Memphis Bleek

Memphis Bleek
Memphis Bleek in 2003 with Beanie Sigel
Background information
Birth name	Malik Cox
Born	(1980-06-23) June 23, 1980 (age 36)
Origin	Brooklyn, New York
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper Actor Producer
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Get Low Records (1996– present) Roc-a-Fella Records (1996–2009) Roc Nation (2009–15)
Associated acts	Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Beenie Man, Ja Rule, Too $hort

Malik Cox (born June 23, 1980), best known as Memphis Bleek or "Bleek", is an American rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-a-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records. He has released four albums during his career (2 of which went Gold by the RIAA), and had planned to release The Process in 2011, although the album has not yet been released.

Memphis Bleek was one of the first artists signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, as protégé to Jay-Z. He grew up in Marcy Projects, the same neighborhood as Jay-Z. He appears on the Jay-Z albums: Reasonable Doubt, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, and The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. Bleek's first official appearance was "Coming of Age" from Reasonable Doubt. After the huge success of Hard Knock Life and the exposure of the Roc-A-Fella camp, (a Memphis Bleek track off the aforementioned Jay-Z album, "It's Alright", actually charted on Billboard), the label released Memphis Bleek's debut album, Coming of Age. The album was the week's Hot Shot Debut on the Billboard 200, peaking at #7 with 118,000 units sold in its first week. The name "Memphis", which the rapper explained to pay homage to pimps, was an acronym for "Making Easy Money, Pimping Hoes In Style". He has released three more albums since his debut, The Understanding, M.A.D.E., and 534 (Out of the three, The Understanding was certified Gold by the RIAA). In between the release of The Understanding and M.A.D.E., he took a three-year hiatus, in which time he took care of his older brother, who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. There are three significant notes to take away from the album 534, which was named after the building number where Memphis and Jay-Z grew up in the Marcy Projects. First, it was the first release from the "new" Roc-A-Fella Records, referring to Jay-Z becoming President of Def Jam. It was also the first official Def Jam recording by label mate turned international star, Rihanna, on the song "The One". And lastly, this album marks where Jay-Z released his first song since beginning his brief "retirement". The song was called "Dear Summer", in reference to what Jay called the time of the year when he would drop a classic album or single every year for eight straight years, and how he had to metaphorically leave "her", Summer.