Cinematic Music Group

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
FounderJonny Shipes
Distributor(s)
GenreHip hop
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York
Official websitecinematicworldwide.com

Cinematic Music Group is an American record label, management, publishing & touring company distributed by Geffen Records founded in 2007 by Jonny Shipes. Their roster as of 2020 consists of Joey Bada$$,[1] Pro Era, T-Pain, Smoke DZA, Va$htie, Mick Jenkins, G Herbo, Caveman, Public Access TV, Flipp Dinero, and others.

In August 2023, Shipes sold Cinematic's recording catalogue to Interscope Geffen A&M and formed a new music company named GoodTalk.

History

Cinematic Music Group[2] made one of its earliest signings in 2007 with Harlem’s Smoke DZA. That same year, Cinematic signed Sean Kingston whose self-titled debut album included two #1 Billboard singles, including the double platinum "Beautiful Girls." The album sold in excess of 1,000,000 units.[3] Cinematic’s next signee, West Coast MC Nipsey Hussle, signed to the company in 2010 and was included on XXL’s Annual Freshman List[4]

In 2010, Shipes signed Big K.R.I.T., who that same year released his mixtape "Krit Wuz Here"[5] KRIT followed up this success with his “Returnof4eva” mixtape in March 2011. K.R.I.T debuted the #1 hip hop album on the billboard charts with his debut album Live from the Underground.[6]

In 2010 Cinematic added Vashtie Kola, an artist, designer, and DJ to the roster.[7] Shipes then signed Joey Bada$$ & the collective Pro Era, short for the Progressive Era, which , a group of emcees, producers, and young tastemakers. Musical members of Pro Era include Joey Bada$$, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, CJ Fly, Dessy Hinds, A La Sole, Chuck Strangers, Dyemond Lewis and more. After viewing a video of a 16-year-old Joey Bada$$ freestyling on popular hip hop and viral video website WorldstarHipHop.com, Shipes saw his potential. After writing for two years, Bada$$ released his debut mixtape “1999”, receiving critical acclaim from Complex Magazine.[8] Bada$$ & Pro Era have been noted for their lyricism and return to the 90s sound.

In 2013, Shipes expanded the roster of Cinematic and signed indie R&B/electronic duo ASTR. ASTR released their “Varsity” EP in January 2014. On July 16, 2014, Cinematic Music Group President Jonny Shipes announced the signing of Chicago emcee Mick Jenkins[9] whose "The Water[s]" album was released, and received a rave review from Stereogum.[10] Jenkins finished off 2014 by touring the country (40 plus cities) on The Smoker's Club tour and saw his first headlining tour with Pro Era’s Kirk Knight in early 2015.

On January 20, 2015, Joey Bada$$ released his debut studio album “B4.DA.$$”. The album sold an impressive 56,000 units opening week making it the #1 rap album in the country that week.

On September 1, 2015, Chicago rapper Lil Herb was added to the roster of Cinematic. His album, Ballin' Like I'm Kobe, was released on September 27, 2015.

On February 4, 2016, Cinematic announced the signing of Brooklyn rock band Caveman on February 11 announced the addition of Public Access TV.

In summer 2023 Shipes sold the Cinematic Music Group catalog to Interscope Geffen A&M in a deal reported to be worth eight figures, and launched a new venture, GoodTalk,[11] a full-service entertainment company with divisions including talent management, a new record label, clothing and festivals verticals, and 4Lifers Entertainment, the film and TV production company he and Druski co-founded.[12]

Artists

Act Year
signed
Smoke DZA 2007
Joey Bada$$ 2010
Pro Era 2010
Vashtie Kola 2010
Kirk Knight 2010
ASTR 2013
Mick Jenkins 2014
G Herbo 2015
Mobsquad Nard 2015
Cam'ron 2016
Caveman 2016
Public Access TV 2016
Splashh 2016
T-Pain 2016
Cat Clyde 2017
Yungeen Ace 2018
Lil Trevo 2018
Shawn Scrilla 2018
Flipp Dinero 2018
Slayter 2019
ABG Neal 2019
Nipsey Hussle 2010
Luh Kel[13] 2019
BBG Kobe 2020
C Glizzy 2020
Xanman 2021

Ray Antenna 2023

Discography

Artist Album Details
Big K.R.I.T. K.R.I.T. Wuz Here
  • Release date: May 3, 2010
Big K.R.I.T. Return of 4Eva
  • Release date: March 28, 2011
Big K.R.I.T. 4eva N a Day
  • Release date: March 5, 2012
Joey Bada$$ 1999
  • Release date: June 12, 2012
Pro Era The Secc$ Tape
  • Release date: February 20, 2012
Pro Era P.E.E.P: The aPROcalypse
  • Release date: Dec 21, 2012
Big K.R.I.T. Live from the Underground
  • Release date: June 5, 2012
Big K.R.I.T. King Remembered in Time
  • Release date: April 10, 2013
Joey Bada$$ Summer Knights
  • Release date: July 1, 2013
CJ Fly Thee Way Eye See It
  • Release date: October 5, 2013
ASTR Varsity EP
  • Release date: January 21, 2014
Pro Era The Secc$ Tape 2
  • Release date: February 14, 2014
Pro Era The Shift
  • Release date: May 27, 2014
Mick Jenkins The Water[s]
  • Release date: August 12, 2014
Big K.R.I.T. Cadillactica
  • Release date: November 11, 2014
Joey Badass B4.Da.$$
  • Release date: January 20, 2015
Mick Jenkins Wave[s]
  • Release date:August 21, 2015
G Herbo Ballin Like I'm Kobe
  • Release date: September 29, 2015
Kirk Knight Late Knight Special
  • Release date: October 30, 2015
Mobsquad Nard Everything Clean But Da Ashtray
  • Release date: February 5, 2016
Mick Jenkins The Healing Component
  • Release date: September 23, 2016
Joey Badass All-Amerikkkan Badass
  • Release date: April 7, 2017
Yungeen Ace Life of Betrayal
  • Release date: August 3, 2018

References

  1. ^ "Joey Bada$$ Dedicates 'No. 99′ Music Video To Late Cousin". MTV. December 10, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "Cinematic Music Group...has inked a deal with SONY RED.". XXLMag
  3. ^ http://www.billboard.com/artist/278515/sean-kingston/chart Billboard.com
  4. ^ "Nipsey Hussle, Class of ’10 – Catching Up With the XXL Freshmen" May 21, 2013 by Dan Buyanovsky" XXL Magazine.
  5. ^ "K.R.I.T. Wuz Here Album Review" Archived June 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. DJBooth.net
  6. ^ "Mississippi rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T. finds himself with the biggest hip-hop album on the Billboard 200 this week". BallerStatus.com.
  7. ^ "Her Cool-Kid Clubhouse" By ALEXIS SWERDLOFF MAY 11, 2011, The New York Times.
  8. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Complex Magazine.
  9. ^ "Today it was announced that Mick Jenkins has inked a deal with Cinematic Music Group (Big K.R.I.T., Pro Era)..." 2DopeBoyz.com. http://2dopeboyz.com/2014/07/16/mick-jenkins-signs-cinematic-music-group-lazarus/
  10. ^ " Mixtape Of The Week: Mick Jenkins The Water[s]". Tom Breihan August 20, 2014 Stereogum.com.
  11. ^ Carl Lamarre (August 2, 2023). "Jonny Shipes Sells Cinematic Music Group Catalog to Interscope, Launches GoodTalk". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Preezy Brown (August 2, 2023). "Jonny Shipes Sells Cinematic Music Group, Launches GoodTalk". Vibe. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Luh Kel 'Wrong' video". Music-News.com.