All Time Record Label Rankings

[Low End Derrick]

As inspired by this post in the thread about where MMGs ranks in all time hip hop labels:

We got all time record label rankings now?

A reminder of some of the significant labels throughout hip hop history:

 

[Controversy]

This is complicated bc of how you weigh specific categories (longevity, peak, record sales, influence, etc...)

My top 5 in no order is

Bad Boy
Cash Money
Deathrow
Rocafella
Uptown

 

[L. Deezy]

Def Jam
Cash Money
Bad Boy
Death Row
No Limit

 

[FluffyEyes]

Def Jam has to be #1. You don't get a lot of these other labels without the impact and inroads that DJ made AND a couple of these labels were actually partners with Def Jam(or used them for distribution) during their tenure.

The only other one that is a MUST for top 5 is probably Cash Money/Young Money. Their artists' influence is all over the last 15 years of music. Everyone else is arguable.

 

[Tommy Gibbs]

Def Jam is #1, no matter how you want to spin it. Then you list a top 5. Def Jam's history doesn't even need to be explained. If anyone needs an explanation of Def Jam's history(and Rocafella is under their umbrella), then this thread isn't for yu

Cash Money:: Been around for over 30+ years. The first we heard of them nationally was in 98, but they had about 25-30 releases prior to Juvenile's 400 degrees. And they took that momentum to over 10 years later with Wayne's resurgence, Drake, and Nicki Minaj.

Rocafella - Jay and Kanye has really carried this label for years. Add in releases from Beans and his crew along with Cam and Dipset.

Rap a lot : Scarface and Geto boy's discography alone is better than most hip hop label's discography. Then you have the albums from Big Mike, gangsta nips, tela, etc. From the 80s-2000s

No Limit - (see cash money)

Loud records : Has a lot of classic albums. They don't have the mainstream success of a rocafella, but a LOT of classics. Wutang, Xzibit, Mobb deep, the Liks, Big Pun, etc..




Couldn't put Death row in there because they only had a good 5 year run. But they released a lot of classics, but after 1997, it was basically over for them. Duck Down had mainstream universally known albums, but a hell of a lot of underground classics that can't be denies. Over 20 years strong in releasing great albums. Regardless of if the mainstream didn't fukk with them. Just my opinion, I may be wrong.