Grapetree Records
Encyclopedia
Grapetree Records was a record label founded by Knolly Williams. It was active from the early 1990s to the early 2000s.
to spend a summer in Austin, Texas working for his uncle. Although he'd given up his dreams of rap
stardom as part of his commitment to Christianity
, he allowed himself to write verses he deemed "poetry" but suspiciously resembled lyrics.
According to Williams, the path toward founding a Christian
rap label followed God's giving him the name "Grapetree." Biblically speaking, Williams says the name represents a combination of people that were about to be destroyed (grapes) and the fully restored state of man in Christ
(trees).
After getting his GED
, starting college
, and working a series of Austin-area graphic design and retail management jobs, Williams decided to launch Grapetree in 1993 with his first release as Rubadub, Reflections of an Ex-Criminal. His second release, Mind of a Gangsta, wound up setting the tone for the upstart company.
By then, Williams had signed a distribution deal with Diamante Music Group
, a mid-size distributor that handled retail accounts for more than 40 Christian indies. Three years later, Grapetree stood as the coalition's bestselling label, with each Grapetree release averaging 10,000-25,000 units. At that point, Grapetree was releasing as many as 30 albums a year. To Williams' surprise, finding the label's talent wasn't difficult. Grapetree artists routinely found other MCs disenfranchised by street life on the road and turned them on to Williams. By 1995, Williams brought his wife onboard full time and quickly began amassing a staff.
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Beginning
In 1989, Knolly Williams was anxious enough to avoid the temptations inside Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to spend a summer in Austin, Texas working for his uncle. Although he'd given up his dreams of rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
stardom as part of his commitment to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, he allowed himself to write verses he deemed "poetry" but suspiciously resembled lyrics.
According to Williams, the path toward founding a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
rap label followed God's giving him the name "Grapetree." Biblically speaking, Williams says the name represents a combination of people that were about to be destroyed (grapes) and the fully restored state of man in Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
(trees).
After getting his GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
, starting college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, and working a series of Austin-area graphic design and retail management jobs, Williams decided to launch Grapetree in 1993 with his first release as Rubadub, Reflections of an Ex-Criminal. His second release, Mind of a Gangsta, wound up setting the tone for the upstart company.
By then, Williams had signed a distribution deal with Diamante Music Group
Diamante Music Group
Diamante Music Group was a Newport Beach, California based independent record label distributor active from 1993 through 2004. During its heyday, Diamante was home to several dozen small independent record labels, some of whose artists later gained worldwide recognition.Among such were Rescue...
, a mid-size distributor that handled retail accounts for more than 40 Christian indies. Three years later, Grapetree stood as the coalition's bestselling label, with each Grapetree release averaging 10,000-25,000 units. At that point, Grapetree was releasing as many as 30 albums a year. To Williams' surprise, finding the label's talent wasn't difficult. Grapetree artists routinely found other MCs disenfranchised by street life on the road and turned them on to Williams. By 1995, Williams brought his wife onboard full time and quickly began amassing a staff.
Artists
- Antonious
- Ayeesha
- Barry G
- Bruthaz Grimm
- Christ Fa Real
- C.R.O.W.
- DDC
- D.P.C.
- E-Roc
- Faze
- Fiti Futuristic
- FTF (Dr. Chedder & Fila Phil)
- Geno V
- God's Original Gangstaz
- KIIS
- L.G. Wise
- Lil' Raskull
- Mr. Real
- NuWine
- Preachas in tha Hood
- Prime Minister
- Rhymes Monumental
- Rubadub
- Truth
- True II Society
Discography
1993- Rubadub - Reflections of An Ex-Criminal
1995
- KIIS - West Coast Thang
- Barry G - Rugged Witeness
1996
- Rubadub - Mind Of A Gangster
- D.D.C. - Plate Fulla Funk
- Lil' Raskull - Controversial All-Star
- G.O.G.'z - True 2 Tha Game
- Faze - Just Trying Ta Stay Up
- GOD's New Creation - Self Titled
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 1
- HHH Vol. - Strickly Gangsta Style
1997
- Prime Minister - Prime Time
- True 2 Society - Bow Down
- Lil' Raskull - Cross Bearing
- Preachas in tha Hood - Gangstaz Pain
- G.O.G.'z - Resurrected Gangstaz
- Geno V - Take Me 2 Tha Homies
- L.G. Wise - G's Us 4 Life
- Nuwine - Da Bloody 5th
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 2
- HHH Vol. 2 - From Tha Ground Up
- Gina Brown - In His Time
- Another Way to Praise - Take A Look Back
1998
- Prime Minister - Prime Time 2: The Millennium
- True 2 Soceity - Let's Take a Ride
- Lil' Raskull - Gory to Glory
- Preachas in tha Hood - Tearz Of A Gangsta
- E-Roc - The Return
- Rhymes Monumental aka E-Roc - Target Earth
- G.O.G'z - Pawn's In A Game of Chess
- SYG'z - Steady Bangin'
- Lord Byron - Keep Tha Fire Burning
- Antonious - Good Vs. Evil
- D.C.P. - The Last Saint
- Bruthaz Grimm - He's Coming
- L.G. Wise - Never Alone
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 3
- GT Hit Mix: Wreakin' Thangs
- HHH Vol. 3 - Ghetto Drama
- Phat Trax R&B Vol. 1
1999
- E-Roc - Avalanche
- Lil' Raskull - Certified Southern Hits
- Preachas in tha Hood - Life Sentence
- G.O.G.'z - Tha G Files
- SYG'z - Tha Movement
- Ayeesha - Listen Closely
- Antonious - Principalities
- D.C.P. - Ghetto Preacha
- C.R.O.W. - Operation K.A.P. (Kill A Pimp)
- Bruthaz Grimm - Letter 2 Tha Bruthaz
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 4
- Mr. Real - Humility
- HHH Vol. 4 - N-Tyme Mafia
- Christ Fa Real - It's Personal
- Amani - Issues Of Life
- Rhat Trax R&B Vol. 2
- GT Greatest Hits Vol. 1
2000
- Prime Minister - Inside Out
- True 2 Society - All Up In Yo Face
- Lil' Raskull - The Day After
- Rhymes Monumental aka E-roc - A Lie N Science
- D.C.P. - Our Time to Shine
- Bruthaz Grimm - ...And Things Will Never Be The Same
- F.T.F. - Fireproof?
- J-Roc - Last Days: Perelious Times
- L.G. Wise - Ghetto Fables: Da 1/2 Ain't Been Told
- Mr. Real - A Chosen One
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 5
- GT Greatest Hits Vol. 2
- Kandle - Encounters
- Angela - Faithful & True
2001
- Amani - Songs Of Love
- Preachas in tha Hood - Gangsta Hitz
- Antonious - This Chapter In My Life
- C.R.O.W. - Method Of Attack
- L.G. Wise - Greatest Hits
- Marod - Degree 40:3
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 6: 2001
- Southern Butter: Hot Out Tha Kitchen
- Testimony: Songs of Redemption
- King Cyz - Life Or Death
- Mystery - The Mystery Is Revealed
2002
- Prime Minister & Z.O.E. Click - Reel Life
- Rhymes Monumental aka E-Roc - Back 2 Earth
- Antonious - Fury (Greatest Hits)
- Fiti Futuristic - All In A Days Work
- Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 7: From Tha Cross 2 Da Streets
- The Gathering: Chicago's Finest
2003
- Truth - The Truth Hurts
- E-Roc - Greatest Hits