{{Short description|American record label}} {{Infobox record label | name = 1501 Certified Entertainment | image = 1501 Certified Entertainment logo.png | image_bg = | parent = | founded = {{start date and age|2016}} | founder = [[Carl Crawford]] | genre = [[Hip-hop]] | defunct = | distributor = | country = United States | location = [[Houston]], [[Texas]], U.S. | url = {{URL|1501ent.com}} }}
'''1501 Certified Entertainment''' is an American independent record label. Based in [[Houston]], it was founded in 2016 by American former baseball player [[Carl Crawford]]. It is best known as the former record label of rapper [[Megan Thee Stallion]], who filed multiple lawsuits against the company starting in 2020 that were collectively settled in 2023, and the label of rapper [[Erica Banks]].
==History== 1501 Certified Entertainment was founded in 2016<ref name="2016press">{{cite web |title=4X Allstar MLB Player Carl Crawford Creates Opportunities for Minority Creatives at his label 1501 Certified Ent |url=https://www.2822news.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/629628028/4x-allstar-mlb-player-carl-crawford-creates-opportunities-for-minority-creatives-at-his-label-1501-certified-ent/ |via=[[WYOU]] |publisher=EIN Presswire |access-date=August 17, 2025 |location=[[Houston]] |format=Press release |date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> in [[Houston]] by former American baseball player [[Carl Crawford]]. T. Farris, who had formerly worked with the [[Swishahouse]] record label and its artists [[Paul Wall]] and [[Mike Jones (rapper)|Mike Jones]], worked as its operations manager until 2020.<ref name="VarShir">{{cite web |last1=Ju |first1=Shirley |title=1501's Carl Crawford on Megan Thee Stallion: 'Roc Nation Tried to Cut Me Out of the Deal' |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-roc-nation-1501-carl-crawford-contract-1203522811/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=March 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name="SourceSign">{{cite web |author1=MoClassified |title=Megan Thee Stallion Inks Deal with 300 Entertainment |url=https://thesource.com/2018/11/27/megan-thee-stallion-inks-deal-with-300-entertainment/ |website=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=November 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Nandi |title=Meet the electrifying Megan Thee Stallion |url=https://www.thefader.com/2018/08/30/megan-thee-stallion-tina-snow-interview |website=[[The Fader]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=August 30, 2018}}</ref> Crawford also worked closely with record executive and [[Rap-A-Lot Records]] founder [[James Prince|J. Prince]] as his consultant.<ref name="RespectCraw" /><ref name="RoxxPrince">{{cite web |last1=Sadler |first1=Armon |title=How Is J Prince Connected To Megan Thee Stallion? |url=https://uproxx.com/music/how-j-prince-connected-megan-thee-stallion/ |publisher=[[Uproxx]] |access-date=August 15, 2025 |date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> Rapper HardyBoy Pigg has stated that he was the first artist signed to 1501. Many of the label's artists until 2020, including rapper Haroldlujah and singer Railey Rose, were recruited by Farris.<ref name="Devil">{{cite web |last1=Setaro |first1=Shawn |title='It Was Like Signing With the Devil': 1501 Certified Entertainment Artists Speak Out |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/shawn-setaro/1501-certified-entertainment-artists-speak-out |website=[[Complex Networks|Complex]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=March 11, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Carl Crawford (WMxGjRO66qg).png|thumb|left|upright|Carl Crawford in 2022]]
After a video of rapper [[Megan Thee Stallion]] [[Freestyle rap|freestyling]] in a 2016 Houston cypher went viral, Crawford found her through [[Instagram]] and she signed a [[360 deal]] with 1501 in 2018.<ref name="AVrestrain">{{cite web |last1=Keates |first1=Emma |title=Megan Thee Stallion takes out restraining order against her label |url=https://www.avclub.com/megan-thee-stallion-restraining-order-1501-entertainmen-1849785199 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=August 15, 2025 |date=November 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lal |first1=Kish |title=6 rappers to watch in 2019 |url=https://www.redbull.com/au-en/rappers-to-watch |publisher=[[Red Bull GmbH|Red Bull]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=February 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name="BBCrawdeny">{{cite web |last1=Lamarre |first1=Carl |title=Carl Crawford Denies Megan Thee Stallion's Claims His 1501 Label Is Preventing Her From Releasing Music: 'Nothing Is True That She Said' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/carl-crawford-megan-thee-stallion-1501-label-denial/ |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=March 3, 2020}}</ref> Megan Thee Stallion later signed a distribution deal with [[300 Entertainment]] in November 2018.<ref name="SourceSign" /> By 2019, 1501's roster also included rappers D-Raww and K'ona Lisa.<ref name="RespectCraw">{{cite web |last1=Burton |first1=Brittany |title=1501 Certified Ent. Founder Carl Crawford Talks Discovering Meg Thee Stallion, Working With J. Prince & Bringing Houston to ATL |url=https://respect-mag.com/2019/10/1501-certified-ent-founder-carl-crawford-talks-discovering-meg-thee-stallion-working-with-j-prince-bringing-houston-to-atl/ |website=[[Respect (magazine)|Respect]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=October 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="VarShir" /> Megan Thee Stallion's 2020 single "[[Savage (Megan Thee Stallion song)|Savage]]", which topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], and her studio albums ''[[Good News (Megan Thee Stallion album)|Good News]]'' (2020) and ''[[Traumazine]]'' (2022) were released through 1501.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horowitz |first1=Steven J. |title=Megan Thee Stallion Settles Legal Feud With 1501 Certified Entertainment Over Contract Disputes |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-1501-certified-entertainment-legal-settlement-1235762105/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=October 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Duran |first1=Anagricel |title=Megan Thee Stallion settles legal dispute with former record label |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/megan-thee-stallion-settles-legal-dispute-with-former-record-label-3518761 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=October 20, 2023}}</ref> Rapper [[Erica Banks]] signed to 1501 in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crumpton |first1=Taylor |title=Erica Banks Has Arrived |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2021/04/erica-banks-has-arrived/ |website=[[D Magazine]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=April 16, 2025}}</ref> She later signed a joint deal with 1501 and [[Warner Records]] in 2021, following the viral success of her 2020 single "[[Buss It]]" on [[TikTok]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hamilton |first1=Xavier |title=Erica Banks on Turning Down Early Label Deal Offers, Including DaBaby's Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/fnr-tigg/erica-banks-explains-why-she-didnt-sign-with-dababy |website=[[Complex Networks|Complex]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=April 6, 2021}}</ref> In May 2020, during a music video shooting for one of Crawford's then–recent signees to 1501 at his home, Bethany Lartigue, a 25-year-old football player and the signee's girlfriend, and a young boy named Kasen Hersi both drowned and died in Crawford's swimming pool.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dougherty |first1=Matt |title=Family: Woman was shooting music videos at former baseball player's Houston home where she drowned |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/family-says-woman-was-shooting-music-videos-at-former-baseball-players-home-when-she-young-boy-drowned/285-6b3e8c74-b93b-4b12-ba83-85532b0aba42 |website=[[KHOU]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=May 17, 2020}}</ref> Banks soon posted in Lartigue's memory on social media.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bieler |first1=Des |title=Women's football team mourns loss of player who drowned with 5-year-old in ex-MLB star's pool |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/05/19/womens-football-team-mourns-loss-player-who-drowned-with-5-year-old-ex-mlb-stars-pool/ |website=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=May 19, 2020}}</ref>
In 2022, the label began focusing on scouting [[influencer]]s to become rappers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carey |first1=Isiah |title=1501 Certified Entertainment CEO Carl Crawford talks new project, upcoming event |url=https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1149776 |publisher=[[KRIV (TV)|FOX 26 Houston]] |access-date=August 15, 2025 |format=Video |date=December 2, 2022}}</ref> In February 2023, amidst the label's legal battle with Megan Thee Stallion that began in 2020, Crawford stepped down as its president and announced that Kai "Verse" Tyler would be taking his place.<ref name="RevApology">{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Angel |title=Megan Thee Stallion receives apology from Carl Crawford: "We don't have a problem" |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-27/276070/megan-thee-stallion-receives-apology-from-carl-crawford |publisher=[[Revolt (TV network)|Revolt]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=February 27, 2023}}</ref> Banks stated that she had parted ways with the label by June 2023 and accused them of owing her money in the lyrics of her song "Real Rap Bitch", a snippet of which was posted that month.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Giacomazzo |first1=Bernadette |title=Erica Banks Seemingly Disses 1501 Certified Ent. As She Cuts Ties With Label |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/erica-banks-1501-diss-cut-ties/ |website=[[HipHopDX]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=June 30, 2023}}</ref> The following month, Crawford claimed on Instagram Live that Banks's departure from 1501 left the label in $500 thousand of debt to Warner Records.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Aaron |title=Carl Crawford Claims He's '$500K In The Hole' Over Erica Banks' Album |url=https://uproxx.com/music/erica-banks-1501-certified-label-500k/ |publisher=[[Uproxx]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=July 10, 2023}}</ref>
===Megan Thee Stallion lawsuits=== [[File:Megan Thee Stallion (cropped).jpeg|thumb|upright|Megan Thee Stallion in 2022]]
Unbeknownst to Crawford, Megan Thee Stallion signed a management deal with [[Roc Nation]] in September 2019, which she announced in January 2020, with Farris leaving 1501 to work with her at Roc Nation. She stated that Roc Nation made her aware of her deal with 1501 being "unconscionable".<ref>{{cite web |author1=Miss2Bees |title=Carl Crawford Talks Feeling Blindsided by Megan Thee Stallion's Roc Nation Deal |url=https://thesource.com/2019/11/04/carl-crawford-roc-nation/ |website=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=November 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ross |first1=Alex Robert |title=Megan Thee Stallion signs management deal with Roc Nation |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/09/13/megan-thee-stallion-signs-management-deal-with-roc-nation |website=[[The Fader]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=September 13, 2019}}</ref> According to her, after attempts to renegotiate her contract went awry, 1501 barred her from releasing any new music, which she shared publicly on Instagram Live in March 2020.<ref name="BBCrawdeny" />
The following day, she filed a lawsuit against 1501, asking to have her recording contract with the company thrown out and alleging that they had misled her about the services they offered to provide her and had only paid her $15 thousand. The lawsuit also alleged that Prince had made threats related to Megan Thee Stallion's Roc Nation deal and toward her collaborator [[LilJuMadeDaBeat]] and that someone from the company had leaked photos of her 2015 mugshot. A judge soon granted her a [[Injunction#Temporary restraining orders|temporary restraining order]] against 1501, which allowed her to release music until mid-March. She released her project ''[[Suga (EP)|Suga]]'' on March 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |title=Megan Thee Stallion Drops New Album Suga |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-says-shes-releasing-new-album-suga-this-week/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> In interviews with ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' and ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' shortly thereafter, Crawford denied all of the lawsuit's allegations and blamed the dispute with Megan Thee Stallion on Farris.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Setaro |first1=Shawn |title=Megan Thee Stallion's Label Dispute, Explained |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/shawn-setaro/megan-thee-stallion-label-dispute-explained |website=[[Complex Networks|Complex]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Complex Networks|Complex]]'' also interviewed several of 1501's former and active artists at the time, most of whom shared that they had experienced similarly contract-related issues involving the label.<ref name="HHDXCplex">{{cite web |last1=Ivey |first1=Justin |title=1501 Certified Ent. Artists Criticize Label Following Megan Thee Stallion's Lawsuit |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/1501-certified-ent-artists-criticize-label-following-megan-thee-stallions-lawsuit/ |website=[[HipHopDX]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> A settlement was reached in March 2021, causing parts of her contract to be amended.<ref name="RSWin">{{cite web |last1=Dillon |first1=Nancy |title=Megan Thee Stallion Wins Early Round in Contract War With Houston Label |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/megan-thee-stallion-wins-early-round-contract-war-1501-houston-label-1234653804/ |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=August 15, 2025 |date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>
In August 2021, Megan Thee Stallion filed a petition against 1501 Entertainment and Crawford, alleging that they were blocking the release of her remix of the [[BTS]] song "[[Butter (song)|Butter]]". The remix was released later that month after a judge ruled that she was cleared to release it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sinha |first1=Charu |title=Megan Thee Stallion Cleared to Drop 'Butter' Remix |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/megan-thee-stallion-cleared-to-drop-butter-remix.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |access-date=August 12, 2025 |date=August 25, 2021}}</ref> She sued the label again in February 2022 over their refusal to classify her [[compilation album]] ''[[Something for Thee Hotties]]'' (2021), which consisted of archival material and previously released freestyles, as an album, which she alleged was a tactic to keep her stuck in her three-album recording contract.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Donahue |first1=Bill |title=Megan Thee Stallion Sues Record Label Again — This Time Over The Definition of 'Album' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/megan-thee-stallion-lawsuit-record-label-album-definition/ |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 15, 2025 |date=February 22, 2022}}</ref> 1501 countersued the following month, with Crawford calling the project a "bullshit ass mixtape".<ref name="VibeBS">{{cite web |last1=Sadler |first1=Armon |title=1501 CEO Carl Crawford Admits Mistakes In Megan Thee Stallion Contract Battle |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/1501-carl-crawford-admits-mistakes-megan-thee-stallion-1234738555/ |website=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=February 27, 2023}}</ref> She added to the lawsuit in August of that year, asking for $1 million in damages due to allegedly not receiving royalties owed to her and alleging that 1501 were involved in [[Music leak|leaking]] her second studio album, ''Traumazine''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Donahue |first1=Bill |title=Megan Thee Stallion Demands $1M in 1501 Lawsuit, Implies Label Helped Leak 'Traumazine' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/megan-thee-stallion-record-label-lawsuit-traumazine-leak/ |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 15, 2025 |date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> Prince soon made an Instagram post defending Crawford and 1501 and accusing Megan Thee Stallion of "consistently and intentionally breach[ing] her 1501 contract with impunity for years in ways that are too numerous to list".<ref name="RoxxPrince" /> 1501 filed a motion in September 2022 asking the court to bypass the trial and rule that ''Something for Thee Hotties'' was not an album, which was denied in December of that year.<ref name="RSWin" />
In November 2022, Megan Thee Stallion was granted a restraining order against 1501 Certified and 300 Entertainment, following her accusations that the label was trying to prevent the usage of her music during the [[American Music Awards of 2022|2022 American Music Awards]].<ref name="AVrestrain" /> Also that month, [[Desiree Perez]], Megan Thee Stallion's manager and Roc Nation's CEO, was subpoenaed to testify at a deposition by 1501. Megan Thee Stallion's lawyers criticized it as a way of "harassing Perez and disrupting her responsibilities" and attempted to prevent the deposition by filing a protective order, which was denied by a judge in January 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bustard |first1=Andy |title=Megan Thee Stallion Accuses 1501 Label Of 'Harassing' Roc Nation CEO |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-1501-harassing-roc-nation-ceo-desiree-perez/ |website=[[HipHopDX]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=November 24, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Donahue |first1=Bill |title=Roc Nation CEO Must Sit For Deposition in Megan Thee Stallion's Label Lawsuit, Judge Rules |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/megan-thee-stallion-label-lawsuit-roc-nation-ceo-deposed/ |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> Crawford said in an interview with [[TMZ]] in February 2023 that he would stop mentioning Megan Thee Stallion's name on social media or in interviews and that the two had "never had any problems" outside of social media.<ref name="VibeBS" /><ref name="RevApology" /> Megan Thee Stallion filed another motion in April 2023 to appoint a third party to manage 1501 and Crawford's funds, with her lawyers accusing the label of siphoning money out of its primary bank account in order to become [[judgment proof]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Darville |first1=Jordan |last2=Helfand |first2=Raphael |title=Megan Thee Stallion claims label is siphoning her money in new court motion |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/04/14/megan-thee-stallion-claims-label-is-siphoning-her-money-in-new-court-motion |website=[[The Fader]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=April 14, 2023}}</ref> Weeks after Megan Thee Stallion stated on Instagram Live that she had become an [[Unsigned artist|independent artist]], it was announced that she and 1501 had reached a settlement over their legal battle and would "amicably part ways" in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLaren |first1=Bonnie |title=Megan Thee Stallion: Rapper settles legal dispute with former label |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-67163267 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=October 20, 2023}}</ref> She released "[[Cobra (Megan Thee Stallion song)|Cobra]]", her first single released without 1501, in November 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Megan Thee Stallion Strikes Back with WMG Pact |url=https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/megan-thee-stallion-strikes-back-with-wmg-pact |website=[[Hits (magazine)|Hits]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=February 5, 2024}}</ref>
==Artists== ===Current=== * Ayana Hassan<ref name="DTBSign" /> * [[Baddies season 5|Diamond the Body]]<ref name="DTBSign">{{cite web |title=1501 Certified Entertainment Welcomes Reality TV Star, Diamond The Body, As Their Newest Signee To The Label |url=https://thestarlist.com/1501-certified-entertainment-welcomes-reality-tv-star-diamond-the-body-as-their-newest-signee-to-the-label/ |website=TheStarList |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=August 12, 2025}}</ref> * [[Erica Banks]] * FNF Chxpo<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Trey |title=1501 Certified invades SXSW; concludes with themed stage '1501 House' |url=https://www.kget.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/696969780/1501-certified-invades-sxsw-concludes-with-themed-stage-1501-house/ |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |publisher=EIN Presswire |via=[[KGET]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |format=Press release |date=March 19, 2024}}</ref> * Luh CEO<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Trey |title=1501's Newest Artist LUH CEO, Releases the Visuals to his Highly Anticipated Singles 'Never Lackin' and 'Gangsta Chick' |url=https://www.kron4.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/670806075/1501s-newest-artist-luh-ceo-releases-the-visuals-to-his-highly-anticipated-singles-never-lackin-and-gangsta-chick/ |publisher=EIN Presswire |access-date=August 17, 2025 |format=Press release |date=November 25, 2023}}</ref> * Skeatur Jones<ref name="DTBSign" /> * ThirtyBall<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Trey |title=1501 Signed Birmingham Rapper, ThirtyBall, and Released Single 'Know How We Coming' ft. Luh CEO |url=https://www.krqe.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/710600367/1501-signed-birmingham-rapper-thirtyball-and-released-single-know-how-we-coming-ft-luh-ceo/ |publisher=EIN Presswire |access-date=August 17, 2025 |location=[[Houston]] |format=Press release |date=May 10, 2024}}</ref>
===Former=== *[[OG Ron C]] (General Manager) *[[DJ Hollygrove]] (DJ) * 1amBabyJoker * D-Raww * HardyBoy Pigg * Haroldlujah * K'ona Lisa * [[Megan Thee Stallion]] * Railey Rose * Yung Ruler<ref>{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Jon |title=The legal battle between Megan Thee Stallion and 1501 Certified has ended |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-10-19/331507/megan-thee-stallion-reaches-settlement-with-1501-certified-ent |publisher=[[Revolt (TV network)|Revolt]] |access-date=August 17, 2025 |date=October 19, 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:2016 establishments in Texas]] [[Category:American hip-hop record labels]] [[Category:Megan Thee Stallion]] [[Category:Record labels established in 2016]] [[Category:Record labels based in Texas]] [[Category:Companies based in Houston]]