Aftermath Entertainment - History

History

Upon his departure from Death Row Records in June 1996, Dr. Dre quickly launched Aftermath Entertainment through Interscope Records. It was founded as a "boutique label" that prides itself on "quality over quantity", focusing on small numbers of high-profile releases.

Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath was released towards the year's end, featuring artists who were amongst the label's first signees (most of the acts featured, however, quickly became disassociated with the company). In 1997, Dawn Robinson announced her departure from the R&B group En Vogue and that she had signed with Aftermath. Before the year's end, however, she abruptly left the label, claiming that Dr. Dre had been too slow to get the ball rolling on her project.

In the autumn of 1997, Aftermath released the only collaborative project by hip hop super-group The Firm (composed of AZ, Foxy Brown, Nas, and Nature). Despite the highly anticipated album featuring production and cameo appearances by Dr. Dre himself, debuting atop the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum, it sold below commercial expectation. The group subsequently disbanded. Aftermath's next release was supposed to be by rapper King Tee. His album, however, was shelved, and King Tee was released from his contractual obligations in 2001. Last Emperor had also been signed during this time, but was shelved due to creative differences with an A&R at Aftermath.

Upon recommendation from Interscope Records head, Jimmy Iovine, Aftermath signed now multi-platinum rapper Eminem in 1998. The following year, Eminem's major label debut, The Slim Shady LP was released. The album topped the Billboard albums chart, went on to be certified quadruple platinum, and arguably became the label's first successful release. Also in 1999, Aftermath released 2001, Dr. Dre's follow-up to his 1992 album, The Chronic. The album went on to be certified six-times-platinum.

Several more artists were signed to, and later dropped from Aftermath, including Hittman and Rakim due to production conflicts. Legal troubles forced singer Truth Hurts to subsequently get dropped from the label after her album's release. Aftermath released 50 Cent's multi-platinum major label debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' through a joint venture with Shady Records in 2003. Rapper The Game, who signed with the label in 2003, also released his debut album The Documentary through a joint venture with 50 Cent's G-Unit Records in 2005. Shortly after the release of The Documentary, tension between The Game and 50 Cent ignited, resulting in The Game leaving Aftermath Entertainment in mid-2006.

Busta Rhymes (now a part of young money) was also signed and released one album before later being dropped from the label due to conflict with Interscope head, Jimmy Iovine. His album, then titled Blessed, since retitled Back on My B.S., was to be released on Aftermath. It was later reported that when he signed a deal with Universal Motown, the album would be released on his label, Flipmode Entertainment, through his Universal Motown deal. Stat Quo was also released from the label in 2008, citing differences in direction. In early 2009, Slim the Mobster signed to Aftermath in a joint venture with Shady Records and G-Unit Records. But later he was moved just to Aftermath. While in late 2009, Detroit rapper Hayes was signed to a joint venture with Timbaland's Mosley Music Group but was later released from his contract.

In January 2010, it was revealed that Bishop Lamont had left the label due to the repeated delay of his debut, The Reformation, while long time Aftermath R&B singer, Marsha Ambrosius, had also left the label.

Later in January 2010, Game posted a twitpic of him wearing a lot of Aftermath chains with a caption saying "It's funny how things come Full Circle". Later he confirmed that he had returned to Aftermath Entertainment, but it is unclear if he officially was signed back.

In October 2011, Dr. Dre started to work with his protégé Slim the Mobster and Kendrick Lamar. On October 17, 2012, Slim the Mobster was officially dropped from the label. In March, 2012, it was announced that Kendrick Lamar had officially signed with the label. His group, Black Hippy is only signed to Top Dawg and Interscope as a group.