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| Memphis Bleek | |
|---|---|
| Name | Memphis Bleek |
| Birth name | Malik Deshawn Cox |
| Birth date | 23 June 1978 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York City, New York |
| Occupation | Rapper, songwriter, record executive |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, Universal Music Group |
Memphis Bleek
Memphis Bleek (born Malik Deshawn Cox; June 23, 1978) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record executive from Brooklyn, New York City. He rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through his association with Jay-Z, Roc-A-Fella Records, and collaborations with artists across hip hop scenes including Beastie Boys, Nas, Eminem, and Lil Wayne. Bleek's career spans studio albums, mixtapes, executive roles, and involvement in New York music culture and business ventures.
Born in Brooklyn, Bleek was raised in the Marcy Houses public housing complex in Bedford–Stuyvesant, a neighborhood associated with figures such as Jay-Z and institutions like Brooklyn Academy of Music. He attended local schools in New York City and grew up amid the cultural milieu of East Coast hip hop that included artists like Notorious B.I.G., DMX, The Lox, and collectives linked to Bad Boy Records and Def Jam Recordings. His formative years overlapped with regional scenes centered at venues like Apollo Theater and media outlets including Hot 97 and MTV.
Bleek's debut appearances were tied to Jay-Z releases on Roc-A-Fella Records and collaborations with producers from The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Swizz Beatz. He featured on Jay-Z tracks during the era of albums such as Reasonable Doubt and Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life and released studio albums that charted on the Billboard 200, competing with contemporaries like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre. His discography includes singles and albums produced with engineers and mixers associated with Universal Music Group and labels that shaped the late 1990s and early 2000s mainstream, intersecting with artists like Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, R. Kelly, and Mary J. Blige. Bleek also participated in tours and festival lineups alongside acts promoted by Live Nation and performed at venues such as Madison Square Garden and festivals historically featuring Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Bleek's catalog features collaborations with prominent figures across hip hop and R&B including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Roc-A-Fella Records signees, and peers like Cam'ron, Ja Rule, Jay-Z-era affiliates, as well as crossover appearances with artists from labels like Aftermath Entertainment and Cash Money Records. He has worked with producers and songwriters associated with Soulja Boy, Pharrell Williams, and Drake's milieu, and has guest spots on tracks with artists tied to collectives such as G-Unit and The Diplomats. His affiliations extended to management and promotional relationships involving entities like Def Jam Recordings, EMI, and independent imprints influenced by executives like Damon Dash and Jay Brown.
Beyond recording, Bleek engaged in executive roles and entrepreneurial initiatives in the music industry, mirroring paths of peers who established imprints and brands such as Roc Nation, Shady Records, and Maybach Music Group. He participated in merchandising, touring enterprises coordinated with agencies like Live Nation, and ventures that intersect with lifestyle and fashion labels linked to urban culture exemplified by collaborations similar to those of Sean Combs and Pharrell Williams. His business activities included developing talent pipelines and working with distribution partners in the vein of corporate arrangements involving Universal Music Group and independent distribution networks.
Bleek's personal life is connected to the Brooklyn community and to cultural networks that include artists, producers, and executives from New York City and beyond. He has been publicly associated with figures from the hip hop community such as Jay-Z, Dame Dash, and peers from neighborhoods like Bedford–Stuyvesant and Brownsville. His family and community ties reflect intersections with institutions and events in Brooklyn and metropolitan New York cultural life, including appearances at charity events, industry award ceremonies like the Grammy Awards, and city initiatives involving local leaders.
Throughout his career, Bleek has been implicated in industry disputes and controversies common to high-profile artists, involving conflicts over contracts, label disputes, and publicized rivalries similar to incidents experienced by artists on labels like Bad Boy Records and Roc-A-Fella Records. His public profile intersected with media coverage from outlets such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Vibe, and with legal and contractual negotiations characteristic of the music business regulated by entities such as ASCAP and BMI.
Bleek's legacy resides in his role within the Brooklyn hip hop lineage alongside figures like Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., and Lil' Kim, and in his contributions to the rise of Roc-A-Fella Records as a defining label of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He influenced subsequent artists and executives who navigated careers spanning performance and entrepreneurship, paralleling trajectories of artists associated with Roc Nation, Shady Records, and GOOD Music. His work remains cited in discussions of East Coast hip hop history, the commercial evolution of rap, and the business practices shaping modern recording careers.
Category:1978 births Category:American rappers Category:People from Brooklyn