Cinematic Music Group is an American record label, management, publishing & touring company distributed by Geffen Records founded in 2007 by Jonny Shipes. Their roster as of 2020 consists of Joey Bada$$, Pro Era, T-Pain, Smoke DZA, Va$htie, Mick Jenkins, G Herbo, Caveman, Public Access TV, Flipp Dinero, and others.
In August 2023, Shipes sold Cinematic's recording catalogue to Interscope Geffen A&M and formed a new music company named GoodTalk.
History
Cinematic Music Group"Cinematic Music Group...has signed a deal with SONY RED.". XXLMag made one of its earliest signings in 2007 with Harlem’s Smoke DZA. That same year, Cinematic signed Sean Kingston whose self-titled debut album included two #1 Billboard singles, including the double platinum "Beautiful Girls." The album sold in excess of 1,000,000 units.http://www.billboard.com/artist/278515/sean-kingston/chart Billboard.com Cinematic’s next signee, West Coast MC Nipsey Hussle, signed to the company in 2010 and was included on XXL’s Annual Freshman List"Nipsey Hussle, Class of ’10 – Catching Up With the XXL Freshmen" May 21, 2013 by Dan Buyanovsky" XXL Magazine.
In 2010, Shipes signed Big K.R.I.T., who that same year released his mixtape "Krit Wuz Here""K.R.I.T. Wuz Here Album Review" . DJBooth.net KRIT followed up this success with his “Returnof4eva” mixtape in March 2011. K.R.I.T debuted the #1 hip hop album on the billboard charts with his debut album Live from the Underground."Mississippi rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T. finds himself with the biggest hip-hop album on the Billboard 200 this week". BallerStatus.com.
In 2010, Cinematic added Vashtie Kola, an artist, designer, and DJ to the roster."Her Cool-Kid Clubhouse" By ALEXIS SWERDLOFF MAY 11, 2011, The New York Times. Shipes then signed Joey Bada$$ & the collective Pro Era, short for the Progressive Era, which was a group of emcees, producers, and young tastemakers. Musical members of Pro Era include Joey Bada$$, Capital Steez, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, CJ Fly, Dessy Hinds, A La Sole, Chuck Strangers, Dyemond Lewis and more. After viewing a video of a 16-year-old Joey Bada$$ freestyling on popular hip hop and viral video website WorldstarHipHop.com, Shipes saw his potential. After writing for two years, Bada$$ released his debut mixtape “1999”, receiving critical acclaim from Complex Magazine."The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Complex Magazine. Bada$$ & Pro Era have been noted for their lyricism and return to the 90s sound.
In 2013, Shipes expanded the roster of Cinematic and signed indie R&B/electronic duo ASTR. ASTR released their “Varsity” EP in January 2014. On July 16, 2014, Cinematic Music Group President Jonny Shipes announced the signing of Chicago emcee Mick Jenkins"Today it was announced that Mick Jenkins has signed a deal with Cinematic Music Group (Big K.R.I.T., Pro Era)..." 2DopeBoyz.com. http://2dopeboyz.com/2014/07/16/mick-jenkins-signs-cinematic-music-group-lazarus/ whose "The Water[s]" album was released, and received a rave review from Stereogum." Mixtape Of The Week: Mick Jenkins The Water[s]". Tom Breihan August 20, 2014 Stereogum.com. Jenkins finished off 2014 by touring the country (40 plus cities) on The Smoker's Club tour and saw his first headlining tour with Pro Era’s Kirk Knight in early 2015.
On January 20, 2015, Joey Bada$$ released his debut studio album “B4.DA.$$”. The album sold 56,000 units in its opening week, making it the #1 rap album in the country that week.
On September 1, 2015, Chicago rapper Lil Herb was added to the roster of Cinematic. His album, Ballin' Like I'm Kobe, was released on September 27, 2015.
On February 4, 2016, Cinematic announced the signing of Brooklyn rock band Caveman. Later that month on February 11, they announced the signing of New York City band Public Access TV.
In summer 2023 Shipes sold the Cinematic Music Group catalog to Interscope Geffen A&M in a deal reported to be worth eight figures, and launched a new venture, GoodTalk, a full-service entertainment company with divisions including talent management, a new record label, clothing and festivals verticals, and 4Lifers Entertainment, the film and TV production company he and Druski co-founded.
Artists
Act Year signedSmoke DZA2007Joey Bada$$2010Pro Era2010Vashtie Kola2010Kirk Knight2010ASTR2013Mick Jenkins2014G Herbo2015Mobsquad Nard2015Cam'ron2016 Caveman2016Public Access TV2016Splashh2016T-Pain2016Cat Clyde2017Yungeen Ace2018Lil Trevo2018Shawn Scrilla2018Flipp Dinero2018Slayter2019ABG Neal2019Nipsey Hussle2010 Luh Kel2019BBG Kobe2020C Glizzy2020Xanman2021
Discography
ArtistAlbumDetailsBig K.R.I.T.K.R.I.T. Wuz HereRelease date: May 3, 2010Big K.R.I.T.Return of 4EvaRelease date: March 28, 2011Big K.R.I.T.4eva N a DayRelease date: March 5, 2012Joey Bada$$1999Release date: June 12, 2012Pro EraThe Secc$ TapeRelease date: February 20, 2012Pro Era P.E.E.P: The aPROcalypseRelease date: Dec 21, 2012Big K.R.I.T.Live from the UndergroundRelease date: June 5, 2012Big K.R.I.T.King Remembered in TimeRelease date: April 10, 2013Joey Bada$$Summer KnightsRelease date: July 1, 2013CJ FlyThee Way Eye See ItRelease date: October 5, 2013ASTR Varsity EPRelease date: January 21, 2014Pro EraThe Secc$ Tape 2Release date: February 14, 2014Pro EraThe ShiftRelease date: May 27, 2014Mick JenkinsThe Water[s]Release date: August 12, 2014Big K.R.I.T.CadillacticaRelease date: November 11, 2014Joey BadassB4.Da.$$Release date: January 20, 2015Mick Jenkins Wave[s]Release date:August 21, 2015G Herbo Ballin Like I'm KobeRelease date: September 29, 2015Kirk KnightLate Knight SpecialRelease date: October 30, 2015Mobsquad NardEverything Clean But Da AshtrayRelease date: February 5, 2016Mick JenkinsThe Healing Component Release date: September 23, 2016Joey BadassAll-Amerikkkan Badass Release date: April 7, 2017Yungeen AceLife of Betrayal Release date: August 3, 2018
References