Block Starz Music
| Company type | Independent record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Bayer Mack |
| Headquarters | Sarasota , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Bayer Mack (Founder and President) |
| Products | Music recordings, film and television productions |
Block Starz Music is a U.S.-based independent record label established and managed by Bayer Mack. Its roster includes independent projects from artists like Machine Gun Kelly, Lega-C, Wiz Khalifa, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Big Sean, Rhymefest, and Ceddy Bu Rap Sumo. Additionally, the label oversees subsidiary ventures such as Block Starz Music Television, an independent film and TV production company.
2008–2009: Founding period
The label's inaugural mixtape release was Suburban Empire by former VH1 reality personality John Brown, which debuted in early 2009. Their initial compilation, West Coast Block Starz, launched in February 2009, showcased up-and-coming talent along with guest spots from artists including Snoop Dogg, E-40, Keak da Sneak, and Daz Dillinger.
In 2009, Block Starz collaborated with Atlanta’s D-Lo Entertainment to issue Certified, the first mixtape from future Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star Rasheeda. The label further advanced its profile through the mixtape What's High? by nineteen-year-old Youngstown, OH rapper Throwback, who shared management ties with then-undiscovered Wiz Khalifa. Throwback became Block Starz’s first signed artist as work commenced on East Coast Block Starz later that year.
The compilation East Coast Block Starz was released on December 29, 2009, led by the single "Was It" featuring Wiz Khalifa, and earned positive feedback for its mainstream viability. Among its standout tracks was "I Love My City" by Boston’s Supastar LT—a collaboration with Kardinal Offishall and Red Cafe—which gained notable popularity as a download.
2010–2011: Brand expansion
To enhance brand visibility and discover new talent, Block Starz co-hosted regional music award ceremonies, beginning with the 4th Annual Pittsburgh Hip-Hop Awards in February 2010 and later supporting the 3rd Annual South Carolina Music Awards in July of the same year. During this timeframe, the label signed Cleveland artist Machine Gun Kelly, whose track "Alice In Wonderland" became their top-selling single and received "Best Video" honors at the 2010 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards.
On March 5, 2010, Grammy Award winner Rhymefest contributed to the Midwest Block Starz project, which already included Twista, Shawnna, and Big Sean. The compilation was released on May 26, featuring Rhymefest’s modest hit "Say Wassup" with Phonte from Little Brother.
Following his participation on Midwest Block Starz, Topeka rapper Mike Schpitz was signed by the label; his debut EP Stanley Ipkiss: Year of the Nice Guy came out on August 3, 2010. Although receiving mixed critiques, the EP reached Amazon’s Top 20 new Hip-Hop releases and Top 50 Alternative rankings in Germany, becoming Block Starz’s most successful solo release.
In April 2011, news emerged that Jay-Z had outbid Universal Records and Jive Records to acquire Block Starz Music.
On September 1, 2011, Tulsa-based rapper/singer/producer Lega-C joined the label after her viral YouTube clip "White Girl Raps Fast" amassed millions of views. To leverage her growing fanbase, Block Starz issued a video mixtape titled "Who Got Tha Heater," which featured freestyle reinterpretations of songs by Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Drake, Kanye West alongside original material.
The label introduced Plaquemine rapper Ceddy Bu Rap Sumo to a national audience on November 29, 2011, with the release of Delwin Tha Krazyman’s "Macho Man." Ceddy Bu also appeared alongside Lega-C on "Don't F Around," a track included on her independent debut album Off My Medication.
2012: Left Eye, "Bath Salts", Off My Medication
On February 9, 2012, Block Starz signed Cameron Sanders, known as Young Siege, a 16-year-old rapper from Auburn, New York and protégé of Floyd Mayweather Jr., with plans to include him on East Coast Block Starz 2. Shortly after, on February 22, the label added Bootleg from Flint, Michigan’s rap group The Dayton Family to its roster and released a previously unreleased collaboration featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC in honor of the tenth anniversary of her passing. Left Eye’s verse on the track "Fantasies" stands as her sole 16-bar feature alongside another rapper.
In August 2012, Block Starz Music attracted national attention through the provocative video "Bath Salts" by satirical comedy rapper Dickward Codgers. The video’s explicit references to drugs and violence marked the label’s first release accompanied by an official disclaimer.
Lega-C launched her debut album with Block Starz titled Off My Medication on October 31, 2012. The lead music video for "That Bitch" premiered on October 22, coinciding with the radio single "Speaking Sublimely," which featured Wrekonize from Strange Music's rap/rock group ¡Mayday!. Critics lauded the album for its compelling mix of raw anthems and a West Coast-inspired sound that fused hard-hitting beats with polished lyrical delivery. Following its digital release, a CD version was announced for nationwide distribution through Select-O-Hits.
2014 to present: Darrell Cole
In 2014, Block Starz introduced Afro-Belgian rapper Darrell Cole and released his North American debut album Swahili in 2015. Born in London and raised in Sierra Leone, Cole’s music explores the dual prejudices Africans encounter both in Europe and Africa. His signing with Sony Music in 2016 represented a pivotal advancement in his career while broadening the label’s reach within the market.
Waffle House controversy
Shortly after the July 20, 2011 digital release of "Waffle House," the debut single by Block Starz Music artist J.R. Bricks, WH Capital, LLC and Waffle House, Inc. issued a cease and desist order citing unauthorized use of their trademark. Consequently, the label renamed the track "After the Club." This legal dispute prompted allegations of racial bias within hip-hop circles due to Waffle House’s largely Black and Latino customer demographic. Nevertheless, a spokesperson for Waffle House refuted claims of discrimination, highlighting their commitment to inclusivity and diverse clientele.
Removal of CEO
On December 24, 2012, Block Starz Music announced that its CEO based in Germany, Kai Denninger, had left the company. Founder and president Bayer Mack immediately took over Denninger’s duties. Mack publicly recognized Denninger’s significant contributions to building the brand and extended best wishes for his future endeavors.
Origins
Block Starz Music Television LLC is an independent film and television production company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, founded by record executive and filmmaker Bayer L. Mack. Initially launched as The BlockStarz.Tv Network in 2013 and formally incorporated in 2014, the studio gained recognition for producing the documentary The Czar of Black Hollywood along with original web series such as Profiles of African-American Success.
After securing an appearance by Block Starz artist Ceddy Bu Da Rap Sumo on TruTV’s Upload with Shaquille O'Neal in early 2013, the company established The BlockStarz.Tv Network to develop web series showcasing its label artists. The sudden death of Cedrick Smith (Ceddy Bu) in a car accident in January 2014 deeply affected both the label’s artist lineup and its programming plans.
This Is Dante
On May 8, 2013, Block Starz Music Television collaborated to produce This Is Dante, a comedic web series lasting thirty minutes. The show centers on Bronx native Dante Hillmedo (portrayed by Andrew Hillmedo Jr.), an American actor recognized for his role in the 2008 film Baby Mama, and depicts his journey to establish himself as a rapper.
The Czar of Black Hollywood
The Czar of Black Hollywood, released in 2014, is a documentary that explores the life and career of African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux (1884–1951). Bayer L. Mack, founder of Block Starz Music, developed, scripted, and produced the film utilizing archival footage, historic photographs, and period music. An eight-minute preview was made available online in March 2014.
The documentary features narration by William Bell, an original musical score composed by Nicholas Jones, and art direction by Julie Anderson. Its announcement was made on February 13 during a "Little Known Black History Fact" segment hosted by radio personality Tom Joyner on his nationally broadcast show.
In discussions with The Washington Times and The Huffington Post, Bayer L. Mack expressed that Micheaux's story inspired the project due to the scarcity of media coverage despite his historical importance. Executive producer Frances Presley Rice referred to Micheaux as the pioneering "independent movie producer."
The film had its official debut on September 27, 2014, at the 99th Annual Association for the Study of African American Life and History Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee. It earned a nomination for Best Independent Documentary from The Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) at the 2015 Black Reel Awards.
Albums
- BSM-1000: West Coast Block Starz – Various Artists
- BSM-1001: East Coast Block Starz – Various Artists
- BSM-1002: Midwest Block Starz – Various Artists
- BSM-1003: Top Model Super Fashion – The NUV
- BSM-1004: Stanley Ipkiss: Year of the Nice Guy – Mike Schpitz
- BSM-1005: The Ripple Effect – Ragz Mo' Rocka
- BSM-1006: She Got Next 2011 – Various Artists
- BSM-1007: Digital Money – Money First
- BSM-1008: Down South Block Starz – Various Artists
- BSM-1009: Soul: Best of the Block Vol.1 – Various Artists
- BSM-1010: The Manual Procedures – Boom Blake
- BSM-1011: Off My Medication – Lega-C
Singles
- BSM-0100: "Alice In Wonderland" – Machine Gun Kelly
- BSM-0101: "Was It" – Throwback featuring Wiz Khalifa
- BSM-0102: "Catch Me" – Barbara Kiss
- BSM-0103: "Where We Started" – Life Size Ghost
- BSM-0104: "Ima Be Okay" – Nicole Michelle
- BSM-0105: "Shoe Fetish" – Shelly B
- BSM-0106: "Thought I Had It All" – Illa Scorsese featuring Lela Bizz & Cakes
- BSM-0107: "Waffle House" – J.R. Bricks
- BSM-0108: "After The Club" – J.R. Bricks
- BSM-0109: "Got It On Lock" – Boom Blake
- BSM-0110: "White Girl Raps Fast" – Lega-C
- BSM-0111: "Who Got Tha Heater" – Lega-C
- BSM-0113: "Fuck Em All" – Lega-C
- BSM-0114: "Fantasies" – Bootleg (of The Dayton Family) featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
- BSM-0115: "We Doin' It" – Loced Out Ent. featuring Lil Young & Tum Tum
- BSM-0116: "Wilt Chamberlain" – Boom Blake
- BSM-0117: "Bath Salts" – Dickward Codgers
- BSM-0118: "Swahili" – Darrell Cole
External links
- Independent record labels in the United States
- Businesses located in Louisville, Kentucky
- Businesses located in Tampa, Florida
- Film production firms in the United States
- Record labels founded in 2008
- Television production firms in the United States
- American enterprises founded in 2008
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 2008