 1998, accepted the position of chairman of Warner Bros. Records in May 2000 and was not released from his Interscope contract until it expired in August 2001. Interscope/Shady released The Eminem Show , in May 2002 and

2058-400: A precursor to an upcoming album for artists. As an example, Travis Scott released his mixtape, Days Before Rodeo as an anticipation project for his debut album, Rodeo . Another example is While We Wait by singer and songwriter Kehlani . The name of the tape highlights the informal circumstances of the mixtape, which was released in interim to give her fans music to listen to before

SECTION 20

#1732869314898

2156-560: A profit. In 1996, MCA Music Entertainment was renamed Universal Music Group . In 1998, the Universal Music Group parent company Seagram acquired PolyGram Records . MCA's Geffen Records and PolyGram's A&M Records were merged into Interscope, and in early 1999, Interscope Records began operating under the umbrella of Interscope Geffen A&M Records , with Iovine and Field serving as co-chairmen. Iovine's assistant (and former intern) Dean Geistlinger saw Eminem perform at

2254-751: A remix to SpotemGottem 's single Beat Box , along with a music video. He released the June singles " Ball If I Want To ", and " Red Light Green Light ", and "Giving What It's Supposed To Give" in July. In July 2021, Kirk faced backlash for remarks largely regarded to be homophobic . While performing at the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami Gardens, Florida on July 25, he said, "[If] you didn't show up today with HIV/AIDS , or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that'll make you die in two to three weeks, then put

2352-439: A reported $ 200 million. Under the agreement, Interscope retained complete creative control over the label's recordings. MCA was not required to distribute material that it deemed offensive. Dre left Death Row in mid-1996 due to what was then reported as tension over the creative direction of the label, and founded Aftermath Entertainment , a new joint venture with Interscope. In November that same year, Aftermath debuted with

2450-527: A slow-tempo sound for mixtapes, later becoming a staple of Southern hip-hop . Another development of the mixtape were the creations of the remix and the mashup , which gave pre-existing songs a new sound to their original counterpart. In the 1990s, mixtapes eventually moved to CD burners and MP3 players as the cassette tape declined. The curation of mixtapes became more intimate as well, as many curators would assemble songs in their tapes as an overarching theme that they could send to their audience. This

2548-501: A stepson born in 2014 and three daughters born in 2017, 2020, and 2021. Kirk's father died in 2019 shortly after the release of his debut studio album. His second album is a tribute to his last name, with the cover being his father holding him as an infant. Kirk's brother, Glen Johnson, died in November 2020, at age 34, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Regarding his religious beliefs, he stated in 2019 that "I'm blessed. I'm covered by

2646-563: A well known fact that male or female, I would've responded the same exact way." In February 2022, Kirk and his crew assaulted DaniLeigh 's brother Brandon Bills at a bowling alley in the Los Angeles area. Later that year, Kirk was charged with felony battery for an alleged assault against a rental property owner in Los Angeles . In 2024, he pled guilty to misdemeanor simple battery for the incident. Studio albums Mixtape Prior to

2744-615: The Billboard Airplay Charts on August 9. On August 24, he also addressed being " canceled " in a freestyle over Bia 's song " Whole Lotta Money ". In March 2022, he released the mixtape Better than You with YoungBoy Never Broke Again . In September, he released his fourth studio album Baby on Baby 2 . Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment is an American record label founded by DaBaby in 2017, based in Charlotte, North Carolina . Billion Dollar Baby currently has signed 5 artists to

2842-499: The Billboard 200 at number one, his sixth album to do so. Born This Way by Lady Gaga was released in May 2011, and debuted at number one in 23 countries. In the US, with more than one million copies sold in its first week, it had the highest first-week album sales in five years. Four of the album's singles—"Born This Way", "Judas", "The Edge of Glory", and "You and I"—charted in the top ten of

2940-426: The Billboard Hot 100. Interscope signed Madonna and Van Halen in 2011. Both artists were previously signed to Warner Bros. Records ; both released their first records for Interscope in 2012. In October 2012, John Janick was named president and COO of Interscope Geffen A&M. The founder of Fueled By Ramen , Janick had previous success with artists including Jimmy Eat World , Fall Out Boy , Panic! at

3038-439: The Billboard album charts at number one in March 2015. A week later, Kendrick Lamar 's album To Pimp a Butterfly appeared at number one, a position it held for two consecutive weeks. Lamar won five Grammys in 2016. In August 2017, JoJo announced she had re-signed to Interscope, in a joint venture deal to launch her own music imprint, Clover Music . In October 2018, YG Entertainment teamed up with Interscope Records in

DaBaby - Misplaced Pages Continue

3136-416: The Billboard year end album charts in 2014: The Marshall Mathers LP 2 by Eminem , Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey , V by Maroon 5 , Native from OneRepublic , Lady Gaga's ARTPOP , and Oxymoron by Schoolboy Q . In December 2014 it was announced that Selena Gomez , previously signed to Hollywood Records , had signed with Interscope. Imagine Dragons ' Smoke + Mirrors debuted on

3234-493: The Billboard 200 and the album went on to be certified 9× platinum in America. In April, it was announced that 50 Cent would sign and develop artists for release on G-Unit Records , which would be marketed and distributed through Interscope. 50 Cent's success allowed G-Unit artists to release their own projects. G-Unit's Lloyd Banks released his debut studio album, The Hunger for More in June 2004 through Interscope. Anchored by

3332-591: The Sony Walkman in 1979 saw major improvements in the mobility and practicality of mixtapes. In the 1980s and 1990s, mixtapes evolved as recordings of exclusive tracks, freestyles, and remixes. They also started becoming a visible element of youth culture . This blended both the underground and commercial appeal of mixtapes together. A notable development in mixtapes at this time was the " chopped and screwed " technique created by DJ Screw in Texas . This technique created

3430-573: The Crypt 's Circa: Now! , and, through a joint venture with TVT / Nothing Records , the Nine Inch Nails EP Broken . However, Interscope's success with alternative and rock music was eclipsed by controversy which began in September 1992, when Vice President Dan Quayle called on Interscope to withdraw 2Pacalypse Now, stating that it was responsible for the death of a Texas state trooper, who

3528-501: The Disco and Paramore . At the time of his appointment, it was reported that Iovine had chosen Janick as his eventual successor—Iovine's attention had increasingly turned to Beats, which dominated the headphone market with 2012 revenues of $ 512 million. In May 2014, following Apple's acquisition of Beats, Iovine resigned. As anticipated, Janick was named chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M. Six Interscope releases appeared in

3626-515: The Dreamers III , on the opening track, " Under the Sun ". He received acclaim for his guest feature, with various publications ranking it as his best verse of 2019, including Complex magazine calling it a "defining breakout moment for a new rap superstar". In August 2019, he announced that his second album would be titled Kirk , named after his surname. It was released in September, and debuted atop

3724-627: The Hot 100. As a result, DaBaby became the seventh act to chart at least three songs in the top six simultaneously. In July 2020, Kirk released a single with his signee Stunna 4 Vegas , titled "No Dribble", included on the deluxe edition of Blame It on Baby , which was released in August 2020, and described by DaBaby as a "brand new album". In November 2020, DaBaby released his debut EP, My Brother's Keeper (Long Live G) . It pays tribute to his late brother, Glenn Johnson, and features appearances from Meek Mill , NoCap , Toosii , and Polo G . Kirk contributed

3822-590: The Kid with Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone, Elton John said: "I was so furious with Interscope Records because they put it out and they dropped it. I had meetings in the South of France, and I said, 'I know this isn't a commercial album, I just want you to do your best,' and they dropped it like a fucking turd. It's probably why I didn't make another solo record. It was pure heartbreak." John would later return to Interscope in

3920-608: The Rap Olympics in Los Angeles in 1997 and passed Eminem's CD on to Iovine; Iovine, in turn, passed it on to Dre. In February 1999, Interscope and Aftermath released The Slim Shady LP . The album entered the charts at number two, and won two Grammy Awards. Later in 1999 Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg , founded Shady Records . In 1998, Interscope signed a joint-venture deal with Ruff Ryders . On June 22, 1999, Interscope/Flip records released Limp Bizkit 's second studio album Significant Other selling 643,874 copies in

4018-581: The US Billboard 200 . Its lead single, " Intro ", was successful, peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Around that time, Kirk also made notable appearances on singles such as Post Malone 's "Enemies" , which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and on the remixes to YG 's " Stop Snitchin ", Lizzo 's " Truth Hurts ", and Lil Nas X 's " Panini ", released in May, August, and September 2019, respectively. In October, he made

DaBaby - Misplaced Pages Continue

4116-608: The US in 2019. In 2007, Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor criticized Universal Music Group for the inflated price of Year Zero in Australia. In an interview with the Herald Sun in Melbourne, he said that an employee of UMG stated that NIN had "a core audience that's gonna buy whatever we put out, so we can charge more...True fans will pay whatever." Nine Inch Nails signed with Columbia Records in 2013. On November 7, 2011, it

4214-569: The United Kingdom. In June, Kirk was featured on the remix for the Jack Harlow song " Whats Poppin ", which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 while "Rockstar" was still at the top. This made DaBaby the 20th act to occupy the chart's top 2 positions, and the first since Ariana Grande in 2019. In July, Kirk was featured on " For the Night " by Pop Smoke and Lil Baby , which debuted at number six on

4312-569: The United States Attorney's Office regarding this matter". In 1997, Trauma Records filed a $ 100 million lawsuit against Interscope that charged the company with fraud and the unfulfillment of a two-year promise to assign No Doubt to Trauma's roster. After a four-month dispute, the partnership was dissolved in an out-of-court agreement. Trauma Records principals reportedly received an additional $ 3 million; No Doubt remained with Interscope. In 2002, JCOR founder Jay Faires filed

4410-474: The United States, becoming the fastest-selling rock album in history. Cementing Nu Metal 's status in pop culture as a top selling genre during the 2000s. Also Interscope began its relationship with U2 after it acquired the US rights to market and distribute the album All That You Can't Leave Behind . Iovine had been trying to sign U2 since 1990. In 2001, Field resigned as co-chairman of Interscope to start

4508-605: The United States. Feist and Robyn were among Cherrytree's first artists. Four of Interscope's releases were in the top 10 of the year end sales charts in 2005: The Massacre (50 Cent) at number one, Encore (Eminem) at number two, Love.Angel.Music.Baby. ( Gwen Stefani ) at number six, and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (U2) at number eight. The Game 's The Documentary appeared at number 16, and The Black Eyed Peas album Monkey Business charted at number 18. In 2006, Dre and Iovine established Beats Electronics . Dre had been approached by his attorney to start

4606-543: The ability to be released on major streaming platforms. Some of these include Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper , Live. Love. ASAP by ASAP Rocky , and So Far Gone by Drake . Interscope Interscope Records is an American record label based in Santa Monica, California , owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as

4704-660: The album Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath . The Death Row deal remained in place until 1997, when Knight was imprisoned for parole violations. In November 1996, with records by Bush, Snoop Dogg, No Doubt, and Tupac Shakur, Interscope became the first label in 20 years to hold the top 4 positions on the Billboard charts. Six additional Interscope releases were in the Top 100. The label was frequently criticized for overspending on artist acquisitions and joint ventures, however, with revenue for 1996 estimated at $ 250 million, it operated at

4802-538: The album in a limited role. After it leaked in 2006, Interscope notoriously shelved the release indefinitely, giving rise to rumors that the label had leaked it on purpose. In 2013, M.I.A. said her album Matangi was held because the label felt the record she turned in was "too positive" for her fans. In 2010, rapper Eve left Interscope after a three-year delay of her album Lip Lock . Blink-182 , All Time Low , and 50 Cent have similarly criticized Interscope. In discussing his 2006 album The Captain &

4900-433: The album would be their lowest-selling of their career up to that point. The band would go in hiatus in 2006, after releasing The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) , their first EP and later their first greatest hits album called Greatest Hitz in 2005. They both would sell 2,000,000 and 3,500,000 for a combined total of 5,500,000 worldwide. In November 2003, Universal Music Group acquired DreamWorks Records and in 2004 it

4998-527: The alternative and rock genres in 1994. A $ 2.5 million investment to establish a joint venture with Trauma Records yielded three number-one Modern Rock tracks and a platinum-certified album with Bush 's Sixteen Stone . The Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral went to number two on the US charts and was widely acclaimed. Marilyn Manson 's Portrait of an American Family , The Toadies album Rubberneck and Helmet's Betty were commercially successful and critically embraced. In May 1995,

SECTION 50

#1732869314898

5096-453: The band's artistic growth and maturity. The album charted in more than 25 countries on several charts, the album peaked in the top 10 on 17 charts and debuted atop the charts at number one in Australia, the UK and Scotland. Interscope became the flagship label of Interscope Capitol Labels Group beginning in 2024. The label also signed American singer Jennifer Hudson , her first time being under

5194-509: The blood of Christ." He dated fellow American rapper and singer DaniLeigh in 2020. The couple split in February 2021. Months after the split, it was reportedly confirmed that Kirk had fathered a child with her after a viral incident of the two was recorded and posted on Instagram . He supported but did not vote for Kanye West 's 2020 presidential campaign and supports Donald Trump 's 2024 presidential campaign . In November 2018, Kirk shot

5292-434: The claims with a statement that read: "There is no evidence that any employee of UMG or Interscope Records had any involvement in the drug trafficking ring being prosecuted by that office, nor any knowledge of the contents of any of the packages that were purportedly shipped to its offices. Further, neither UMG nor Interscope Records are a subject or target of the investigation. UMG and Interscope will continue to cooperate with

5390-604: The company to Field and Iovine for $ 115 million. Ownership in Interscope was aggressively pursued by EMI , BMG , PolyGram and MCA. On December 1, 1995, the Los Angeles Times noted that with five albums on that week's pop charts and sales of $ 350 million over the previous three years, "what may have been a smart move politically for Time Warner is now looking like a financial fiasco." In February 1996, MCA Records —then owned by Seagram —bought 50% of Interscope for

5488-565: The controversy related to gangsta rap and explicit lyrics intensified as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole accused Interscope of releasing music that glorified violence and degraded women. Among others, the label was criticized by William J. Bennett , a former Education Secretary, and C. DeLores Tucker , the chairwoman of the National Political Congress of Black Women. In September, Time Warner announced it would disassociate itself from Interscope by selling its half-interest in

5586-441: The decline of physical media , mixtapes were defined as homemade compilations of music played through a cassette tape , CD , or digital playlist and became significant in hip-hop culture . The songs were typically beatmatched and consisted of seamless transitions at their beginnings and endings with fades or abrupt edits. It was then defined as relatively any musical project by an up-and-coming artist. Now, mixtapes have become

5684-404: The exclusive rights to market and distribute releases from hardcore hip hop label Death Row Records , a decision that ultimately put the label at the center of the mid-1990s gangsta rap controversy . As a result, Time Warner , then the parent of Warner Music Group, severed ties with Interscope by selling its 50 percent stake back to Field and Iovine for $ 115 million in 1995. In 1996, 50% of

5782-399: The fast pace of social media . One song can blow up an artist, and mixtapes give the ability for artists to answer quickly to their recent success and ride their wave of fame. Because of the flexibility that mixtapes allow, releasing them on platforms like TikTok can instantly increase an artist's mainstream recognition and reach a broader audience, and of course, without the expectations of

5880-475: The final six months of 1999. Interscope/Shady released Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP on May 23, 2000. The fastest-selling rap album in history, it sold 1.76 million copies in its first week. On October 19, 2000, Interscope/Flip records released Limp Bizkit's third studio album, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water and it would shift 1.05 million copies in its first week in

5978-520: The first week. In the second week, it sold an additional 335,000 copies. It would go on to sell 7,000,000 copies in the US. Being certified 7x Platinum in 2001. It would go on to sell 16,000,000 copies worldwide. By the close of the decade, Interscope sales accounted for nearly one-third of Seagram's 27% share of the U.S. music market. Records by Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Dre, Eve , Nine Inch Nails , Enrique Iglesias , Blackstreet , Smash Mouth and others generated an estimated $ 40 million in profit during

SECTION 60

#1732869314898

6076-578: The illusion that he starts rapping before the beat begins". According to Holmes, the most notable example of this effect is in his breakthrough hit " Suge ". Speaking on his influences, Kirk has said he studied artists like Future , Lil Wayne and Kanye West , who he says "came up and consistently progressed". He further elaborated: "I've studied all the genius marketers throughout the rap game. I borrow from anybody with something to offer". Jeff Weiss of The Guardian favorably compared to Kirk to Busta Rhymes , Eminem , Missy Elliott and Ludacris , noting

6174-501: The incident, sparking renewed scrutiny in the incident after Kirk shot a trespasser at his Troutman, North Carolina estate earlier that month. No one was charged for the incident in Troutman. In January 2020, Kirk was detained and questioned in Miami in connection with a robbery investigation. He was later arrested after authorities found he had an arrest warrant out in Texas stemming from

6272-767: The label was acquired for a reported $ 200 million by MCA Inc. , later known as Universal Music Group. Interscope's artist roster includes Sting , Eminem , Snoop Dogg , Lady Gaga , OneRepublic , Dermot Kennedy , Blackpink , Dr. Dre , DaBaby , Billie Eilish , Finneas , Imagine Dragons , Olivia Rodrigo , Selena Gomez , Camila Cabello , Playboi Carti , Kendrick Lamar , Jennifer Hudson , Ken Carson , Destroy Lonely , Jay Rock , ScHoolboy Q , Lana Del Rey , Maroon 5 , Moneybagg Yo , Gwen Stefani , Rae Sremmurd , Gracie Abrams , Zedd , Machine Gun Kelly , U2 , Yeat , Yungblud , Cuco , Juice WRLD , d4vd , Homixide Gang , Reneé Rapp , J. Cole and Karol G . In 1989, Ted Field began to build Interscope Records as

6370-672: The label was that artists would have complete creative control. Interscope's first release was " Rico Suave " by Ecuadorian rapper Gerardo in December 1990; the single reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in April 1991. Primus ' Interscope debut, Sailing the Seas of Cheese , was released in May, followed by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch 's Music for the People in July. It included

6468-435: The label. DaBaby spoke about intending to focus on the record label saying "I won't be rapping in five years; I won't be rapping. I'll be creating other superstars." His label signee Stunna 4 Vegas , is often referred to as DaBaby's sidekick. Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone described Kirk's flow as a " staccato , precise, and brutal rapping style, a syllable-crushing force delivered with such forward momentum it often gives

6566-539: The name Baby Jesus, which he eventually changed out of concern that it had become a distraction. Kirk got his big break after signing to Arnold Taylor, the president of the South Coast Music Group label, a big radio promoter. Taylor saw Kirk perform around North Carolina clubs at the time he [Taylor] was launching his label. Taylor had been responsible for the early rise of Southern rap stars including Yo Gotti and Future . Once they started working together,

6664-509: The number-one single " Good Vibrations ". Two days after first hearing his demo, Whalley signed Tupac Shakur in August 1991, and by November, Interscope released 2Pacalypse Now , Shakur's studio debut. Interscope began to develop a significant presence in the genre of alternative rock in 1992. In addition to a second Primus album, the label released No Doubt 's self-titled debut, Helmet 's Meantime , 4 Non Blondes ' Bigger, Better, Faster, More! , acquired and re-released Rocket from

6762-542: The organizers of the Governors Ball Music Festival announced Kirk had been removed from the 2021 lineup as a result of his comments. He was also cut from Parklife Festival , Day N Vegas, Austin City Limits Festival , Music Midtown , and the iHeartRadio Music Festival . Radio stations substituted a version of the " Levitating " remix without his contribution, resulting in his credit being removed on

6860-415: The pressures of a record label or commercial appeal. The absence of formal promotion, industry-standard production, or chart performance makes mixtapes often feature more raw and experimental sounds, which may be preferable to their fans. The value of a mixtape lies in its ability to define the artist rather than an industry standard, making it an important concept in music. Mixtapes can also serve as

6958-480: The proper promotion and radio play that traditional albums offer. Artists may informally promote their mixtapes by posting to their own social media (as opposed to having a management team do it) or by directly engaging with their fans online. For independent and emerging artists, mixtapes are a gateway to building a fanbase and experimenting with their sound. For established artists, mixtapes can be used as an outlet for personal expression and experimentation to escape

7056-402: The rapid decline of physical media such as CDs and cassettes have significantly altered the definition of a mixtape and rendered the physical mixtape obsolete. Today, mixtapes are generally considered an alternative to studio albums, especially in genres of hip-hop, R&B , and indie music. They allow artists to release music without industry-level expectations expected from the likes of

7154-546: The release of her album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't . Many well-known mixtapes are ineligible to be released on streaming platforms due to sample clearance issues or any licensing issues . This has prevented many praised mixtapes from being released on bigger streaming platforms. Examples of mixtapes that aren't available on major streaming platforms for these reasons are Friday Night Lights by J. Cole and Nostalgia, Ultra by Frank Ocean . However, some mixtapes have overcome their sample clearances, granting them

7252-404: The remix of " Whats Poppin " by Jack Harlow and the single " Levitating " by Dua Lipa , both of which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. In the wake of controversies regarding homophobia , he released the collaborative mixtape Better than You (2022) with YoungBoy Never Broke Again , and his fourth album, Baby on Baby 2 (2022), to commercial declines. Jonathan Lyndale Kirk

7350-613: The similarities in their musical styles which include "inventive rap stylists unafraid to make videos full of funny parodies and rubber-faced camera goofs". According to Weiss, Kirk "reflects an anachronistic approach to the rap game. If the charts are filled with opiated threnodies about addiction and sadness, he eschews singing in favor of raps that could take your head off". Kirk has said "I can't sing, but I'll hit some notes here and there". DaBaby often collaborates with Reel Goats. Jessica McKinney of Complex wrote that their videos "always have comedic and fun elements to them." Kirk has

7448-520: The single " Rockstar " (featuring Roddy Ricch ), which spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the wake of that year's George Floyd protests . Furthermore, it received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards . In 2020, he guest performed on

7546-456: The soundtrack for Eminem's semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile in October; the two titles combined sold more than 11,000,000 records before the end of the year. In 2002, New York City rapper 50 Cent signed to Interscope with a $ 1 million advance. 50 Cent's major-label debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' was released on February 6, 2003, through Interscope. The album debuted at number one on

7644-420: The streaming platform DatPiff introduced the publishing of mixtapes online and for free, which made mixtapes easier to obtain. In 2015, Canadian rapper Drake released his mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late significantly muddling the line between mixtapes and albums, setting the precedent that an album-like project could be promoted as a mixtape. The popularization of streaming platforms and

7742-480: The success of the single, On Fire , the album debuted atop the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum status in America. On September 23, 2003, Interscope/Flip Records released Limp Bizkit's fourth album Results May Vary , selling 325,000 copies in the first week. Debuting at No. 3 on Billboard 200, ending Limp's number 1 streak from their previous releases. It would go on to be certified Gold in 2003 and later Platinum in 2008. Ending Limp Bizkit's commercial peak,

7840-609: The team kept building buzz around the South with mixtapes and club shows, while Kirk was finding his sound. Through his deal with South Coast, Kirk signed a short-lived distribution deal with Jay-Z 's Roc Nation for his Blank Blank mixtape that would prove to be his breakout in late 2018. Thanks to the guidance of Taylor, and following major label bidding wars, Kirk landed a seven-figure recording deal with Interscope . In January 2019, upon being signed to Interscope, Kirk launched his own imprint, Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment. In March 2019, Kirk's debut studio album Baby on Baby ,

7938-464: The top 10 on the chart, dated June 8, 2019. Kirk was featured on the cover of XXL as part of the Freshman Class of 2019. Kirk featured on various hit songs throughout mid-2019, including Megan Thee Stallion 's " Cash Shit " and Quality Control 's " Baby ", both of which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. In July 2019, Kirk was featured on Dreamville 's compilation album Revenge of

8036-468: The top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 a month after its release. His second studio album, Kirk (2019) debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the hit singles " Intro " and " Bop ". That same year, he guest featured on the singles " Enemies " by Post Malone and " Cash Shit " by Megan Thee Stallion . His third studio album, Blame It on Baby (2020) became his second to peak the chart and spawned

8134-500: The traditional album might stick to one theme, mixtapes have allowed artists to present more diverse music, atypical from the conventional concept album. For example, the debut mixtape Drunken Babble by Kali Uchis was described by GQ as "dreamy R&B vocals with tough-talk rap lyrics, DIY beats, samples and influences spanning soul, reggae , doo-wop and synth-pop ." In an era of short-form content, mixtapes are valuable in that they give room to maintain relevance and adapt to

8232-479: The white music sounds like black music, and you can’t have two tracks by the same artist side by side, unless you’ve done the whole thing in pairs and… oh, there are loads of rules. In the 2000s, mixtapes transitioned from physical media to a synonym for unofficial albums that may have legal issues being officially released. They also became significant to developing artist recognition. Artists like 50 Cent used mixtapes to build their reputation before being signed to

8330-925: Was born on December 22, 1991, in Cleveland, Ohio . He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina at age six, where he spent most of his early years. He attended Vance High School, now called Julius L. Chambers High School , where he graduated in 2010. He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years. He did not complete his studies, saying he only went to college for his parents' sake. He grew up listening to Eminem , 50 Cent and Lil Wayne with his two older brothers. Kirk began taking music seriously between 2014 and 2015. In 2015, he started off his music career by releasing Nonfiction , his debut mixtape . He followed this up with his God's Work mixtape series, Baby Talk mixtape series, Billion Dollar Baby , and Back on My Baby Jesus Sh*t . He initially performed under

8428-454: Was founded as a joint venture with Atlantic Records . In a 1997 article in Rolling Stone , David Wild wrote: "Interscope's start-up coincided with a period of incredible change in the music world. Nirvana had ushered in the alternative revolution... While the major labels were packed with rosters full of expensive veteran artists who had to redefine themselves for a new rock era, Interscope

8526-485: Was highlighted in Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity , released in 1995: To me, making a tape is like writing a letter — there’s a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again. A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. You’ve got to kick off with a corker, to hold the attention ***, and then you’ve got to up it a notch, or cool it a notch, and you can’t have white music and black music together, unless

8624-491: Was in the business of signing new artists and could – as Iovine puts it – 'move on a dime.'" Based in Los Angeles , California in the Westwood neighborhood at an office building on 10900 Wilshire Boulevard , Interscope was run by "music men". It was a departure from the music industry practices of the 1970s and 1980s, when labels traditionally appointed lawyers and promotion executives to senior positions. A founding tenet of

8722-443: Was initiated by McClain, who met Dre when he was recording his solo debut, The Chronic . Original plans had called for the album to be released through Sony, but Sony passed on The Chronic due to "the crazy things going on around Death Row" and the contractual status of Dr. Dre. After hearing the album, Iovine agreed to put it out, although doing so required a complicated distribution agreement with Priority Records , Dre's label as

8820-433: Was later deleted. On the following day, the option to purchase the album was removed from iTunes. The album debuted at number one when it was officially released. In January 2023, a sex abuse lawsuit was filed alleging that Interscope and its now defunct subsidiary Nothing Records knew about sex abuse committed by Marilyn Manson against a girl in the 1990s when he was signed with Nothing Records. In September 2011, it

8918-537: Was merged into Interscope Geffen A&M. The DreamWorks A&R staff was retained, and the label's artists were divided between Geffen and Interscope. Among others, Interscope inherited Blink-182 , The All-American Rejects , and Nelly Furtado . In March 2005, Interscope launched Cherrytree Records with Martin Kierszenbaum , its head of international operations. Kierszenbaum, also a producer and A&R executive, focused initially on developing artists from outside

9016-408: Was released in April 2020. The album received mixed to positive reviews, and achieved commercial success, debuting atop the Billboard 200 with 124,000 album-equivalent units , becoming Kirk's second number-one album. It produced his highest-charting song, " Rockstar ", featuring Roddy Ricch , which spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, and reached number-one in

9114-416: Was released in August 2008; it was re-released with eight new songs as The Fame Monster in November 2009. Interscope held the top four positions on the 2009 year-end Hot 100 charts with The Black Eyed Peas' " Boom Boom Pow " (number one) and " I Gotta Feeling " (number four); Lady Gaga's " Poker Face " charted at number two and " Just Dance " was at number three. In June 2010 Eminem's Recovery entered

9212-432: Was released via Interscope Records and South Coast Music Group in a joint venture with both labels. The thirteen-track project features guest appearances from Offset , Rich Homie Quan , Rich the Kid and Stunna 4 Vegas . Baby on Baby debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the US. The song " Suge " debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 87 on the chart, dated April 13, 2019, and reached

9310-634: Was reported by federal prosecutors that the Interscope Geffen A&;M Records building was used by a drug-trafficking ring as a transport center. The Drug Enforcement Administration inspected the year-long case and stated that the Los Angeles offices of Interscope Records were used for pickups and deliveries of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in 2010 and 2011. Rock-It Cargo, a shipping company which has an immense list of musical clients, shipped music cases that allegedly contained drugs to New York City studios. Interscope Geffen A&M responded to

9408-456: Was reported that the South African hip hop/rave group Die Antwoord was leaving Interscope Records over a dispute with the label wanting their second studio album Tension to be re-worked for "mainstream appeal". Problems with Interscope first arose when the group decided the lead single for their second album would be "Fok julle naaiers" (loosely translated to "Fuck you fuckers"). Tension

9506-467: Was shot to death in April by a suspect who allegedly was listening to the album on the tape deck of a stolen truck when he was stopped by the officer. The trooper's family filed a civil suit against Shakur and Interscope, claiming the record's violence-laden lyrics incite "imminent lawless action". Earlier in 1992, Interscope negotiated a $ 10-million deal with Dr. Dre and Marion "Suge" Knight to finance and distribute their label, Death Row Records . It

9604-504: Was ultimately released through Zef Recordz in early 2012. On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar 's album, To Pimp a Butterfly , was released on iTunes , Spotify and Google Play eight days ahead of its scheduled release date (March 23). The CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment , Anthony Tiffith , blamed Interscope for the album's unintentional release, and tweeted: "I would personally like to thank Interscope for fucking up our release. Somebody has got to pay for this mistake. #TOP!" The tweet

#897102