Rap-A-Lot Records

Founding

Rap-A-Lot Records was founded in Houston in 1986 by James Prince, often credited as J. Prince, and Cliff Blodget. Prince, who had worked as a bank teller before being laid off in 1985, bought a building on Houston's west side that first served as a used car lot and later became the label's recording space. He has said he started the company partly to keep his younger stepbrother, who recorded as Sir Rap-A-Lot, and friends such as Raheem away from street life. The label's first major act was the Ghetto Boys, later spelled Geto Boys, whose lineup Prince reshaped by bringing in Willie D and Scarface.

The Geto Boys era

“Grip It! On That Other Level,” released by the Geto Boys on Rap-A-Lot on March 12, 1989, reached number 19 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and eventually sold about 500,000 copies independently. The group's graphic subject matter drew national attention. Rap-A-Lot then signed a distribution deal with Priority Records, and “We Can't Be Stopped” (July 9, 1991) reached number 24 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum. Its single “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” peaked at number 23 on the Hot 100 and became one of the best-known Southern rap songs of the period.

Scarface and the major-label years

In 1994 Rap-A-Lot moved to Noo Trybe Records, a Virgin imprint. Scarface's “The Diary” (October 18, 1994) debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum within two months. The label also signed Chicago's Do or Die, whose “Picture This” (September 3, 1996) reached number 27 and was certified gold. Scarface's double album “My Homies” (March 3, 1998) peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and was certified platinum. During the 1990s the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated Prince and the label on suspicion of links to drug trafficking; the agents involved were later found to have engaged in corrupt conduct. The roster in this period included Bushwick Bill, Willie D, 5th Ward Boyz, Big Mike and Devin the Dude.

Later years and legacy

After its Virgin period, Rap-A-Lot worked with Asylum Records and Fontana Distribution. Bun B's “Trill” (October 18, 2005), released through Rap-A-Lot and Asylum, debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200, reached number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and was certified gold. The label also released music by Pimp C, Z-Ro, Trae and Yukmouth. From 2013 its releases were handled by RED Distribution under Sony Music Entertainment. Rap-A-Lot is widely credited with establishing Houston as a center of independent rap and with proving that a Southern label could build national stars on its own terms.