Roc-A-Fella Records
New York
1996-present
Founders-Shawn "Jay Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke
Notable Artists- Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Camron, Jadakiss

Criminal associations- Although the label itself has never been implicated in any illegal activity,a number of its affiliates have had run ins with the law. During the 1980s and early 90s Jay Z allegedly dealt crack and was part of a crew that operated in brooklyn, New jersey and also expanded into Baltimore and even had one attempt on his life when a rival tried to assassinate him with a tech 9 machine gun. Rapper beanie sigel has also alleged to have been involved with drug dealings and violent turf battles in philadelphia.Around 2000 Sigel was rolling with guys from the 23rd and Tasker crew, against a group that operated in the area of 16th and Annin in South Philly. The deaths of Kevin Jackson, Ricky Stevenson, Ray Nina and Edmund Thomas—names that loomed large in the street—were all tied to that ongoing battle. Sigel's own stepfather Sam Derry who was murdered tragically in October of 2005, Derry according to law enforcement offials was one of the last remnants of the muslim based Junior Black Mafia of Philadelphia , which was seen as a rogue outfit of Nation of Islam members whom not only dealt drugs but operated as hitmen for the N.O.I temple in Philadelphia.In 2004, Sigel was found guilty of federal weapons charges and sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison. In 2010, Sigel was charged with three counts of failing to file tax returns on income of over $1 million between 2003–2005. Sigel pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.[23] He will report to prison on September 12, 2012. More recently former founder Kareem'Biggs' Burke was convicted along with others of running a marijuana trafficking operation.The Complaint charges 40 individuals with allegedly
distributing marijuana in New York City and in New Jersey. These
defendants include KAREEM BURKE, a/k/a "Biggs," one of the
founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, MATTHEW WOODSTOCK STANG, a/k/a
"Magazine Guy," an advertising representative for High Times
magazine, and members of three separate "cells." While the three
-3­
separate cells independently controlled areas where marijuana was
sold, they depended on each other, and on the same transportation
network, for the distribution of the marijuana they sold to
customers in New York and New Jersey.
During the course of the investigation, law enforcement
agents discovered the following:
• RODRIGUEZ discussed "grow houses" located in New York
City and obtained marijuana from BURKE
• RODRIGUEZ discussed with BURKE the possibility of
obtaining marijuana from California
• Members of the cells smuggled narcotics proceeds on
commercial flights
• Members of the cells accessed a location that was later
found to contain 22 pounds of marijuana and $77,000