Open Bar Entertainment
| Open Bar Entertainment | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Sony Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Xzibit |
| Distributor(s) | Epic Records |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | United States |
Open Bar Entertainment (also known as Almighty Open Bar Entertainment) is an American record label founded in 2000 by American rapper Xzibit. It operated as a subsidiary label under Epic Records.
History
[edit]Xzibit stated "I started a label called Open Bar, being that I gotta take advantage of everything that's happening around me right now, I just feel like Likwit Crew never got our fair share in the market place. Whether it was us, whether it was the promotion, whether it was the label...that's not for me to argue about. But what I can do is, since I got my hands around the opportunity, I'll of course, embrace my family members and bring them to the table with me. The first person I signed was King Tee. I also signed Defari and I'm bringing the Golden State Warriors over there. So I'm gonna go ahead and we're going to develop them, and bring them into the circle, putting my family together, coming out correctly."[1]
Following the moderately successful releases of Xzibit's first two albums, At the Speed of Life and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, Xzibit was granted his own label under Loud Records, which at the time received distribution from Epic Records. Open Bar's first release was Xzibit's third studio album, Restless. Among others, it featured Xzibit's protege and Open Bar's newest signee, rapper Defari. The album was the best selling album for both Open Bar and Xzibit, peaking in the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling a million copies in America. Restless was supported by two commercially successful singles: X and Front 2 Back.
Around 2000 through 2001, Xzibit began developing Defari as well as the Golden State Project, a rap group consisting of Saafir, Ras Kass, and Xzibit. Originally named The Golden State Warriors, the group's name was rechanged due to a cease and desist from the NBA. Though both acts were to release projects through Open Bar, with Defari's album scheduled to be released in the summer of 2001 and The Golden State Project's album scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2001, both albums were shelved indefinitely.
Artists
[edit]- Xzibit
- Defari
Discography
[edit]References
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