# Full Surface Records > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Full_Surface_Records > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Full_Surface_Records.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Surface_Records > Source revision: 1356546608 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Record label founded by Swizz Beatz Record label Full Surface Records Parent company BMG Founded 2001 Founder Swizz Beatz Distributor J Genre Hip hop, R&B Country of origin United States **Full Surface** is a [record label](/source/Record_label) founded in 2001, by American [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) recording artist and record producer [Swizz Beatz](/source/Swizz_Beatz). The label used to operate through [Sony](/source/Sony_Music_Entertainment)'s [J](/source/J_Records) and through [Universal](/source/Universal_Music_Group)'s [Interscope](/source/Interscope), [Motown](/source/Motown_Records) and [Universal Motown](/source/Universal_Motown). However, the label also had released material through joint ventures with other companies outside the [Sony BMG](/source/Sony_BMG_Music_Entertainment) group. ## History The label was launched in 2001 in a joint venture deal with [Clive Davis](/source/Clive_Davis)'s [J Records](/source/J_Records), which was under [BMG](/source/BMG_Music). The first artist signed to the label was [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania) based battle rapper [Cassidy](/source/Cassidy_(rapper)), who was affiliated with [Ruff Ryders](/source/Ruff_Ryders) from being discovered by Swizz Beatz's father and as a member of [Larsiny](/source/Larsiny_Family) signed to Ruff Ryders's subsidiary label TD Entertainment. Other artists signed to the label after its launching were [Mashonda](/source/Mashonda), Swizz Beatz's partner, and Ruff Ryders artist [Yung Wun](/source/Yung_Wun). In a January 2003 interview with [AllHipHop](/source/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](/source/Bounty_Killa), Cassidy, [Mashonda](/source/Mashonda), Yung Wun, [Big Tigg](/source/Big_Tigger) and [Mr. Sweat](/source/Keith_Sweat) – with me the beat man."[1] 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](/source/Split_Personality_(Cassidy_album))*. The lead single from the album was *[Hotel](/source/Hotel_(Cassidy_song))*, 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](/source/The_Dirtiest_Thirstiest)*. The album was supported by Yung Wun's biggest single, *[Tear It Up](/source/Tear_It_Up_(Yung_Wun_song))*, 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](/source/Bone_Thugs-n-Harmony), signed with Full Surface and secured a distribution deal with [Interscope](/source/Interscope), the following year.[2] In 2005, [DMX](/source/DMX_(rapper)) was about to sign to Full Surface but chose [Sony Urban Music](/source/Sony_Urban_Music) instead.[3] In April 2006, it was announced [Ruff Ryders](/source/Ruff_Ryders) alumni [Eve](/source/Eve_(rapper)), signed a joint venture deal with Full Surface and [Dr. Dre](/source/Dr._Dre)'s [Aftermath](/source/Aftermath_Entertainment).[4] Eve went on to release the singles "[Tambourine](/source/Tambourine_(song))" and "[Give It to You](/source/Give_It_to_You_(Eve_song))". In October 2007, it was announced another Ruff Ryders alumni, [Drag-On](/source/Drag-On), signed a record deal with Full Surface.[5][6] In September 2007, [Interscope Records](/source/Interscope_Records) and [CodeBlack Entertainment](/source/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](/source/Bone_Thugs-n-Harmony) - [Cassidy](/source/Cassidy_(rapper)) - [Drag-On](/source/Drag-On)[7] - [Eve](/source/Eve_(entertainer))[8] - [Mashonda](/source/Mashonda) - [Rich Hil](/source/Tommy_Hilfiger#Personal_life)[9] - [Swizz Beatz](/source/Swizz_Beatz) - [Yung Wun](/source/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 producers](/source/Music_producer), composed of Avenue, Joe Bravo and Jose, who have produced songs for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Swizz Beatz, [50 Cent](/source/50_Cent), [Jay-Z](/source/Jay-Z) and [Mary J. Blige](/source/Mary_J._Blige).[10] - [Neo da Matrix](/source/Neo_da_Matrix) - A producer from Philadelphia. Also signed to [Ruff Ryders Entertainment](/source/Ruff_Ryders_Entertainment) and was signed with [Roc-A-Fella Records](/source/Roc-A-Fella_Records).[11] - Snags - A producer who has produced songs for [Swizz Beatz](/source/Swizz_Beatz) and [Jadakiss](/source/Jadakiss). - [Swizz Beatz](/source/Swizz_Beatz) ## Discography - All releases distributed by [J Records](/source/J_Records), unless otherwise noted. Artist Album Details Swizz Beatz Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories (released with DreamWorks) Released: December 10, 2002 Chart position: 50 U.S. Singles: "Guilty", "Bigger Business" Cassidy Split Personality Released: March 16, 2004 Chart position: 2 U.S. Singles: "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", "Walk It, Talk It" Cassidy I'm a Hustla Released: June 28, 2005 Chart position: 5 U.S. Singles: "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 (released with Interscope) Released: May 8, 2007 Chart position: 2 U.S. Singles: "I Tried", "Lil' L.O.V.E." Swizz Beatz One Man Band Man (released with Universal Motown) Released: August 21, 2007 Chart position: 7 U.S. Singles: "It's Me Bitches", "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 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** AllHipHop. ["Swizz Beats Signs Tigga, Keith Sweat And Others To New Label - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop"](http://allhiphop.com/2003/01/28/swizz-beats-signs-tigga-keith-sweat-and-others-to-new-label/). *allhiphop.com*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** AllHipHop. ["Bone Thug-N-Harmony Ink Deal With Interscope Through Swizz Beatz' Full Surface Label - Exclusive Hip Hop News, Interviews, Rumors, Rap & Music Videos - Allhiphop"](http://allhiphop.com/2006/05/16/bone-thug-n-harmony-ink-deal-with-interscope-through-swizz-beatz-full-surface-label/). *allhiphop.com*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Reid, Shaheem; Dukes, Rahman (January 2006). ["Mixtape Monday Headlines – The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060104014606/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/122605). *[MTV](/source/MTV)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/122605/) on January 4, 2006. Retrieved November 22, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Eve Signs Joint Venture with Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre - XXL"](http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2006/04/eve-signs-joint-venture-with-swizz-beatz-and-dr-dre/). *XXL Mag*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records - XXL"](http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2007/10/drag-on-signs-with-swizz-beatz-full-surface-records/). *XXL Mag*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["BREAKING: Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz"](http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.5872/title.breaking-drag-on-signs-with-swizz-beatz). *hiphopdx.com*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Drag-On Signs With Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records - XXL"](http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2007/10/drag-on-signs-with-swizz-beatz-full-surface-records/). *XXL Mag*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Eve Signs Joint Venture with Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre - XXL"](https://www.xxlmag.com/eve-signs-joint-venture-with-swizz-beatz-and-dr-dre/). *XXL Mag*. Retrieved 4 November 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Isn't He Rich? Rich Hilfiger's Rap Career Is Poised To Take Off | Observer"](https://observer.com/2011/08/rich-hilfiger-tommy-hilfiger-ra/). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["INDIVIDUALZ - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos"](http://www.myspace.com/individualsfs). *Myspace*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Neo Da Matrix/twitter.com/NeoDaMatrix - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos"](http://www.myspace.com/neodamatrix). *Myspace*. Retrieved 22 April 2018. ## External links - [Full Surface Records](http://www.fullsurfacerecords.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20040606041144/http://www.fullsurfacerecords.com/) 2004-06-06 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) v t e Swizz Beatz Discography Production discography Studio albums One Man Band Man Poison Compilations G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories Mixtapes Monster Mondays Vol. 1 Singles "It's Me Bitches" "Money in the Bank" "Top Down" "International Party" Featured singles "Get It on the Floor" "Set It Off" "Like That" "Whuteva" "New York Shit" "We in Here" "My Drink n My 2 Step" "C'mon Baby" "Blow Ya Mind" "Swing Ya Rag" "Who's Real" "Million Bucks" "I Do" "I Can Transform Ya" "On to the Next One" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti "Fancy" "Gucci Time" "Start It Up" "Can a Drummer Get Some?" "Ass on the Floor" "Throw It Away" "Famous" "Uproar" Promotional singles "Return of the Hustle" "Hi Hater (Remix)" "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" Other songs "It's Me...(Remix)" "Candy Green" "Where the Cash At?" "Lord Lord Lord" "So Appalled" Related articles Full Surface Ruff Ryders Mashonda Alicia Keys Cassidy Verzuz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Full Surface Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Surface_Records) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Surface_Records?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.