No Limit Records
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| No Limit Records | |
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| Parent company | Guttar Music Entertainment |
| Founded | 1994 as No Limit Record Store |
| Founder | Master P |
| Distributing label | Gutta Music |
| Genre | Hip Hop, Southern Rap |
| Country of origin | US |
| Official website | http://www.guttarmusic.com/ |
No Limit Records is a record label that began in 1990 as the No Limit Record Shop in Richmond, California. It was founded by Percy Miller, better known as Master P, and was most successful in the late 1990s.
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[edit] Early years
Master P began his career by distributing his records through a small Bay Area record label. He started out in Richmond, California where his mother resided. Despite being on the West Coast, he maintained his connections to the South through his father who remained in New Orleans. Master P signed his friends E A Ski & CMT, Sonya C (his then girlfriend), King George, Big Ed, Lil Ric and added his brother, Silkk the Shocker. Later he and Silkk (along with their brother C-Murder) would go on to form the group TRU. During the early 90's, P released many solo albums, with very little success. However, Master P was able to garner notoriety for himself and No Limit Records on the West Coast by collaborating with various artists and through his compilation albums West Coast Bad Boyz 1 & 2. Following his success on the West Coast in 1994, he decided the time was right to expand his label. After signing Oakland rapper Dangerous Dame who later released the EP Escape From the Mental Ward through No Limit, Master P then signed several acts from New Orleans. The new additions included Mia X and his brother C-Murder. During this time, P also did tracks with Kane & Abel and Mystikal (all of which he would later sign to the label). In 1995, TRU released their third album entitled True. This album would go on to reach gold status. After the success of TRU, many of his West Coast artists began to believe they were not being compensated fairly.
[edit] Successful years
Master P would go on to move No Limit Records against the wishes of Nate Roach and Kev and set up shop in New Orleans. He brought his brothers Silkk and C-Murder with him along with Mia X, Skull Duggery, Kane & Abel, Mac, Soulja Slim, Tre 8, Mr Serv-On and Big Ed. In 1996, No Limit signed a huge distribution deal with Priority Records to distribute No Limit Records music. Master P wisely maintained ownership of all of his master recordings and his studio. He also became the label's main artist, and also released the album Ice Cream Man that year. By 1997, Master P and No Limit Records had grown to consist of P, C-Murder, Silkk Tha Shocker, Mystikal, Snoop Dogg, Mac, Mercedes, Soulja Slim, Full Blooded, Fiend, Magic, D.I.G, Mia X, Prime Suspects, Gambino Family and several others. Master P's 1997 album Ghetto D, and the 1998 album, MP Da Last Don, reached number one on the Billboard 200. In efforts to broaden his career, Master P also wrote, directed and acted in the underground movie I'm Bout It and performed several of the tracks on the album's accompanying soundtrack. It started his movie career which would later lead to films such as I Got the Hook Up and Foolish.
[edit] Decline and reorganization
By 1999, the label was still flourishing, making millions on every release, and Silkk tha Shocker's release, Made Man, debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200. Master P began to branch outside of rap, appearing in World Championship Wrestling in which his No Limit Soldiers took on the West Texas Rednecks, and even tried to make the NBA. As for No Limit Records, each release featured less and less of the marquee artists, leading their fans to the correct conclusion that they had left the label. By 2000 only, Master P, C-Murder, Silkk, Magic and Mia X remained from the most celebrated artists. Angel B and long list of new artists such as Short Circuit, Popeye, Samm, Currency, Choppa, Krazy and others had replaced the early artists that had help elevate No Limit Records to the heights of success. Mystikal had left, and his first album post-No Limit, Let's Get Ready, debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 in 2000. P's good friend Mac (who is still signed to the label) was in jail for murder at this time. Many of the No Limit artists did not reach longevity and left for other projects. By 2002, it would appear that the focus of No Limit Records was limited to the Miller family. This notion was further strengthened with the release of his son, Lil' Romeo's, debut album.
On December 17, 2003, the company filed for bankruptcy due to various lawsuits. Master P realized it was more sensible to shut down No Limit and reorganize and refinance the company with profits from No Limit Records. He would name his new label "The New No Limit Records". By 2004, the reorganized label had moved to Koch Records for distribution. The New No Limit is now in partnership with Master P's own distribution company, Guttar Music Entertainment. There has also been rumors that No Limit is planning to get back together but it has not yet been comfirmed.
[edit] Guttar Music
Guttar Music is the record company created by Romeo and Master P.
[edit] See also
- Guttar Music
- List of record labels
- No Limit Records artists
- No Limit Records discography
- No Limit Records RIAA Certified Records
