La the Darkman
Encyclopedia
As a teenager in New York City, the Crown Heights, Brooklyn-bred emcee born Lason Jackson negotiated his first deal just as he was finishing high school. Having studied the game as a protégé of the Wu at the height of their success LA, who considers RZA a mentor, was more than prepared when an in-studio freestyle on Hot 97’s The Stretch and Bobbito Show drew the attention of major and indie labels alike. Securing a distribution deal through Navarre Distribution, he released his debut album Heist of the Century in 1998, through his own Embassy Entertainment. The project, on which LA also served as A&R and Executive Producer, went on to sell over 350,000 copies independently. His success gave him an opportunity to tour internationally with the likes of Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and of course, the Wu-Tang Clan. Somehow, while he never stopped being an artist, LA’s career as a business man took precedent. Relocating to Grand Rapids, MI, LA launched a management company, invested in real estate, and opened an operated a children’s clothing store. But he was always a musician.
Upon relocating to Atlanta, he partnered with DJ Drama & DJ Sense, brokering a label deal for the Aphilliates Music Group, a burgeoning brand which positioned itself at the forefront of the Southern Hip-Hop movement and is also home to his younger brother Willie The Kid, the label’s flagish artist. Upon securing AMG’s partnership with Atlantic Records, LA also negotiated a joint venture deal for Embassy Entertainment with Universal Records, and a distribution agreement for Aphilliates Management through Asylum/Warner Brothers. He immediately took the reigns, rapidly assuming the role that has him heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of AMG, Aphilliates Management and Embassy Entertainment. In addition to A&R direction for all of the label’s projects, negotiating booking engagements, and brokering deals like DJ Drama’s endorsements with LRG, Pepsi and KFC, LA also executive produced the highly anticipated Gangsta Grillz: The Album. Deemed an instant street classic, the project featured appearances by Outkast, Lil’ Wayne, T.I., Young Jeezy, Nelly, Rick Ross, and Pharell. LA is currently focused on the next project at hand: the latest installment of the Gangsta Grillz album franchise.
Still, LA The Darkman remains as much a musician as he is a businessman. As he became more involved with the careers of the artists on the AMG roster, he again got the urge to create an album. Returning as a mature, more complete artist, LA continues to represent the same principles and convictions he always has. His is music that seeks to educate while entertaining, pushing the importance of strength, knowledge, and financial independence. His primary aim, however, is to continue to help Hip-Hop grow. And with the added resources brought to his Embassy imprint through a joint venture with Steve Rifkin’s SRC Records, distributed through the Universal Music Group, LA is once again set to take the world by storm.
Having appeared on the several of the titles released under the Gangsta Grillz brand, including Gangsta Grillz 17, Snoop Dogg’s The City Is In Good Hands, Fabolous’s No Competition, Lil’ Wayne’s Dedication 3, as well as The Album, LA is currently preparing his next solo release, due out in summer 2012. The album is preceded by the release of LA’s own Gangsta Grillz project, The Notorious L.A.D and Living Notoriously, both well received by critics and fans alike. With appearances on Gangsta Grillz: The Album, and Gangsta Grillz: The Album Vol. 2, LA’s solo release is highly anticipated.
The foundation has officially been set for LA’s continued success as a musician as well as the continued expansion of his empire as he gathers like minded individuals with whom to explore new opportunities in business.
(1997) Uncontrolled Substance - Inspectah Deck
(1999) Beneath The Surface - GZA
(1999) Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack)
(1999)Bi-Polar - Vanilla Ice
(2001)
The Greatest Story Never Told - Shyheim (2004)
I Got Your Money - Ol Dirty Bastard (2004)
4:21 - Method Man
(2006)
Gangsta Grillz Vol.1 & 2(Albums) - DJ Drama
(2007)&(2009)
Absolute Greatness LP& Never A Dull Moment LP - Willie The Kid
(2009)&(2010)
www.lathedarkman.com
www.theaphilliates.com
www.GangstaGrillz.com
www.TheEmbassyEnt.com
Upon relocating to Atlanta, he partnered with DJ Drama & DJ Sense, brokering a label deal for the Aphilliates Music Group, a burgeoning brand which positioned itself at the forefront of the Southern Hip-Hop movement and is also home to his younger brother Willie The Kid, the label’s flagish artist. Upon securing AMG’s partnership with Atlantic Records, LA also negotiated a joint venture deal for Embassy Entertainment with Universal Records, and a distribution agreement for Aphilliates Management through Asylum/Warner Brothers. He immediately took the reigns, rapidly assuming the role that has him heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of AMG, Aphilliates Management and Embassy Entertainment. In addition to A&R direction for all of the label’s projects, negotiating booking engagements, and brokering deals like DJ Drama’s endorsements with LRG, Pepsi and KFC, LA also executive produced the highly anticipated Gangsta Grillz: The Album. Deemed an instant street classic, the project featured appearances by Outkast, Lil’ Wayne, T.I., Young Jeezy, Nelly, Rick Ross, and Pharell. LA is currently focused on the next project at hand: the latest installment of the Gangsta Grillz album franchise.
Still, LA The Darkman remains as much a musician as he is a businessman. As he became more involved with the careers of the artists on the AMG roster, he again got the urge to create an album. Returning as a mature, more complete artist, LA continues to represent the same principles and convictions he always has. His is music that seeks to educate while entertaining, pushing the importance of strength, knowledge, and financial independence. His primary aim, however, is to continue to help Hip-Hop grow. And with the added resources brought to his Embassy imprint through a joint venture with Steve Rifkin’s SRC Records, distributed through the Universal Music Group, LA is once again set to take the world by storm.
Having appeared on the several of the titles released under the Gangsta Grillz brand, including Gangsta Grillz 17, Snoop Dogg’s The City Is In Good Hands, Fabolous’s No Competition, Lil’ Wayne’s Dedication 3, as well as The Album, LA is currently preparing his next solo release, due out in summer 2012. The album is preceded by the release of LA’s own Gangsta Grillz project, The Notorious L.A.D and Living Notoriously, both well received by critics and fans alike. With appearances on Gangsta Grillz: The Album, and Gangsta Grillz: The Album Vol. 2, LA’s solo release is highly anticipated.
The foundation has officially been set for LA’s continued success as a musician as well as the continued expansion of his empire as he gathers like minded individuals with whom to explore new opportunities in business.
Appearances
DJ Muggs
Lawrence Muggerud , better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest on the albums Which Doobie U B? and Brothas Doobie.-Cypress Hill :...
(1997) Uncontrolled Substance - Inspectah Deck
Inspectah Deck
Jason Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper, producer, and member of the Wu-Tang Clan...
(1999) Beneath The Surface - GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
(1999) Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack)
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (soundtrack)
The soundtrack of the 1999 Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai features an original score by RZA and also features hip-hop songs by such artists as Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest, and Public Enemy. Two soundtrack albums were released, one internationally and another in Japan, each with...
(1999)
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
(2001)
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
(2006)
DJ Drama
Tyree Cinque Simmons better known as DJ Drama is an American hip hop artist and the official DJ for Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I.....
(2007)&(2009)
Willie the Kid
Willie the Kid was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the eighty-first running of the King's Plate, Canada's most important race....
(2009)&(2010)
Mixtapes
- Trials and Tribulations (2004)
- Return of the Darkman (with J-Love) (2006)
- Dead Presidents (with Willie the Kid) (2006)
- The Notorious LAD (with DJ DramaDJ DramaTyree Cinque Simmons better known as DJ Drama is an American hip hop artist and the official DJ for Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I.....
) (2008) - Living Notoriously (with DJ DramaDJ DramaTyree Cinque Simmons better known as DJ Drama is an American hip hop artist and the official DJ for Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I.....
) (2009) - Return of the Darkman, Part 2 (with J-Love) (2010)
- Embassy Invasion (with DJ Green LanternDJ Green LanternJames D'Agostino , better known by his stage name DJ Green Lantern, is an American-Italian-Puerto Rican DJ and hip hop music producer from Rochester, New York. In 2002, D'Agostino was signed by Eminem to become the official DJ for Shady Records after DJ Head stepped down for undisclosed reasons...
) (2011)) - Living Notoriously Part 2 (as "L.A.D. a.k.a. La...")
External links
For more information on LA The Darkman, The Aphilliates Music Group and Embassy Entertainment, please visitwww.lathedarkman.com
www.theaphilliates.com
www.GangstaGrillz.com
www.TheEmbassyEnt.com