UN-RAPPED: Don’t look for the Houston-based Rap-a-Lot...
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UN-RAPPED: Don’t look for the Houston-based Rap-a-Lot label in the Time Warner ‘hood. Insiders say Warner Bros.-owned Giant Records was forced to pull out of a deal to manufacture and distribute Rap-a-Lot product, which includes such controversial rappers as the Geto Boys, Scarface, Bushwick Bill, 5th Ward Boys and DMG.
According to sources close to the rappers, negotiations with Giant fell apart at the last minute due to pressure from executives at the parent Warner Music Group, who feared the same type of public outcry that accompanied Ice-T’s 1992 album with his rock band Body Count on Warner Bros. Rap-a-Lot subsequently signed a new two-year deal with current distributor Priority Records--the same company that signed Ice-T after the Body Count controversy forced him off Warner Bros.
“All I’m going to say is that the deal with Giant didn’t happen,” said Rap-a-Lot general manager Bruce Toval. “We’re happy to continue our relationship with Priority.”
According to a Warner Music Group spokeswoman, “We did not make a deal with Rap-a-Lot and we don’t comment on nonexistent deals.”
Executives at Giant also declined to comment.
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