Priority Records | |
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Parent company | Universal Music Group |
Founded | 1985 |
Founder | Bryan Turner Mark Cerami Steve Drath |
Status | Active |
Distributor(s) | Universal Music Distribution |
Genre | Various, with a focus on Hip Hop |
Country of origin | U.S. |
Location | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Official website | www |
Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for many highly successful artists including Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Ice-T, Jay-Z, Mack 10, Master P, Mia X, Mystikal, N.W.A, Snoop Dogg, Silkk the Shocker & Westside Connection amongst others. It also distributed many highly successful hip hop record labels including Death Row Records, Hoo-Bangin' Records, No Limit Records, Posthuman Records, Rap-A-Lot Records, Rawkus Records, Roc-A-Fella Records, Ruthless Records & Wu-Tang Records amongst others.
The Los Angeles-based company (with no ties or relations to a previous Priority Records label that was a subsidiary of what was then CBS Records) was formed in 1985 by three former K-tel executives: Bryan Turner, Mark Cerami and Steve Drath. Initial funding was provided by R-tek, a company headed by former K-tel board members: Ray and Harold Kives, and their company took an initial 50% ownership in Priority. Priority bought out the R-tek interest in 1987.