Fort Knocks Entertainment: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:Atlantic Records]] |
[[Category:Atlantic Records]] |
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[[Category:New York-based record labels]] |
[[Category:New York-based record labels]] |
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Revision as of 22:33, 28 June 2009
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2008) |
| Fort Knocks Entertainment | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Warner Music Group |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Just Blaze |
| Distributor(s) | Atlantic Records |
| Genre | Hip hop/R&B |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Official website | [1] |
Fort Knocks Entertainment is an American East Coast hip hop and R&B record label founded in 2004 by record producer, Just Blaze.
History
After his start as a local disc jockey, Just Blaze became a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. He would mainly produce for prominent Roc-A-Fella artist, Jay-Z. Jay-Z would retire in 2003 and Blaze wanted his own label, so he could occupy his spare time. Island Def Jam could not afford to supply another label during that period, so Just Blaze left Def Jam in early 2004. Upon his departure, Atlantic Records head, Craig Kallman, took advantage of his free agent status and agreed to bankroll him his own vanity label to be operated through Atlantic and its Warner Music parent.
Fort Knocks Entertainment was quickly established by June 2004. The label would go on to sign a handful of acts that he had been watching from the underground circuit. This would include Brooklyn, New York rapper Brian Carenard, better known as Saigon, Chicago, Illinois singer, Dave Young, and Jovan Dais.
The label's first release was Saigon's, "What a Life," featuring Tre Williams, which was quickly followed by his album, The Moral of the Story. Around the time of these releases came Jovan Dais' "Another Man Will," its remix, and Fedex. Saigon's album would be certified Gold within a year of its initial release date, while Dias' album would manage to sell over 400,000. Saigon would quickly become a mainstream star and the most popular act on Fort Knocks. Also in 2007, the label added Naledge to its ever-growing roster.
In the early stages of 2008, the label signed numerous acts including Seven Dirty, Armel,, M.E.D., and Jha Jha. The label was able to revive some of these acts careers and provide them with attention that they lacked at their previous label. They would quickly release the debut album from Seven Dirty, The Package, which featured "Do It All Again."
For 2008, the label plans to release albums from M.E.D., Dave Young, Saigon, Seven Dirty, Jha Jha, and Red 5. Just Blaze now has plans to begin his own career as a rapper and, in turn he will rap under the pseudonym Red 5. The first 2008 release will be Naledge's The In Crowd.
His debut album will be Just Getting Warm, which will feature songs from artists that Just Blaze has produced for and songs from his own artists that have joined Fort Knocks. Other releases will be Time For Re-Up from M.E.D, Dave Young's self-titled debut, and Jha Jha's Git It Girl: The Album.
Fort Knocks recently added Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rapper, Ms. Jade to their growing roster. Her album is due in mid-2009 and is currently untitled. Kelis also signed with the label a few weeks later after meeting Just Blaze at a Manhattan party along with former Nas protégé, Quan.
In May 2008, Just Blaze announced that the label had parted ways with Atlantic Records, and are now searching for distribution deals with other labels.
Current Roster
Artists
| Act | Year signed | # Albums released under Fort Knocks |
|---|---|---|
| Saigon | 2005 | - |
| Dave Young | 2007 | - |
| Naledge | 2007 | - |
| M.E.D. | 2008 | - |
| Armel | 2008 | - |
| Seven Dirty | 2008 | 1 |
| Jha Jha | 2008 | - |
| Ms. Jade | 2008 | - |
| Kelis | 2008 | - |
| Quan | 2008 | - |
| Red 5 | 2008 | - |
Producers
- Just Blaze
- DJ Poun
- The Blazettes
Discography
Past releases
- The Moral of the Story
- Artist: Saigon
- Released: November 13, 2007
- Label(s): Fort Knocks/Atlantic
- Chart Position: #9
- RIAA Certification: Gold
- Single: "What a Life"
- The Package
Upcoming releases
- 2009: Naledge - The In Crowd
- 2009: Just Blaze - Just Getting Warm
- 2009: Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told
- 2009: Armel - Love 101
- 2009: M.E.D. - Time For Re-Up
- 2009: Dave Young - Dave Young
- 2009: Jha Jha - Git It Girl: The Album
- 2009: Seven Dirty - Former Inmate: Life Goes On
- 2009: Ms. Jade - TBA
- 2009: Kelis - TBA
- 2009: Quan - Until My Death
- TBA: Saigon - Thank God
Affiliated labels
- Atlantic Records (ex as of May 2008)
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Def Jam Recordings
- Get Low Records