Andre Manuel , a disc jockey and record producer called The Unknown DJ or DJ Unknown , was a pioneer in the Los Angeles area's 1980s music scene, moving from electro funk and electro rap to gangsta rap . Now a legend of West Coast rap , he worked with rapper Ice-T in the early 1980s, then with Alonzo "Grandmaster Lonzo" Williams , and with MC Eiht 's group Compton's Most Wanted in the early 1990s.
31-468: Manuel started in the music industry through Alonzo Williams, a DJ and party promoter in the Los Angeles area. Since his start in 1974, Williams, working under his brand name Disco Construction, earned the title "Grandmaster Lonzo." In 1979, Lonzo took over The Eve After Dark nightclub, about a quarter mile outside of Compton. Lonzo mentored Manuel, and they began working together. In 1984, Lonzo formed
62-714: A rhythm and blues label. Epic's bright-yellow, black, and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. This has included such notables as the Berlin Philharmonic , Charles Rosen , the Juilliard String Quartet , Antal Doráti conducting the Hague Philharmonic, and George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra . By 1960, Epic became better known for signing newer, fledgling acts. By
93-510: A Thing ", " I'm Real ", " Play ", and " Ain't it Funny ". With her second album, Lopez became the first female solo artist, under the record company, to reach the number one spot on the Billboard 200 . The 2002 remix album J TO THA L-O! The Remixes , which served as a follow-up to Lopez's sophomore effort, was the first remix album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, and became
124-783: A demo tape called "She's a Skag". The group was then signed to a single deal with CBS. After being released from CBS, in April 1988, the Wreckin’ Cru featuring Michel'le, Dre's girlfriend, released their hit slow jam "Before You Turn off the Lights" peaked at #54 on the Billboard Black Singles Charts. This was the WCWC biggest hit. WCWC, primarily known as a dance and romance act, also released songs like "Surgery," "Juice," "Cabbage Patch," and "Lovers." World Class's success
155-830: A fraction of the $ 80 million deal Carey had previously signed with Virgin Records ; Virgin later rescinded that deal after poor sales. That same month, it was announced that R&B group Jodeci had signed to the label and planned to release their first studio album in 20 years. Wondaland Records, singer Janelle Monáe 's imprint, entered into a joint venture with Epic in 2015. Acts on Wondaland include Jidenna , St. Beauty , Deep Cotton and Roman GianArthur . In 2016, Jennifer Lopez returned to Sony Music, six years after leaving in favor of Island Def Jam and Capitol Records . Lopez's multi-album deal reunited her with Reid, whom she signed with at Island Def Jam in 2010. In January 2017, 21 Savage signed to Epic. On May 11, 2017, it
186-606: A more diverse range of genres, including pop , R&B , rock , and hip hop . Epic Records was launched in 1953 by the Columbia Records unit of CBS , for the purpose of marketing jazz , pop , and classical music that did not fit the theme of its more mainstream Columbia Records label. Initial classical music releases were from Philips Records which distributed Columbia product in Europe. Pop talent on co-owned Okeh Records were transferred to Epic which made Okeh
217-576: A solo artist, Lonzo released another LP, titled Phases in Life, in 1990. World Class member Shakespeare sought to become a pastor. Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment , a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America , the American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony . The label was founded predominantly as a jazz and classical music label in 1953, but later expanded its scope to include
248-780: The Wreckin' Cru , a social group of his nightclub's resident DJs. While working with the Cru, Manuel took on a DJ name, The Unknown DJ. The Wreckin' Cru, which included DJ Yella and Dr. Dre , soon gained a rapper, CLI-nTEL, and began recording the electro rap. After taking classes at Long Beach City College to further his abilities in electronic music and recording, Unknown launched Techno Hop Records. Since 1984, he produced or released such "techno hop" songs—fusions of electro funk and hip hop—as "Basstronic," "808 Beats," and "Let's Jam." He had also produced early tracks of Ice-T , and then gangsta rap 's inaugural anthem, Ice-T's 1986 B-side " 6 in
279-689: The 1980s opened, electronic funk arrived, sampling drum beats and borrowing from old-school rap. Disco Construction created a subgroup, the Wreckin' Cru, which was the Lonzos' roadies. Later, this honorific prefix World Class signified a recording group. Lonzo hired two local DJs— Antoine "Yella" Carraby and Andre "Dr. Dre" Young —who became the original "Mix Masters" for Los Angeles radio station KDAY . The Wreckin' Cru performed in various shows elsewhere in Los Angeles, including shows promoted by Lonzo as well as opening for New Edition . Alonzo Williams created
310-420: The 6 (as part of WORK Group ), which was a critical and commercial success, going-on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. Lopez's sophomore album, J.Lo (2001), experienced similar—if not greater—success, initially selling over 8 million copies worldwide, and gaining multi-platinum status under Epic Records. The record spawned several international and domestic hits, including " Love Don't Cost
341-595: The Epic roster during the 1960s were the result of CBS's Epic/ Okeh units' 1962 international distribution deal with EMI ; Epic recordings were issued via this arrangement by EMI on the Columbia label. Other British artists appearing on Epic were a result of signings to the new UK CBS affiliate formed after the acquisition of Oriole Records (UK) in August 1964. Epic was involved in a notable "trade" of artists. Graham Nash
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#1732797234924372-464: The Fray , Modest Mouse , Matisyahu and Sean Kingston . However, she delayed the scheduled release of Shakira 's album She Wolf by insisting that the album contain another song – " Give It Up to Me " featuring Lil Wayne and uncredited Timbaland . This delay probably caused She Wolf to perform less well in the market. Epic staff members described Ghost as "abrasive" and a "loose cannon". She
403-511: The Los Angeles area. In the 1970s, Williams had begun producing dance songs under the name Disco Construction, named after funk group Brass Construction . At his songs' popularity, Williams arranged nightclub performances. Initially directing its music program was Detroit-born Andre "Unknown DJ" Manuel (who would later join Comptons Most Wanted ), who was influenced by East Coast sounds, like Soulsonic Force, Orbit, and Scorpio. As
434-478: The Mornin' ." Later, Unknown DJ produced for MC Eiht's crew Compton's Most Wanted . Other artists include A.L.T. , Brownside , N.W.A , Bobby Jimmy , and King Tee . The Unknown DJ also figures, if tangentially, into the story of Death Row Records , whose cofounder Dr. Dre is a Wreckin' Cru alumnus. Reportedly, Dre's colleague The D.O.C. had suggested naming the newly forming label Def Row. But, already owning
465-876: The UK by CBS after the distribution deal with EMI expired that year; Epic itself launched in England around 1971. Sony Corporation bought CBS Records in 1987, and the company was renamed Sony Music in 1991. It began splitting European operations into two separate labels, Epic and Columbia, in 1992, and in 1997, Sony Music Australia and New Zealand followed suit. In 2004, Sony merged with music distributor BMG , bringing Arista Records , Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records , Jive Records , RCA Records , and Zomba Group of Companies to one parent company known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment . In 2008, Sony bought out BMG for $ 1.2 billion, bringing all affiliated labels together as Sony Music Entertainment International, SMEI. The merger
496-640: The end of the 1960s, Epic earned its first gold records and had evolved into a formidable hit-making force in rock and roll , R&B and country music . Among its many acts, it included Roy Hamilton , Bobby Vinton , the Dave Clark Five , the Hollies , Tammy Wynette , Donovan , the Yardbirds , Lulu , July , Helen Shapiro , Cliff Richard , and Jeff Beck . Several of the British artists on
527-729: The first album to control his own direction in life, this left Shakespeare to step up to be the prominent MC as they signed with Epic Records. With this they released a string of singles and also their second album, Rapped In Romance . After being signed to CBS records Lonzo was asked if he had any other acts. After seeing Dre's cousin Jinx' group perform in a rap contest, a teenage group called C.I.A. (band) (Cru in Action) starring O'Shea " Ice Cube " Jackson, Dre's cousin Tony " Sir Jinx " Wheaton and Darrell " K-Dee " Johnson, who with Dre would record
558-458: The fourth best selling remix album of all time, behind albums by Michael Jackson (fellow Epic Records artist), Madonna and The Beatles . Furthermore, in the second week at number-one for the remix album, Lopez's remixed single Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix) (with Ja Rule ), was also number one, making Lopez the only artist in history to have a number one remix album and single in the same week. Lopez's third studio album, released in late 2002,
589-715: The imprint Vested In Culture through Epic Records. A year later, she was named president of Epic. In November 2014, Mosley Music Group created a joint venture with Sony Music- with marketing, publicity, distribution and overall label services provided by Epic. The joint venture was created due to Timbaland 's previous co-collaboration with Reid on Michael Jackson's posthumous album, Xscape . Previously operated by Interscope , most of MMG's roster moved to Epic. In 2015, Def Jam Recordings parted ways with Mariah Carey and Carey reunited with Reid at Epic. She had worked with Reid at Def Jam under The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004. Carey's deals with both Def Jam and Epic were at
620-458: The label "Kru-cut" which began releasing The Wreckin' Cru music through the mid-1980s with very minimal resources through Macola Records", a local independent record manufacturing and distributing company. The Cru released the single "Slice", followed by "Surgery". By 1985 Kru-Cut had produced World Class’ debut album, World Class . The success of their early releases led to a major record deal with CBS/ Epic Records . With Cli-N-Tel leaving after
651-398: The rights to that name, DJ Unknown would later explain that he had made the name for a potential record label to open under Morgan Creek Entertainment Group . In July 1991, Unknown sold the rights to Dre's team, including Suge Knight at the forming label's helm. However, the team chose, by 1992, to name the label more bluntly. World Class Wreckin%27 Cru World Class Wreckin' Cru
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#1732797234924682-652: The show. In February 2012, Epic Records signed experimental hip-hop/punk rap trio, Death Grips , under the recommendation of, then executive vice president of marketing, Angelica Cob-Baehler . They released their, arguably, most commercially successful album The Money Store (album) in April 2012. They were later dropped from the label following conflict due to cancelling a tour to work on their next album, No Love Deep Web , and releasing it for legal download on Peer-to-peer connection site, BitTorrent , to bypass Epic Records' desire to release it in 2013. In 2013, Sylvia Rhone , former president of Universal Motown , launched
713-787: Was also a success, titled This is me... Then ; the record sold 6 million copies worldwide and peaked at the second spot of the Billboard 200. Lopez's first full-length Spanish debut, Como Ama Una Mujer , became the first Spanish-language debut album to enter the top 10 of the Billboard 200, and has sold 1 million copies worldwide. This was Lopez's final studio album under Epic Records before her move to Island Def Jam and Capitol Records ; she released her first greatest hits compilation, Dance Again... The Hits , gaining critical success. In February 2009, Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer appointed singer-songwriter Amanda Ghost as president of Epic. Ghost, who had successfully promoted James Blunt to Grammy Award-winning status,
744-439: Was an American electro group, during the 1980s in the Los Angeles area, that contributed to rap's development. Two of its members, Dr. Dre and DJ Yella , attained greater fame as members of N.W.A , which pioneered gangsta rap . A song by the Cru had also featured R&B singer Michel'le . World Class Wreckin' Cru debuted in the nightclub Eve After Dark, owned by Alonzo Williams , an early West Coast DJ very popular in
775-479: Was an unconventional and controversial choice for president because she had no corporate executive experience. She was expected to reverse the trend of declining sales at Epic by promoting the label's newer and mid-tier artists such as Augustana . Stringer also merged Epic and Columbia to form the Columbia/Epic Label Group in 2009, with himself as acting chairman. Ghost scored hit records for
806-609: Was announced that Reid would exit as the label's CEO. Following his exit, it was reported that Reid had been accused of sexual harassment by multiple Epic employees. On April 23, 2019, it was announced that Rhone had been appointed as Chair and CEO of the label. In April 2023, Sony Music UK announced the relaunch of Epic Records UK as one of their frontline labels, with former publishing executive Sarah Lockhart appointed as president. Unlike sister label Columbia, Epic has gone through five different logos. Some logos were temporarily revived for period reissues. The years shown below list
837-657: Was approved by the European Union in 2009. Epic Soundtrax was founded as a film soundtrack label in 1992. It was central to Epic's 1990s success, with 11 soundtrack releases cumulatively selling more than 40 million records over a three-year period. Notable releases included soundtrack albums for Honeymoon in Vegas , Singles , Sleepless in Seattle , Forrest Gump , Philadelphia , and Judgment Night . In 1999, Jennifer Lopez released her debut album On
868-430: Was building an army of fans in the underground scene and each member a valued reputation. At this stage the look of Prince and Michael Jackson's Thriller outfits were cool, glitzy purple leather suits, sequin suits not unlike the glam-rock look running parallel to this scene, Dre was growing tired of the image and considered Lonzo's direction to be soft and yearned to control his own expression in music. At this time, Dre
899-527: Was fired in October 2010, with Stringer apologizing for his mistake: "I owe the people at Epic..." In July 2011, L.A. Reid became the CEO of Epic Records, signing artists such as TLC , Toni Braxton , Cher Lloyd , Avril Lavigne , Outkast , Future , Yo Gotti , Ciara , Meghan Trainor , DJ Khaled , and Travis Scott . Epic also signed the winners of The X Factor during the seasons that Reid appeared on
930-651: Was signed to Epic because of his membership in The Hollies. When the newly formed Crosby, Stills & Nash wanted to sign with Atlantic Records , Ahmet Ertegun worked out a deal with Clive Davis whereby Richie Furay 's new band Poco (having signed with Atlantic due to Furay's contract from being in Buffalo Springfield ) would sign with Epic. During the 1960s, Epic oversaw the smaller subsidiary CBS labels including Okeh Records and Date Records . In 1968, Epic recordings began being distributed in
961-688: Was working on side projects for local entrepreneur Eric " Eazy-E " Wright in the Kru-Cut studio, and Ice Cube was ghostwriting for the World Class single "House Calls/Cabbage Patch" in 1987. The last time Dre was arrested and jailed for missed court appearances on multiple traffic violations was in 1986, when he owed $ 166, enough for an arrest warrant, and Lonzo refused to bail him out a third time. Eazy-E posted it in return for Dre's production for E's new record label, Ruthless Records. Eazy, Dre and Cube’s combined collaboration of talent then formed N.W.A . As