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Top Dawg Entertainment

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is an American independent record label. Specializing in hip hop and R&B artists, TDE is based in Carson, California. The label was founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, who also serves as the chief executive officer. His son, Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr., and Terrence "Punch" Henderson are the presidents of the label.

TDE concentrates on artist management, publishing and merchandising, and have worked with the "Big Three" record companies (Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment) for distribution ventures. The label also oversees subsidiaries such as TDE Films and their sports agency. There are currently eleven artists signed to TDE; flagship artists include SZA, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q. The label also houses a record production division that includes Digi+Phonics and Derek "MixedByAli" Ali. Kendrick Lamar, who is a minority shareholder, was one of TDE's first clients

History: Foundation

Top Dawg Entertainment was founded in 2004 by Anthony Tiffith, a record producer who previously worked with rappers The Game and Juvenile, among others. After his uncle found success as a manager for singer Rome, whose single "I Belong to You (Every Time I See Your Face)" was a major hit, Tiffith began scouting local talent as an escape from the street life of his Watts neighborhood.He built a recording studio, dubbed it "House of Pain", and established the record label based on his nickname, Top Dawg.

TDE's first signing was Jay Rock, who joined the label in 2005. Two weeks after his acquisition, Kendrick Lamar was signed to the label. In 2007, TDE signed Ab-Soul, while rapper Terrence "Punch" Henderson and record producer Dave Free assumed the role as presidents of the label. Jay Rock signed joint venture contracts with Warner Bros. Records and Asylum Records, but left after the labels failed to properly distribute his debut album Follow Me Home (2011).


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