Empire Distribution


EMPIRE Distribution, Records and Publishing Inc. is an American distribution company and record label founded in 2010 by Ghazi Shami and headquartered in San Francisco, California with offices in New York City, London, and Atlanta. It has released albums in various genres but it is predominantly focused on hip hop music. Many prominent companies and artists have partnerships with EMPIRE, with music being distributed across platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Deezer, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Rdio, along with physical CDs and vinyl being distributed to traditional record stores.
EMPIRE has supported the debut albums and early singles of a number of early artists, frequently signing young talent. In the Atlanta scene, they were the first label to release Trinidad James, Rich Homie Quan, Migos, Rocko, and K Camp. In Los Angeles, they have distributed and/or are still distributing artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Problem, Skeme, and Crooked I. They've also been involved in New York with releases from Troy Ave, Styles P, Cam'ron, and Busta Rhymes. On the R&B side, they have signed artists such as Eric Bellinger, Jacquees, Jesse Boykins III, Jonn Hart, and Lyrica Anderson. EMPIRE has also had several chart topping reggae albums including reggae artist J Boog's album Backyard Boogie.
A number of albums and singles distributed by EMPIRE have charted on Billboard, including "Taste" by Tyga featuring Offset, "Look at Me" by XXXTentacion, "All the Way Up" by Fat Joe and Remy Ma, "Broccoli" by DRAM, "Flex " by Rich Homie Quan, "Might Be" and "OTW" by DJ Luke Nasty, Malibu by Anderson Paak, Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar, "Gas Pedal" by Sage the Gemini, Phantom and the Ghost by Styles P, "#IWantDat" by Mindless Behavior, Knock Madness by Hopsin, and Stoner's EP by Snoop Dogg.

History

Founding

EMPIRE was founded in 2010 by CEO, Ghazi Shami, a music technology graduate of San Francisco State University and the former Director of Urban Music at INgrooves. In operating the company, Shami was joined by Nima Etminan, an MBA graduate in Media Management from Hamburg Media School. Etminan, co-founder of the hip hop platform DubCNN.com, worked to expand the mission and services and as of 2011 was handling Marketing and A&R. Etminan now serves as Vice President of Operations and A&R.

Releases

One of the label's first charting releases was Authenticity by hip hop duo The Foreign Exchange, released on October 12, 2010. It peaked at #145 on the US Billboard 200, and #23 on the US R&B chart. Rapper ScHoolboy Q's album Setbacks, released on January 11, 2011, also charted, reaching #100 on the Billboard 200. Longterm Mentality by Ab-Soul, released the following April, peaked at #32 on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers. In November 2013, Hopsin's Knock Madness album peaked at #76 on the Billboard 200 and at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.
Nima Etminan soon signed California hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar to the distribution company, and as of early 2012 Empire began handling distribution for all the projects by Top Dawg Entertainment, including Lamar's Section.80. Released on July 2, 2011, the album reached #113 on the US Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums.
2012 saw releases by artists such as Slum Village, Trinidad James, Snoop Dogg, and Freddie Gibbs, several of which charted. In 2012 the label helped organize a 2013 tour between Trae tha Truth and J. Stalin. Also in 2013, Empire distributed the album Still Goin In by Rich Homie Quan, which was named tenth best mixtape of 2013 by Rolling Stone. Recent albums include Phantom and the Ghost by Styles P, released on April 29, 2014. It charted at #74 on US Billboard 200, and #14 on US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
In 2013, Empire established its recording division, with Fairfield, CA native Sage The Gemini being the first signee.
In 2018, it was announced that record producer and label executive L.A. Reid founded a new label Hitco Entertainment, which will be distributed by Empire. In the same year, Australian and rapper Iggy Azalea announced her own record label originally titled New Classic Records and later renamed to Bad Dreams with its distribution being handled by Empire.

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Artists

Notable artists who have released music on EMPIRE:

Albums

YearCatTitleArtistDetailsCertifications
2010EREAuthenticityThe Foreign ExchangeOct 12, 2010#145 on the Billboard 200
  1. 23 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
2011ERESetbacksScHoolboy QJan 11, 2011#100 on the US Billboard 200
2011ERELongterm MentalityAb-SoulApril 5, 2011#32 on the US Top Heatseekers
  • 73 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
    • 2011ERESection.80Kendrick LamarJuly 2, 2011#113 on the US Billboard 200
  • 1 on the US Top Heatseekers Albums
    • 2011ERECharity Starts At HomePhonteSep 27, 2011
    2011EREElement of SurpriseP.WattsOct 25, 2011
    2011EREIn None We TrustCrooked INov 17, 2011
    2011EREGift Of Gab 2RockoNov 24, 2011
    2012EREDirty SlumsSlum VillageMar 27, 2012
    2012EREStoner's EPSnoop DoggApril 17, 2012#31 on the US Independent Albums
  • 33 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
    • 2012EREDon't Be S.A.F.E.Trinidad JamesSep 18, 2012#103 on the US Billboard 200
  • 8 on the US Top Heatseekers Albums
    • 2012EREBaby Face KillaFreddie GibbsSep 25, 2012
    2013EREStill Goin In Rich Homie QuanFeb 8, 2013Named tenth best mixtape of 2013 by Rolling Stone.
    2013EREThe Year of the UnderdogzYoung Noble & Gage GullyMay 7, 2013
    2013EREWest Coast Gangsta ShitDaz Dillinger and WCJune 19, 2013
    2013EREESGN Freddie GibbsJune 20, 2013#8 on US Top Heatseekers Albums
  • 24 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
    • 2013ERECold TurkeyStarlitoJuly 2, 2013
    2013ERE108 Crooked IJuly 30, 2013#33 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
    2013ERE1103ChordFoldTerrace MartinAug 13, 2013#43 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • 9 on US Top Heatseekers Albums
    • 2013ERETravis GarlandTravis GarlandSep 10, 2013
    2013EREGas Pedal EPSage The GeminiSep 10, 2013
    2013EREThe GameOct 8, 2013#89 on the US Billboard 200
  • 19 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
    • 2013EREKnock MadnessHopsinNov 24, 2013#1 on US Top Heatseekers Albums
  • 7 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • 6 on US Independent Albums
    • 2014ERE135Tortoise and the Crow CDGrouch, ElighMar 04, 2014
    2014ERE136Keep It On the D-LoD-LoApr 01, 2014
    2014ERE139Phantom and the GhostStyles PApr 29, 2014#74 on US Billboard 200
  • 14 on US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • 18 on US Independent Albums
    • 2014EREBarrel BrothersSkyzoo and ToraeMay 27, 2014
    2014ERE141 VeniceAnderson.PaakOct 28, 2014
    2015EREStrictly RootsMorgan HeritageJune 8, 2015Grammy Award Winning : Best Reggae Album
    2015ERE141 Fuk Wat They Talkin BoutTygaAug 24, 2015
    2015ERE141Shadow of a DoubtFreddie GibbsNov 20, 2015
    2016ERE141 MalibuAnderson.PaakJan 15, 2016
    2016ERE141 King of MemphisYoung DolphFeb 19, 2016#49 on US Billboard 200
    2016EREHighway Music: Stuck in TrafficDJ Luke NastyMay 13, 2016
    2016ERE256RosecransDJ Quik & Problem2016
    2017ERE310Plata O PlomoFat Joe and Remy MaFeb 17, 2017
    2017EREAcoustic LevitationDevin The DudeMar 10, 2017
    2017ERE344Neva LeftSnoop DoggMay 19, 2017
    2017EREFor Your Girl TooSELFISH.May 23, 2017
    2017EREBitchImTheShit2TygaJul 21, 2017
    2017ERE17XXXTentacionAug 25, 2017#2 on US Billboard 200
    2018ERE381KyotoTygaFeb 16, 2018
    2018?XXXTentacionMar 5, 2018#1 on US Billboard 200
    2018ERE453Tru LPLloydAug 31, 2018
    2018EREDancing ShadowsMarioOct 5, 2018
    2018ERESkinsXXXTentacionDec 7, 2018#1 on US Billboard 200
    2019EREWalk with MeRotimiMay 24, 2019
    2019ERELegendaryTygaJun 7, 2019
    2019EREIn My DefenseIggy AzaleaJul 19, 2019
    2019ERE524I Wanna Thank MeSnoop DoggAug 16, 2019
    2019EREWicked LipsIggy AzaleaDec 2, 2019
    2019ERE537Bad Vibes ForeverXXXTentacionDec 6, 2019

    Singles

    Notable singles released by EMPIRE