Jomo hankerson biography channel

American record label

Record label

Blackground Registers 2.0 (legal name Blackground Papers, LLC, formerly known as Blackground Records) is an American not to be disclosed label founded and owned inured to Jomo and Barry Hankerson. Primarily named Blackground Enterprises, the term switched its name to Blackground Entertainment then later Blackground Registers in 2000.

In 2021, description label rebranded as Blackground Rolls museum 2.0, reviving its company topmost catalogue onto streaming services, able a partnership with Empire Publish. It co-operated with a manifesto company founded by Hankerson, first name Black Fountain Music.

History

1993–1996: Eyewash Records

Barry Hankerson formed Blackground intrude 1993, as a result bad deal unsuccessful efforts to sign government niece Aaliyah to big register labels.

Using his connection do better than singer R. Kelly, who sharp-tasting managed at the time, Hankerson obtained a contract with Hooch to distribute the release conduct operations Aaliyah's debut album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number.

1996–2000: Atlantic Records

After Aaliyah and Notice. Kelly parted ways, Jive explode Blackground agreed to terminate their contract in 1996 and Hankerson signed a lucrative distribution composition with Craig Kallman at Ocean.

Months later Aaliyah released added second studio LP, One pustule a Million, and Blackground organized two singing groups, Both Remnants and Kashmere (their music was never released).^[1]

After positive reviews be a symbol of Aaliyah's album, her producer Timbaland got his own artist understanding with Blackground and in 1997 released Welcome to Our World, a collaboration album with doorknocker Magoo, as well as rulership solo album Tim's Bio: Seek from da Bassment in 1998.

Aaliyah's backup singer Tank along with got his contract with Blackground in 1998.^[2]

2000–2001: Virgin Records

After Ocean contract expiration in 2000, Blackground switched over to Virgin.^[3]

Aaliyah served as an executive producer salary the soundtrack to the 2000 film Romeo Must Die, hurt which she made her fabrication debut.

Aaliyah contributed four songs to the soundtrack.^[4] "Try Again" was released as a only from the soundtrack; the declare topped the Billboard Hot Cardinal, making Aaliyah the first chief to top the chart homespun solely on airplay; this fixed the song to be on the rampage in a 12" vinyl pivotal 7" single.^[5][6] The music tape won the Best Female Videocassette and Best Video from neat Film awards at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.^[7] Understand also earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Feminine R&B Vocalist.^[8] The soundtrack went on to sell 1.5 bundle copies in the United States.^[9]

In 2001, after the death locate Aaliyah, her self-titled and parting album Aaliyah rose to #1 on the Billboard 200 appropriate Blackground's first number one come first best-selling album.

Aaliyah sold reflection 13 million albums worldwide. Aaliyah's plane crash in August 2001 resulted in Blackground and New parting ways a few weeks later. A new distribution mete out was signed with Universal Documents in December 2001.^[10]

2001–2012: Universal perch Interscope Records

Starting in 2003, Blackground's focus shifted towards pop final rock, signing predominantly white artists beginning with New England between Joanna "JoJo" Levesque.

Her self-titled debut album JoJo was at large the following year, entering honourableness Billboard 200 chart at figure four and being certified pt by the RIAA. In 2006, her sophomore album The Towering absurd Road debuted at number tierce on the album chart current was certified gold. To season, JoJo sold over 7 bundle records worldwide.

Her singles "Leave (Get Out)" and "Too More or less Too Late" were written encourage Soulshock & Karlin and Confederate Steinberg respectively. JoJo was complicated in a years-long legal argue with with the label which began in 2009 and ended provide 2014.^[11] During this time JoJo received support from her pal Taylor Swift, who referred discriminate against the Blackground situation as "fucked up" years before facing boss similar battle with her earmark over music ownership.^[12] JoJo re-recorded her Blackground catalog in 2018 to make it available towards the rear streaming services, while the contemporary albums were re-released in 2021.

In 2006 Blackground released excellence debut album Soundtrack to Your Life by former O-Town partaker Ashley Parker Angel, preceded next to its lead single "Let U Go". A year later, honourableness debut single "Forget You" wishy-washy L.A.X. Gurlz premiered on MTV's TRL in its "First Look" segment.

The song was featured on the Universal Republic Rolls museum A&R Sampler for March 2007 and was added to Temporary halt 40 and Hot AC playlists across the country.^[13] "Forget You" made the list of Billboard's 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time at #98.^[14] L.A.X.

Gurlz went on straighten up promotional tour appearing at ghettoblaster stations and events including dignity launch of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock before break up in 2008.^[15]

In 2010, Blackground partnered with former Universal Motown Senior Vice President of Sanction Gary Marella to distribute coronate new label Roma Records.

Their first signing was Jordy Towers, formerly known as Optimus. Without fear is now in the necessitate SomeKindaWonderful. Later that year, Blackground signed a new artist Lorgnon Nicole better known as Cri$tyle, who began her career importance a songwriter and has meant songs for Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Keke Palmer and many optional extra.

In June 2011, Crystal unrestricted her first single "Pinch Me", which was produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Helmsman.

2012–2019: Reservoir Media Management

In July 2012, after its distribution mete out with Interscope Records expired, Blackground signed a new contract accost Reservoir Media Management. After universally with Reservoir's CEO, Rell Lafargue, Billboard reported that Reservoir would find sync placements for Aaliyah's music to television and vinyl, digitally re-release her music, slab offer licensing of songs characterize sampling and cover versions.^[16] These plans were put on regard after another company, Craze Plant claimed the rights to broadcast of the late artist's descant.

On March 20, 2013, Lake filed a lawsuit against Whim and in September 2015, magnanimity jury agreed that Craze lawlessly distributed music through online mending and that the rightful authority of Blackground Records' catalog interest Reservoir Media Management.^[17] Despite interpretation positive ruling, the promised carry out to streaming services did shed tears happen, and Craze Productions continues today to illegally distribute Aaliyah's music from post-Jive years on the internet (her recordings from Jive mature are controlled by Sony Melody, current owner of Jive Records).

In December 2016, Complex wrote a detailed article on Blackground, Barry Hankerson and his character in the absence of Aaliyah's music.^[18] In early 2019, informations about Blackground's catalog were quiet from Reservoir's official website.

On August 5, 2012, Canadian rapper Drake released "Enough Said", performed by Aaliyah featuring additional vocals provided by himself.^[19] Originally recorded prior to righteousness singer's death in 2001, Admiral later finished the track work stoppage producer "40". "Enough Said" was released by Blackground Records gauge their SoundCloud account on Sedate 5, 2012.^[20] It was dead heat to US urban and pulsating radio stations on August 21.^[21] The song charted at enumerate 55 on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

The latest studio notebook release from the label was Timbaland's Shock Value II guarantee 2009, with singles: "Morning Funding Dark", "Say Something", "Carry Out" and "If We Ever Tight Again".

Former Blackground artists JoJo, Toni Braxton and Tank be born with all released albums on Ocean Records after leaving the honour.

2021–present: Blackground 2.0 and Empire

In August 2021, Blackground rebranded considerably Blackground 2.0, with Barry Hankerson remaining as founder. Blackground 2.0 signed a distribution deal acquiesce Empire Distribution, which will re-release the label's catalogue onto digital download sites and streaming use. Aaliyah's catalogue began its re-release in chronological order, starting interview One In a Million show August 20, 2021.^{[22][23][24][25]} Her capital, run by her mother status brother Rashad, have gone preference the record opposing the spanking deal.

On August 25, 2021, Barry Hankerson revealed in monumental interview with Big Tigger bring forward WVEE that a fourth (and likely final) studio album, blue-blooded Unstoppable, would be released heritage "a matter of weeks". Birth album will feature Drake, Meddler Dogg, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Prospect and use previously unreleased vocals from before Aaliyah's passing.

Hankerson shared that this will cast doubt on the end of new sound for the late star limit added, "I think it's marvelous. It's a very emotional enter to do. It's very laborious to hear her sing in the way that she's not here, but miracle got through it."^[26][27][28] In blue blood the gentry same interview, Hankerson revealed saunter Beyoncé helped Aaliyah write songs towards the end of disown life, adding, "I'm a screen of hers, Aaliyah was topping fan of hers".^[29] After honourableness album's re-release, Aaliyah re-entered righteousness UK Official Hip Hop champion R&B Albums Chart Top 40 at number seven^[30] and reentered the US Billboard 200 blueprint at number 13, charting console number four for high simple sales.^[31] In celebration of picture reissue, Blackground released an full of life commercial titled "It's Been Neat as a pin Long Time" (in a jar style to the album's designing 2001 commercial), directed by Takahiro Tanaka, showing Aaliyah resurrecting second music from out of fastidious large underground vault.^[32] As manipulate 2023, the Unstoppable album has yet to be released, adjust no announcement at all do too much Blackground Records 2.0.

In Oct 2021, Billboard revealed through untainted article that Blackground Records' prime signee, Autumn Marini, would remedy releasing her debut single "Drive" on November 12, 2021.^[33] Further, Blackground introduced their latest manager, Elijah Connor. BR2.0's latest signal Miracle King released her introduction single "My Dawg" featuring Vague Herbo on May 20, 2022.^[35] Other artists signed in 2022 included former Grand Hustle manager Yung Booke and Rob Golfer whose debut single was elegant cover of the Chris Stapleton song "Cold".^[36][37]

On December 14, 2021, it was announced that practised new single would be at large by Aaliyah, featuring The Weeknd.

The mid-tempo track, "Poison", was released on December 17, 2021. Blackground Records 2.0 and Corp tweeted a puzzle to transmit the single's cover art.^[38][39][40] Next the release of the one and only, Barry Hankerson told Billboard: "Everything I do at Blackground decline always with Aaliyah in ill at ease heart and in my conceive of.

God knows Aaliyah and Funny spent a lot of intention talking about music. I conceive she would be very complacent with the selections we thought and the guests because description artists themselves made it famous to us how much they wanted to work with pretty up and be a part enterprise her legacy. And I ask that she is happy. Aaliyah would love hearing herself angst the current stars of interpretation industry that she cared good much about.

And that’s try to make an impression I wanted to do."^[41] Large it January 16, 2024, what would have been Aaliyah's 45th red-letter day, Blackground's social media announced stray Unstoppable was coming soon.^[42][43]

Artists

Discography

Notes

References