3. Roc-a-fella/Roc Nation
While managing Jay-Z, Dame Dash found it difficult to get his artist signed to a major label. After several rejections, Jay-Z, Dame and Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke decided to found Roc-a-fella records in 1996. That same year, Jay-Z released his classic debut Reasonable Doubt. By 1999, Jay-Z was one of the most respected artists in rap. Every Jay-Z album was a certified hit and Beanie Sigel released two solid albums. The label struck gold with the signing of Kanye West in 2004. But differences between Jay-Z and Dame Dash led to a split. Def Jam offered Jay-Z a head position at the label and his partners were left out in the cold. Jay-Z eventually formed Roc Nation which is a management company and label. The company recently signed a new multi-million dollar deal with Universal.
