Full Surface Records

{{Short description|Record label founded by Swizz Beatz}} {{infobox record label | image = [[Image:Full Surface Records logo.jpg|200px]] | parent = [[BMG Music|BMG]] | founded = 2001 | founder = [[Swizz Beatz]] | status =  | distributor = [[J Records|J]] | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] | country = United States | location = | url = }}

'''Full Surface''' is a [[record label]] founded in 2001, by American [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] recording artist and record producer [[Swizz Beatz]]. The label used to operate through [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[J Records|J]] and through [[Universal Music Group|Universal]]'s [[Interscope]], [[Motown Records|Motown]] and [[Universal Motown]]. However, the label also had released material through joint ventures with other companies outside the [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment|Sony BMG]] group.

==History== The label was launched in 2001 in a joint venture deal with [[Clive Davis]]'s [[J Records]], which was under [[BMG Music|BMG]]. The first artist signed to the label was [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] based battle rapper [[Cassidy (rapper)|Cassidy]], who was affiliated with [[Ruff Ryders]] from being discovered by Swizz Beatz's father and as a member of [[Larsiny Family|Larsiny]] signed to Ruff Ryders's subsidiary label TD Entertainment. Other artists signed to the label after its launching were [[Mashonda]], Swizz Beatz's partner, and Ruff Ryders artist [[Yung Wun]]. In a January 2003 interview with [[AllHipHop]], Swizz Beatz said: "My new label [Full Surface] is on its way, by storm. We are moving like the army on the creep. I wanted something new so I got a mix of talent – [[Bounty Killa]], Cassidy, [[Mashonda]], Yung Wun, [[Big Tigger|Big Tigg]] and [[Keith Sweat|Mr. Sweat]] – with me the beat man."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2003/01/28/swizz-beats-signs-tigga-keith-sweat-and-others-to-new-label/|title=Swizz Beats Signs Tigga, Keith Sweat And Others To New Label - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop|last=AllHipHop|website=allhiphop.com|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> Despite the affiliations of Bounty Killa, Big Tigger, and Keith Sweat, they were never officially signed to the label.

In March 2004, Full Surface released Cassidy's debut studio album, ''[[Split Personality (Cassidy album)|Split Personality]]''. The lead single from the album was ''[[Hotel (Cassidy song)|Hotel]]'', and the second single was ''Get No Better'' (featuring Mashonda). Hotel peaked in the top 5 on the ''Billboard Hot 100'', while the album peaked in the top 3 on the ''Billboard 200'' and was certified gold in America in one month. In December of that year, rapper Yung Wun released his debut studio album, ''[[The Dirtiest Thirstiest]]''. The album was supported by Yung Wun's biggest single, ''[[Tear It Up (Yung Wun song)|Tear It Up]]'', which peaked in the top 80 in the ''Billboard Hot 100''. ''The Dirtiest Thirstiest'' failed to make an impact on the charts, and by 2006 Yung Wun was dropped from J and Full Surface.

In 2005, Cleveland-based rap group [[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]], signed with Full Surface and secured a distribution deal with [[Interscope]], the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2006/05/16/bone-thug-n-harmony-ink-deal-with-interscope-through-swizz-beatz-full-surface-label/|title=Bone Thug-N-Harmony Ink Deal With Interscope Through Swizz Beatz' Full Surface Label - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop|last=AllHipHop|website=allhiphop.com|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> In 2005, [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]] was about to sign to Full Surface but chose [[Sony Urban Music]] instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/122605/|title=Mixtape Monday Headlines – The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground|date=January 2006|first1=Shaheem |last1=Reid|first2=Rahman |last2=Dukes|website=[[MTV]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104014606/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/122605|archive-date=January 4, 2006|access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> In April 2006, it was announced [[Ruff Ryders]] alumni [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]], signed a joint venture deal with Full Surface and [[Dr. Dre]]'s [[Aftermath Entertainment|Aftermath]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2006/04/eve-signs-joint-venture-with-swizz-beatz-and-dr-dre/|title=Eve Signs Joint Venture with Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre - XXL|website=XXL Mag|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> Eve went on to release the singles "[[Tambourine (song)|Tambourine]]" and "[[Give It to You (Eve song)|Give It to You]]". In October 2007, it was announced another Ruff Ryders alumni, [[Drag-On]], signed a record deal with Full Surface.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2007/10/drag-on-signs-with-swizz-beatz-full-surface-records/|title=Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz’s Full Surface Records - XXL|website=XXL Mag|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5872/title.breaking-drag-on-signs-with-swizz-beatz|title=BREAKING: Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz|website=hiphopdx.com|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref>

In September 2007, [[Interscope Records]] and [[CodeBlack Entertainment]] released Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's semi-autobiographical film ''I Tried''. While the label was not credited in the film itself, it is associated with the film and stars Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and label founder Swizz Beatz.

==Roster== '''Artists''' *[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]] *[[Cassidy (rapper)|Cassidy]] *[[Drag-On]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2007/10/drag-on-signs-with-swizz-beatz-full-surface-records/|title=Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz’s Full Surface Records - XXL|website=XXL Mag|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> *[[Eve (entertainer)|Eve]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/eve-signs-joint-venture-with-swizz-beatz-and-dr-dre/|title= Eve Signs Joint Venture with Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre - XXL|website=XXL Mag|access-date=4 November 2021}}</ref> *[[Mashonda]] *[[Tommy Hilfiger#Personal life|Rich Hil]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://observer.com/2011/08/rich-hilfiger-tommy-hilfiger-ra/ |title = Isn’t He Rich? Rich Hilfiger’s Rap Career Is Poised To Take Off {{!}} Observer}}</ref> *[[Swizz Beatz]] *[[Yung Wun]]

'''Executives''' * Swizz Beatz (Founder, CEO, executive producer) * Grady Spivey (A&R) * Ashaunna Ayars (General Manager) * Terrence Dean (Management)

==DJs and producers== *The Individualz - A group of [[music producer]]s, composed of Avenue, Joe Bravo and Jose, who have produced songs for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Swizz Beatz, [[50 Cent]], [[Jay-Z]] and [[Mary J. Blige]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/individualsfs|title=INDIVIDUALZ - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos|website=Myspace|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> *[[Neo da Matrix]] - A producer from Philadelphia. Also signed to [[Ruff Ryders Entertainment]] and was signed with [[Roc-A-Fella Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/neodamatrix|title=Neo Da Matrix/twitter.com/NeoDaMatrix - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos|website=Myspace|access-date=22 April 2018}}</ref> *Snags - A producer who has produced songs for [[Swizz Beatz]] and [[Jadakiss]]. *[[Swizz Beatz]]

==Discography== * All releases distributed by [[J Records]], unless otherwise noted. {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Artist !Album !class="unsortable" |Details |- |[[Swizz Beatz]] |''[[Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories]]''<br>{{small|(released with [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]])}} | * Released: December 10, 2002 * Chart position: 50 U.S. * Singles: "Guilty", "Bigger Business" |- |Cassidy |''[[Split Personality (Cassidy album)|Split Personality]]'' | * Released: March 16, 2004 * Chart position: 2 U.S. * Singles: "[[Hotel (Cassidy song)|Hotel]]", "Get No Better" * [[RIAA certification]]: Gold |- |[[Yung Wun]] |''[[The Dirtiest Thirstiest]]'' | * Released: December 7, 2004 * Chart position: — * Singles: "Yung Wun Anthem", "[[Tear It Up (Yung Wun song)|Tear It Up]]", "Walk It, Talk It" |- |Cassidy |''[[I'm a Hustla]]'' | * Released: June 28, 2005 * Chart position: 5 U.S. * Singles: "[[I'm a Hustla (song)|I'm a Hustla]]", "B-Boy Stance" |- |[[Mashonda]] |''[[January Joy]]'' | * Released: November 9, 2005 * Chart position: * Singles: "Back of da Club", "Blackout" |- |[[Bone Thugs-n-Harmony]] | ''[[Strength & Loyalty]]''<br>{{small|(released with [[Interscope Records|Interscope]])}} | * Released: May 8, 2007 * Chart position: 2 U.S. * Singles: "[[I Tried (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony song)|I Tried]]", "[[Lil' L.O.V.E.]]" |- |Swizz Beatz |''[[One Man Band Man]]''<br>{{small|(released with [[Universal Motown Records|Universal Motown]])}} | * Released: August 21, 2007 * Chart position: 7 U.S. * Singles: "[[It's Me Bitches]]", "[[Money in the Bank (Swizz Beatz song)|Money in the Bank]]", "[[Top Down]]" |- |Cassidy |''[[B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story]]'' | * Released: November 6, 2007 * Chart position: 10 U.S. * Singles: "[[My Drink n My 2 Step]]", "[[Innocent Man (Misunderstood)]]" |- |}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.fullsurfacerecords.com/ Full Surface Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040606041144/http://www.fullsurfacerecords.com/ |date=2004-06-06 }}

[[Category:Record labels established in 2001]] [[Category:American record labels]] [[Category:American hip-hop record labels]] [[Category:Vanity record labels]] [[Category:Warner Music labels]] [[Category:Atlantic Records]] [[Category:Contemporary R&B record labels]]