Ali Vegas
Encyclopedia
Ollie Williams better known by his stage name, Ali Vegas is an American
underground rapper
from Queens
and founder of the record labels Council Recordings and Rich Soil Entertainment. After two failed deals with major record labels, Vegas frequently performed on underground mixtapes and established his own record labels. He is also a childhood friend of Lamar Odom
and Panama P.I. mentored him when he was young. Vegas's tracks, one of which featured Capone
, appeared on mixtapes. He signed to Columbia Records
in the early 2000s, and his first single "Theme of N.Y." was released in December 2000. Trackmasters
quickly lost his distribution deal, so he signed to Tommy Mottola
's struggling label Casablanca Records
, which soon went out of business. After these failed record deals, Vegas founded his independent label Council Recordings. At a benefit concert hosted by New York hip-hop radio station Hot 97, rapper Fabolous
verbally attacked Vegas on stage.
Vegas frequently participated in rap mixtapes, with noted street releases such as "The AV Theme", produced by Kanye West
. He composed a song for DJ Boom's Boomtown in 2003. In 2005, he and basketball player Lamar Odom
founded Rich Soil Entertainment, based on Vegas's rap lyric “I’m from the land of rich soil, expect the branches to follow.” Rich Soil intended to release Ali Vegas's official solo debut album.
In April 2010 Ali Vegas released his latest mixtape Veganomics
. In a recent interview with Hip Hop
website Icon Hip Hop he discussed his latest business ventures outside of music.
May 2011, Ali Vegas returned to the music scene this time teaming up with Sydney
based production team Sound Kamp, which is made up of The Iron Ghost & P.R to release a 6 track Album titled Bridging The Gap
.
Mixtapes
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
underground rapper
Underground hip hop
Underground hip hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed toindependent labels or no label at all....
from Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
and founder of the record labels Council Recordings and Rich Soil Entertainment. After two failed deals with major record labels, Vegas frequently performed on underground mixtapes and established his own record labels. He is also a childhood friend of Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom
Lamar Joseph Odom is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.-Early life:...
Biography
He entered the New York City hip-hop scene around the late 1990s. Rappers like OnyxOnyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
and Panama P.I. mentored him when he was young. Vegas's tracks, one of which featured Capone
Capone-N-Noreaga
Capone-N-Noreaga was an American hip hop duo that consisted of Capone and Noreaga.-History:In 1996 the duo signed with Penalty Records; it also appeared in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column...
, appeared on mixtapes. He signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in the early 2000s, and his first single "Theme of N.Y." was released in December 2000. Trackmasters
Trackmasters
The Trackmasters are the successful production duo of Poke and Tone , sometimes credited as Poke & Tone, best known for their commercial hit records in the late 90s and early 2000s. Throughout their career they have worked with various hip-hop and R&B artists including R...
quickly lost his distribution deal, so he signed to Tommy Mottola
Tommy Mottola
Thomas Daniel "Tommy" Mottola is an American music executive, co-owner of Casablanca Records in a joint venture with the Universal Music Group. He is the ex-husband of Mariah Carey and is married to Mexican singer Thalía...
's struggling label Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
, which soon went out of business. After these failed record deals, Vegas founded his independent label Council Recordings. At a benefit concert hosted by New York hip-hop radio station Hot 97, rapper Fabolous
Fabolous
John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
verbally attacked Vegas on stage.
Vegas frequently participated in rap mixtapes, with noted street releases such as "The AV Theme", produced by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
. He composed a song for DJ Boom's Boomtown in 2003. In 2005, he and basketball player Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom
Lamar Joseph Odom is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.-Early life:...
founded Rich Soil Entertainment, based on Vegas's rap lyric “I’m from the land of rich soil, expect the branches to follow.” Rich Soil intended to release Ali Vegas's official solo debut album.
In April 2010 Ali Vegas released his latest mixtape Veganomics
Veganomics
Veganomics Album By Ali Vegas, Released On April 15th 2010, The Album Features Production by Don Nottz, Chop Desel, and J.Nice.Guest artists include Torae,Eyes Low.-Track listing:...
. In a recent interview with Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
website Icon Hip Hop he discussed his latest business ventures outside of music.
May 2011, Ali Vegas returned to the music scene this time teaming up with Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
based production team Sound Kamp, which is made up of The Iron Ghost & P.R to release a 6 track Album titled Bridging The Gap
Ali Vegas: Bridging The Gap
Bridging The Gap Album By Ali Vegas, Released On May 1st 2011, The Album Features Production by Australian production team Sound Kamp . Guest artists include Armageddon, AC.-Track listing:...
.
Discography
Albums- Generation Gap 2: The PrequelGeneration Gap 2: The PrequelGeneration Gap 2: The Prequel By Ali Vegas, The Album Features Production BY DJ Premier , Scott Storch, MIDI MAFIA, And More. Guest artists include AZ, Styles P, SAMMIE AND MORE.-Track listing:...
(2008) - VeganomicsVeganomicsVeganomics Album By Ali Vegas, Released On April 15th 2010, The Album Features Production by Don Nottz, Chop Desel, and J.Nice.Guest artists include Torae,Eyes Low.-Track listing:...
(Alpha Beta Paper, 2010) - AutoVegography (2010)
- Bridging The GapAli Vegas: Bridging The GapBridging The Gap Album By Ali Vegas, Released On May 1st 2011, The Album Features Production by Australian production team Sound Kamp . Guest artists include Armageddon, AC.-Track listing:...
(2011)
Mixtapes
- Whatevers Whatever (1999)
- Heir to the Throne (1999)
- The Rebirth of the Price Hosted By DJ Big Mike (2002)
- Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- The Best of Ali Vegas Vol. 1 (2005)
- Black Card Council (2006)
- The Best of Ali Vegas Vol. 2 (2006)
- I Got My Glow Back Hosted By Superstar Jay (2007)
- America's Prince (2008)
- Leader of the New School Hosted By Statik SelektahStatik SelektahPatrick Baril better known as Statik Selektah, is an East Coast-based DJ, Producer and CEO of Showoff Records.-Biography:...
(2008) - Transition to Power Hosted By Superstar Jay (2009)