Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Tue, November 17, 2009
Mon, November 16, 2009
SMC Recordings Partners With Ra Records to Release New Album by Legendary Rapper Rakim Allah
SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - November 16, 2009) - SMC Recordings (
In making the announcement, Ralph Tashjian, co-founder and CEO for SMC, states, "This is the biggest project in SMC's history. Not only are we releasing a historic record by an iconic artist, we are also opening doors for SMC's worldwide expansion."
"I am very excited to be working with SMC and Rakim," said Ron Spaulding, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group's independent distribution arm. "This is one of the most anticipated releases in hip-hop... Fontana's entire team is excited and engaged in making history with SMC and Rakim!"
Since the release of the album's first single "Holy Are You," anticipation from critics and fans alike has been growing. USA Today states, "The God MC previews his long-awaited 'The Seventh Seal' with a lyrically adept reminder of how he earned the name," with Billboard proclaiming, "Rakim is in top form, richly merging self-mythologizing reflections on his legacy with religious imagery."
The album boasts guest appearances by rap superstars Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss as well as a very special appearance by Destiny Griffin, Rakim's own daughter. He has also enlisted a cluster of production talent including Needlz, Nottz, Jake One and more on the album's well-rounded tracks.
"It's just surreal," says SMC A&R Will Bronson, of naming Rakim among SMC's artists/partners. "He is the quintessential emcee and it speaks volumes for what we've created, for him to choose to partner with us on this album."
Rakim first exploded onto the scene in the late 1980s as a member of Eric B. and Rakim. Their first album, "Paid in Full" has sold over one million units and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV and a host of others consistently refer to "Paid in Full" as "the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time."
Rakim ventured out on his own in 1997 and released the highly anticipated "The 18th Letter." Well-received by the media and fans, "The 18th Letter" took Rakim to new heights, proving his staying power as a solo artist. The album was certified gold and reached #1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop and #4 on the Top 200 charts. Now the long awaited new Rakim release titled "The Seventh Seal" is slated for release this month.
About SMC Recordings:
Established in March of 2005, SMC Recordings is home to independent music and artists. Based in San Francisco, CA, the company's prized accomplishment is its unique philosophy of artist development, where artists are encouraged to participate with the label from inception through maintenance of their careers. This innovative structure has garnered industry veterans to join the company and aid in its growth. SMC is distributed by Fontana, the indie distribution subsidiary of Universal. It is SMC's humble regional beginnings and loyalty to their artists and their careers that will guarantee the company to always be on the precipice of creativity and expansion in the music game.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, or other factors which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as the effect of general economic and market conditions, entry into markets with vigorous competition, market acceptance of new products and services, continued acceptance of existing products and services, technological shifts, and delays in product development and related product release schedules, any of which may cause revenues and income to fall short of anticipated levels. All information in this release is as of the date of this release. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company's expectations.
