Dreamville Records

Dreamville Records
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 2007 (2007)
Founder J. Cole
Ibrahim Hamad
Distributor(s)
Genre Hip hop, R&B
Country of origin United States
Location
Official website dreamville.com

Dreamville Records is an American record label founded by hip hop artist J. Cole and his manager Ibrahim Hamad. The label is currently distributed through Interscope Records, a division of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, a unit of Universal Music Group. The label has signed Ari Lennox, Bas, Cozz, Omen, Lute, J.I.D, EarthGang, and Cole himself. Dreamville also houses producers Elite, Ron Gilmore, and Cedric Brown.[1]

History

Rapper J. Cole founded the label in 2007

During the composition of The Come Up, Cole started his own record label in early 2007 with current label president Ibrahim Hamad. Cole and Hamad met while attending St. John's University. Cole sought for an avenue to release his own music, while Hamad yearned to start a record label, prompting the two to team up to form Dreamville Records.[2] Rapper Omen has been affiliated with Dreamville since the beginning, Omen and Cole met on rapper Canibus chat forum at age 17, where they shared music.[3] Omen was also featured on Cole's mixtapes, The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010).

On January 28, 2014, at a show at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Cole announced that his Dreamville imprint had signed a distribution deal with Interscope Records. Attendees at the show received a flyer announcing the deal and a mixtape, titled Revenge of the Dreamers. On the same day Cole announced the signing of Queens-based rapper, Bas. Cole spoke with Billboard about the Interscope deal saying: "We've been dreaming about a label situation for years." "The deal's been official since late December, and we'd been working on it for a while before that, but it felt too important to just go out and yell it right when it happened. It needed a more grand announcement." Cole explained that talks with Interscope began when Joie Manda, Interscope president of urban music, reached out to him in 2013, Cole said: "I thought he wanted me to produce someone over there and I was excited about that, but then he told me that he really believed in me as an executive, a label CEO and a producer. A Dr. Dre to his Jimmy Iovine. He had the vision."[4]

On June 26, 2014, J. Cole officially announced the signing of Los Angeles-based rapper, Cozz.[5] Omen didn't officially sign with the Interscope deal until after his debut album in 2015.[6] On December 8, 2015, Dreamville released a collaborative album titled, Revenge of the Dreamers II, officially announcing two new label signees, Charlotte rapper, Lute and Washington D.C. singer Ari Lennox.[7]

On February 20, 2017 Dreamville announced the signing of East Atlanta-based rapper J.I.D.[8] Dreamville announced the signing of duo EarthGang on August 31, 2017, the duo consist of Atlanta-based rappers Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot. EarthGang have previously toured with Dreamville affiliates before signing to the label.[9][10]

Roster

Current artists

Act Year
signed		 Releases
under the label
J. Cole 2007 9
Omen 2009 1
Bas 2014 5
Cozz 2014 3
Lute 2015 1
Ari Lennox 2015 1
J.I.D 2017 1
EarthGang 2017 3

In-house producers

The Dreamville Foundation

In October 2011, Cole established The Dreamville Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation says that it was "created to 'bridge the gap' between the worlds of opportunity and the urban youth" of Cole's hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. With volunteers, the Foundation conducts philanthropic activities, such as an annual "Back To School Supply Giveaway" to provide supplies to schoolchildren.[19] The Foundation also launched a book club for young men and sponsored "The Nobody's Perfect Writing Contest and Mother's Day Brunch" for students. It sponsors an annual weekend of Fayetteville community events called the "Dreamville Weekend" that features a discussion with the Young Men's Book Club and Appreciation Dinner and a Career Day panel of African-American professionals in a variety of fields.[20]

In 2014, Cole purchased his childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for $120,000 through the Dreamville Foundation. The home had been repossessed from his mother years earlier, while Jermaine was attending college in New York. His plan is to turn the house into a homestead for single mothers and their children to live rent-free. In 2017 NFL player Colin Kaepernick donated $32,000 to the foundation. The money will fund multiple projects for the organization.[21]

In September 2018, the Dreamville Foundation unveiled a new initiative to aid victims of Hurricane Florence in his hometown of Fayetteville, NC. According to the foundation’s website, donated funds will go toward “hot food stations placed throughout the city, temporary housing options for families, and stocking of food pantries/shelters,” as well as local charities that provide services to Fayetteville residents.[22]

Dreamville Festival

On April 27, 2018, J. Cole announced the Dreamville Festival, the festival would have featured local music, culture, food and art, and would also include a mix of up-and-comers and national acts. The festival would be held at the historic Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 15, 2018. The lineup included all of Dreamville’s artists as well as SZA, Big Sean, Nelly, Young Thug, Rich the Kid, Davido, Teyana Taylor, Saba, Rapsody, YBN Cordae, and King Mez.[23] It is expected to be an annual festival. The Dreamville Festival would have donated proceeds to the Dorothea Dix Park Convervancy and the Dreamville Foundation.[24][25] However, in the wake of Hurricane Florence, Cole cancelled the event.

Discography

Studio albums

Artist Album Details
J. Cole Born Sinner
(released with Roc Nation and Columbia)
Bas Last Winter
  • Released: April 27, 2014[28]
  • Chart positions: #103 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Cozz Cozz & Effect
  • Released: October 3, 2014[29]
  • Chart positions: #160 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive
(released with Roc Nation and Columbia)
  • Released: December 9, 2014[30]
  • Chart positions: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 2× Platinum[31]
Omen Elephant Eyes
  • Released: June 21, 2015[32]
  • Chart positions: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Various Artists Revenge of the Dreamers II
  • Released: December 8, 2015[33]
  • Chart positions: #29 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Bas Too High to Riot
  • Released: March 4, 2016[34]
  • Chart positions: #49 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
J. Cole 4 Your Eyez Only
(released with Roc Nation)
  • Released: December 9, 2016[35]
  • Chart positions: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum[36]
J.I.D The Never Story
(released with Spillage Village)
  • Released: March 10, 2017[37]
  • Chart positions: #197 U.S.[38]
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Lute West1996 pt. 2
  • Released: September 29, 2017[39]
  • Chart positions: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Cozz Effected
(released with Tha Committee)
  • Released: February 13, 2018[40]
  • Chart positions: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
J. Cole KOD
(released with Roc Nation)
  • Released: April 20, 2018 [41]
  • Chart positions: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold[42]
Bas Milky Way
  • Released: August 24, 2018[43]
  • Chart positions: #35 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: uncertified

Live albums

Artist Mixtape Details
J. Cole Forest Hills Drive: Live

EPs

Artist Mixtape Details
J. Cole Truly Yours
J. Cole Truly Yours 2
  • Released: April 30, 2013[46]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Bas Two Weeks Notice
  • Released: April 15, 2014[47]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Ari Lennox Pho
  • Released: October 21, 2016[48]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
EarthGang Rags
  • Released: September 1, 2017[10]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
EarthGang Robots
  • Release date: October 20, 2017[49]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
EarthGang Royalty
  • Release date: February 23, 2018[50]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified

Mixtapes

Artist Mixtape Details
J. Cole The Warm Up
J. Cole Friday Night Lights
  • Released: November 10, 2010[52]
  • Chart position: #7 U.S
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Bas Quarter Water Raised Me Vol. 2
  • Released: May 26, 2013[53]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Various Artists Revenge of the Dreamers
  • Released: January 28, 2014[54]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Cozz Nothin Personal
  • Released: January 4, 2016[55]
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified

Upcoming releases

Artist Album Details
J.I.D DiCaprio 2[56]
  • Release date: 2018
Ari Lennox Untitled LP[57]
  • Release date: 2018
Omen Untitled EP[58]
  • Release date: 2018
EarthGang MirrorLand[59]
  • Release date: February 2019
J. Cole The Fall Off[60]
  • Release date: 2019
J. Cole The Off Season[61]
  • Release date: TBA

Dreamville films

References

  1. ↑ "J. Cole Returns To North Carolina For 'Dreamville Weekend'". RapFix.
  2. ↑ Azeem, Khan (January 22, 2017). "The International Dreamvillain: Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  3. ↑ Hot 97 (August 4, 2015). "Bas, Cozz, and Omen Weigh in on Drake and Meek Beef, How They Met J. Cole and Dreamville". YouTube. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ Gale, Alex (February 10, 2014). "J. Cole Talks Dreamville Label Deal & Interscope's Joie Manda: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Gruger, William. "5 Questions With Cozz, J. Cole's New Dreamville Artist". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 http://www.complex.com/music/2014/01/j-cole-dreamvillians-label-bas-omen-kquick
  7. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin. "J. Cole Signs Two New Artists to Dreamville Records". Complex. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  8. ↑ Weinstein, Max (February 20, 2017). "J.I.D Signs to J. Cole's Dreamville Label". XXL. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  9. ↑ Findlay, Mitch (August 31, 2017). "J. Cole Signs EarthGang To Dreamville Records". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Goddard, Kevin (September 1, 2017). "Stream Earthgang's "Rags" EP". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  11. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin (December 10, 2016). ""The Album Is Largely From a Perspective That Isn't J. Cole's": Producer Elite on '4 Your Eyez Only'". Complex. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ Dpak. "New Interview: Ron Gilmore Speaks on Producing With J. Cole, Grammys, New Mixtape & Nashville Hip Hop". Dreamville Nation. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Cedric "Ced" Brown". YouTube. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  14. ↑ Moreno, Cypress (January 13, 2016). "CYPRESSMORENO.com - #YoungCaliforniaRadio Interview w/ Cozz & Meez". YouTube. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Q&A: Atlanta Producer-Turned-Artist Childish Major Is Proving He Can Do it All". Ones To Watch.
  16. ↑ "Bas Makes Major Label Debut With "Last Winter" Collection On J. Cole's Dreamville Label For Interscope".
  17. ↑ "Bas "Milky Way" Full Album Credits Are Here".
  18. ↑ "J Cole: Road to Homecoming- Buses, Vans and Trains EP4".
  19. ↑ Mullen, Rodger. "J. Cole's Dreamville Foundation prepares local students for class". Fayetteville Observer.
  20. ↑ "The Dreamville Foundation | Bridging the gap between the world of opportunity and the urban youth". www.thedreamvillefoundation.org. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (August 23, 2017). "Colin Kaepernick Donates $34,000 to J. Cole's Dreamville Foundation". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  22. ↑ https://www.complex.com/music/2018/09/dreamville-foundation-raising-money-for-hurricane-florence-relief
  23. ↑ https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.48298/title.dreamville-festival-announces-sza-big-sean-young-thug-j-i-d-cozz-as-performers
  24. ↑ Habrahan, Kathy (April 27, 2018). "J. Cole announces Raleigh music festival this fall". WRAL. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  25. ↑ Menconi, David (April 27, 2018). "J. Cole is throwing a music festival, and it's going to be in his home state". The News & Observer. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  26. ↑ Paine, Jake (June 17, 2013). "J. Cole "Born Sinner" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist & Spotify Stream". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  27. ↑ Reiff, Corbin (February 13, 2016). "J. Cole's 'Born Sinner' and 'Cole World: The Sideline Story' Are Now Certified Platinum". Complex. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  28. ↑ Z, DJ. "Bas - Last Winter". DJBooth. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  29. ↑ Ortiz, Edwin. "Stream Cozz's "Cozz & Effect" Album". Complex. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  30. ↑ Jaffe, Lloyd (November 17, 2014). "J. Cole Announces "2014 Forest Hills Drive" Album, Releases Artwork". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  31. ↑ Hernandez, Victoria (October 20, 2016). "J. Cole's "2014 Forest Hills Drive" Goes Double Platinum (With No Features)". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  32. ↑ Lyons, Patrick. "Stream Omen's "Elephant Eyes"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  33. ↑ Hernandez, Victoria (December 10, 2015). "J. Cole x Dreamville "Revenge Of The Dreamers II" Cover Art, Tracklist & Album Stream". HipHopDX. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  34. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (March 4, 2016). "Listen To Bas' New Album "Too High To Riot"". hotnewhiphop. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  35. ↑ Mitchell, Chris (December 8, 2016). "J. Cole's "4 Your Eyez Only" Album Is Upon Us". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  36. ↑ Roc Nation (April 7, 2017). "Congrats! @JColeNC's "4 Your Eyez Only" has been certified platinum by @RIAA Listen on @TIDALHiFi". Twitter. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  37. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (March 10, 2017). "J.I.D - The Never Story [Album Stream]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  38. ↑ "J.I.D. - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  39. ↑ Meka (September 28, 2017). "Lute Delivers Dreamville Debut, 'West 1996 Part 2'". 2DOPEBOYZ. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  40. ↑ Findlay, Mitch (February 5, 2018). "Cozz Shares "Effected" Tracklist Featuring Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  41. ↑ Eustice, Kyle (April 19, 2018). "J. Cole Returns With Highly Anticipated "KOD" Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  42. ↑ Harling, Danielle (May 16, 2018). "J. Cole's "KOD" Album Certified Gold". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  43. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (August 24, 2018). "Stream Bas' "Milky Way" Project". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  44. ↑ Kat Boehrer (January 26, 2016). "J. Cole Plans to Release Live Album on His Birthday". Complex. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  45. ↑ Smith, Trevor (February 12, 2013). "J. Cole - Truly Yours EP [New Mixtape]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  46. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (April 30, 2013). "J. Cole - Truly Yours 2 [New Mixtape]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  47. ↑ blame it on MEKA (April 15, 2014). "Bas – 2 Weeks Notice (Mixtape)". 2DOPEBOYZ. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  48. ↑ Lyle, Ashley (October 21, 2016). "Dreamville's First Lady Ari Lennox Releases 'PHO' EP: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  49. ↑ Findlay, Mitch (October 20, 2017). "EarthGang Look To The Future On "Robots" EP". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  50. ↑ Ivey, Justin. "EarthGang Completes Trilogy With "Royalty" EP". HipHopDX. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  51. ↑ Robertson, Iyana (June 15, 2014). "J. Cole Commemorates 'The Warm Up's' 5-Year Anniversary With An Open Letter". Vibe. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  52. ↑ Kerry, Steve (November 12, 2010). "J. Cole - Friday Night Lights [New Mixtape]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  53. ↑ Rose, Lilah (May 22, 2013). "Bas - Quarter Water Raised Me Vol.2 [New Mixtape]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  54. ↑ DJ Z. "J. Cole - Revenge of the Dreamers". DJBooth. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  55. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (January 4, 2016). "Cozz - Nothin Personal [New Mixtape]". hotnewhiphop. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  56. ↑ "J.I.D. Talks New Music, Touring With Mac Miller & More". Billboard. August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  57. ↑ Ari Lennox (March 12, 2018). "Thanks for your support. Expect new music in less than a year ." Twitter. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  58. ↑ "new EP being wrapped up. very excited to come back to the world with music i'm proud of". Twitter. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  59. ↑ Ellis, Stacy-Ann (July 19, 2018). "EarthGang's Globetrotting Will Play A Major Part In Their Cinematic 'MirrorLand' Album". Vibe. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  60. ↑ Mansell, Henry (April 27, 2018). "J. Cole Teases "KOD" Deluxe, "The Fall Off" Project & KiLL Edward Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  61. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (August 7, 2018). "J. Cole Drops A Freestyle Over Nas' "Oochie Wally" Called "Album Of The Year"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  62. ↑ J. Cole (December 16, 2015). "Read this. Then watch this. New episode every Wednesday leading up to concert film on @HBO". Twitter. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  63. ↑ Montes, Patrick (January 10, 2016). "J. Cole's 90-Minute HBO Documentary 'Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming' Is Here". Hype Beast. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  64. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (December 2, 2016). "Watch J. Cole's New 40-Minute Documentary "Eyez"". hotnewhiphop. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  65. ↑ Dreamville (February 4, 2017). "Too High To Riot (Documentary)". YouTube. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  66. ↑ Dreamville (March 6, 2017). "FIENDS in Tokyo". YouTube. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  67. ↑ Romano, Nick (March 24, 2017). "HBO announces second J. Cole documentary coming in April". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  68. ↑ Dreamville. "Lute: Still Slummin'". YouTube. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  69. ↑ Dreamville (February 12, 2018). "Cozz: Effected (Mini Doc)". YouTube. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
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