Memphis Bleek | |
|---|---|
 Memphis Bleek (front) in 2001 withBeanie Sigel | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Malik Deshawn Cox |
| Born | (1978-06-23)June 23, 1978 (age 46) Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Crooklyn Dodgers |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Malik Deshawn Cox (born June 23, 1978),[1] known by his stage nameMemphis Bleek, is an American rapper. He is best known for his affiliation with fellow New York City-based rapperJay-Z, with Cox often described as hishype man and protégé. Cox signed with hisRoc-A-Fella Records label imprint in the late 1990s, through which he has released fourmajor label studio albums:Coming of Age (1999),The Understanding (2000),M.A.D.E. (2003), and534 (2005).[2] He has since founded his own labels:Get Low Records in 1998, andWarehouse Music Group in 2016—through which he signed rapperCasanova.
Memphis Bleek was born inBrooklyn. He grew up in theMarcy Projects, located in theBedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, the same neighborhood asJay-Z.[3]
Memphis Bleek was one of the first artists signed toRoc-A-Fella, as a "protégé" of Jay-Z. The name "Memphis", which the rapper explained paid homage topimps, was abackronym for "Making Easy Money, Pimping Hoes In Style" and "Bleek" was a childhood nickname stemming from his younger sister trying to pronounce his first name, Malik.[4] Bleek's first official appearance was on the song "Coming of Age" from Jay-Z'sReasonable Doubt (1996), followed by an appearance on "Can I Live II", released on the reissued version of the album. He appeared on Jay-Z's subsequent albums:Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998),Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter (1999),The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000), andThe Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002).[5] After the widescale success ofVol 2… Hard Knock Life, the label released Bleek's debut studio album,Coming of Age (1999). The album was the week's now-defunct "Hot Shot Debut", entering theBillboard 200 at number seven with 118,000 units sold.[6] Bleek launched his own label,Get Low Records in 1998.
Thereafter, he released three follow-up albums for the label:The Understanding (2000),M.A.D.E. (2003), and534 (2005).Coming of Age andThe Understanding both receivedgold certification by theRecording Industry Association of America. During the release ofThe Understanding andM.A.D.E., he took a three-year hiatus, to take care of his older brother, who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident.[7]534 was named after thebuilding number of the housing project in which he and Jay-Z grew up, and became the first release from the "new" Roc-A-Fella, referring to Jay-Z's operational departure from the label due to his newly-appointed role as president ofDef Jam Recordings prior to its release.[8] A song from the album, "Dear Summer", is performed solely by Jay-Z and refers to what he called the time of the year in which he would drop an album or single consecutively for eight years, and how he had to metaphorically leave "her" (Summer). "Dear Summer" would mark Jay-Z's first song since beginning his brief "retirement" in late 2003.534 also contains one of the first recordings by then-unknown Def Jam labelmate,Rihanna, who featured on the song "The One".[9][10]
Memphis Bleek's highest charting single was "Is That Yo Chick", featuringMissy Elliott and Jay-Z, which peaked at number 7 on the Hot Rap SinglesBillboard chart and number 68 on theBillboard Hot 100. Other charting singles include "It's Alright", which also featured Jay-Z and peaked at number 61.[11]
In fall 2005, Memphis Bleek toldMTV that he was recording an album calledThe Process, that he would describe as a make or break album, saying "I want to do an album that's through the roof, I want to do a classic album. I feel that if this album I'm not recording is a classic, I'm not even gonna put it out. I have to do it bigger than anybody has ever done it. I have to make a good record this time, not just talking-junk records."[12][13] The rapper has worked on the album since 2005, and during that time frame he would release the promotional singles: "Hustla", "Get Ya Money Off" and "Let It Off". As of 2025, the album has yet to be released. Memphis Bleek would eventually leave Roc-A-Fella in 2009, after Jay-Z told him he could run his own company and had the proper distribution deals to do so.[14] That same year, Bleek signed a new deal with Mass Appeal Entertainment.[15]
In the summer of 2010, he served as ahype man for Jay-Z on stage during a performance at the Swedish festival Peace&Love.
On April 10, 2012, Memphis Bleek releasedThe Movement, an online mixtape which went on to receive over 125,000 downloads onDatPiff.[16] On June 6, 2012, Memphis Bleek releasedKush Vol. 2.[17] On March 21, 2014, he releasedThe Movement 2 as a mixtape for free download.[18]
On December 13, 2014, Cox married longtime girlfriend, Ashley Coombs, in an evening ceremony at The Merion inCinnaminson, New Jersey, in whichJay-Z was in attendance.[19] In July 2018, Cox announced the birth of their first child, a daughter.[20] Cox also has a son, born in June 2002.[21] Cox is the cousin of fellow Brooklyn rapperSean Price.[22]
| Warehouse Music Group | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Malik Cox |
| Distributor(s) | Roc Nation |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | New York City |
Getting the approval ofJay-Z in 2015, Memphis Bleek started his own label, as CEO and founder of Warehouse Music Group.[23] The debut release from the label was Memphis Bleek's single "So Different" featuring Manolo Rose, which created a big buzz for the label.[24][25] On July 28, 2016, Memphis Bleek made the announcement of signing Manolo Rose andCasanova.[26][27] In 2017, Manolo Rose released "Ball Drop"[28] and "Pink Fur".[29] That same year, Casanova released three big singles: "Don't Run",[30] "Go Best Friend"[31] and "Left, Right" featuringChris Brown andFabolous.[32]
In 2002, Memphis Bleek starred inState Property asBlizz. That same year, he was also inPaper Soldiers. He's had cameos inBackstage andFade to Black as well.
Memphis Bleek is a playable character in the video gameDef Jam: Fight for NY.
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
