Memphis Bleek
Memphis Bleek | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Malik Deshawn Cox |
Born | Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. | June 23, 1978
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 1996–present |
Labels |
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Formerly of | Crooklyn Dodgers |
Spouse(s) |
Ashley Coombs (m. 2014) |
Children | 2 |
Malik Deshawn Cox (born June 23, 1978),
Early life
Memphis Bleek was born in
Music career
Memphis Bleek was one of the first artists signed to
Thereafter, he released three follow-up albums for the label: The Understanding (2000), M.A.D.E. (2003), and 534 (2005). Coming of Age and The Understanding both received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America. During the release of The Understanding and M.A.D.E., he took a three-year hiatus, to take care of his older brother, who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident.[7] 534 was named after the building number of the housing project in which he and Jay-Z grew up, and became the first release from the "new" Roc-A-Fella, referring to Jay-Z's operational departure from the label due to his newly-appointed role as president of Def Jam Recordings prior to its release.[8] A song from the album, "Dear Summer", is performed solely by Jay-Z and refers to what he called the time of the year in which he would drop an album or single consecutively for eight years, and how he had to metaphorically leave "her" (Summer). "Dear Summer" would mark Jay-Z's first song since beginning his brief "retirement" in late 2003. 534 also contains one of the first recordings by then-unknown Def Jam labelmate, Rihanna, who featured on the song "The One".[9][10]
Memphis Bleek's highest charting single was "
In fall 2005, Memphis Bleek told
In the summer of 2010, he served as a hype man for Jay-Z on stage during a performance at the Swedish festival Peace&Love.
On April 10, 2012, Memphis Bleek released The Movement, an online mixtape which went on to receive over 125,000 downloads on DatPiff.[16] On June 6, 2012, Memphis Bleek released Kush Vol. 2.[17] On March 21, 2014, he released The Movement 2 as a mixtape for free download.[18]
Personal life
On December 13, 2014, Cox married longtime girlfriend, Ashley Coombs, in an evening ceremony at The Merion in
Other ventures
Warehouse Music Group
Warehouse Music Group | |
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Founded | 2016 |
Founder | Malik Cox |
Distributor(s) | Roc Nation |
Genre | Hip hop |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | New York City |
Getting the approval of Jay-Z in 2015, Memphis Bleek started his own label, as CEO and founder of Warehouse Music Group.[23] The debut release from the label was Memphis Bleek's single "So Different" featuring Manolo Rose, which created a big buzz for the label.[24][25] On July 28, 2016, Memphis Bleek made the announcement of signing Manolo Rose and Casanova.[26][27] In 2017, Manolo Rose released "Ball Drop"[28] and "Pink Fur".[29] That same year, Casanova released three big singles: "Don't Run",[30] "Go Best Friend"[31] and "Left, Right" featuring Chris Brown and Fabolous.[32]
Films
In 2002, Memphis Bleek starred in State Property as Blizz. That same year, he was also in Paper Soldiers. He's had cameos in Backstage and Fade to Black as well.
Video games
Memphis Bleek is a playable character in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Coming of Age (1999)
- The Understanding (2000)
- M.A.D.E. (2003)
- 534 (2005)
References
- ^ Wilson, Elliott (November 4, 1998). "Memphis Bleek: Get Shorty". Vibe. p. 58.
- ^ Memphis Bleek. allmusic.com
- ^ "MEMPHIS BLEEK SHARES THROWBACK CLIP OF HIS FIRST EVER PERFORMANCE WITH JAY-Z". hiphopdx.com. March 14, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ "Bleek, Memphis | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ JAY-Z STILL 'SHOOTING DOWN' MEMPHIS BLEEK'S EFFORTS FOR A JOINT ALBUM. HipHopDX. Retrieved on September 26, 2023.
- ^ Memphis Bleek Is "Coming Of Age" With Top Ten Debut. Mtv.com. Retrieved on January 26, 2013.
- ^ Hot Product: Memphis Bleek - M.A.D.E. in America. Billboard. Retrieved on January 26, 2013.
- ^ Memphis Bleek Brings It All Back Home. Billboard.com. Retrieved on January 26, 2013.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem. (May 10, 2005) 'Retired' Jay-Z Releasing New Track Via Memphis Bleek LP. Mtv.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-26.
- ^ "BAD GAL! RIHANNA'S 16 BEST HIP-HOP COLLABORATIONS". February 20, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ Artist Chart History – Memphis Bleek | Billboard
- ^ "Jay-Z's Most Loyal Soldier, Memphis Bleek, Finally Has His Own Desk". mtv.com.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem. (September 20, 2005) Memphis Bleek Prepares To Hit The Rap Battlefield With Jay-Z. Mtv.com. Retrieved on 2013-01-26.
- ^ COOPER, ROMAN (March 19, 2009). "MEMPHIS BLEEK TALKS LEAVING ROC-A-FELLA". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek to Release 'The Process' On His Own Label". theboombox.com. August 21, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek - The Movement". HNHH. April 10, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek, Kush Vol. 2". June 7, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek - The Movement 2". HotNewHipHop. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek Gets Married in New Jersey, Jay Z Attends". theboombox.com. December 15, 2014.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek Announces Birth of His New Daughter". The Source. July 11, 2018.
- ^ @memphisbleek (June 10, 2011). "happy bday to my son..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Ahmed, Insanul. "Quote of The Day: Sean Price and Memphis Bleek Are Cousins". complex.com. Complex Magazine. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek On The Rocafella Breakup, Gassing Jay Z & Nas Beef & Being Warehouse Music Group CEO [VIDEO]". Hot 97. February 22, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- Rap Radar. January 8, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek & Manolo Rose Drop "So Different"". Insomniac Magazine. January 8, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- Rap Radar. July 28, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ "Memphis Bleek Talks Jay Z Giving Him A Label To Sign Manolo Rose & Casanova". AllHipHop. February 21, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ C.M, Emmanuel (March 9, 2017). "Manolo Rose Throws a Wild Party in "Ball Drop" Video". XXL. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ "Manolo Rose - Pink Fur". YouTube. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ "Buzzing Brooklyn Rapper Casanova Says "Don't Run" In New Video". AllHipHop. June 10, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ "Casanova - Go Best Friend (Official Audio)". YouTube. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
- ^ "Casanova - Left, Right ft. Chris Brown, Fabolous". Youtube. Retrieved October 28, 2019.