Beanie Sigel | |
|---|---|
 Beanie Sigel in 2002 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Beans, Mack |
| Born | Dwight Equan Grant (1974-03-06)March 6, 1974 (age 51) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | East Coast hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Works | Beanie Sigel discography |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | |
Dwight Equan Grant (born March 6, 1974), better known by his stage nameBeanie Sigel, is an American rapper fromPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania. He is best known for his association withJay-Z and his labelRoc-A-Fella Records, to which he signed in 1998 and became one of its flagship artists.[1] His debut studio album,The Truth (2000), received both critical and commercial success, peaking at number five on theBillboard 200.
Along with his solo career, Grant served as thede facto leader of the Philadelphia-based hip hop collectiveState Property, which he formed with other Roc-A-Fella labelmates. The group debuted in 2002 with anamesake film starring Grant, and released two well-received studio albums.[2]
Grant's second and third albums,The Reason (2001) andThe B. Coming (2005), both reached the top five of theBillboard 200. The latter included the single "Feel It in the Air" and marked a brief departure from Roc-A-Fella.[3][4][5] After returning to Roc-A-Fella, he released his fourth album,The Solution (2007), which was met with continued praise despite a commercial decline, and became his final release under the label.[6]
He later released two independent albums,The Broad Street Bully (2009) andThis Time (2012), both of which achieved regional success and positive reception.
Grant has also faced numerous legal issues and publicized court trials since 2002. As of 2024, he has been arrested at least six times and has served approximately four years in federal or state prison.[7][8]
Roc-A-Fella Records released Beanie Sigel's debut album,The Truth on February 29, 2000, to critical and commercial success.
In 2002, Sigel and much of the Roc-A-Fella roster starred inState Property. Its release coincided with the creation and promotion ofState Property, a group of Philadelphia artists signed to Roc-A-Fella, who were organized by Sigel andFreeway. Its members includedPeedi Crakk, theYoung Gunz (Neef Buck &Young Chris), Oschino andOmillio Sparks. Their first collaboration was for the movie's soundtrack, an eponymous release that featured the original "Roc the Mic" by Sigel and Freeway. 2003'sThe Chain Gang Vol. 2 followed, featuring the single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" by the Young Gunz. The record was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.[9]
In 2005, before serving a one-year prison sentence stemming from an earlier arrest, Sigel shot multiple videos, directed by Joe Briscella, and finished his third albumThe B. Coming. During this time, Sigel's label head at Roc-A-Fella,Jay-Z, became president of its parent label,Def Jam, which caused former business partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to leave and form the Dame Dash Music Group. Dame Dash Music Group and Def Jam released Sigel'sThe B. Coming rather than Roc-A-Fella, but it still contained production from a slew of Roc/Jay Z-affiliated producers including Chad West,The Neptunes, Just Blaze,Boola, andBuckwild. Sigel recruited cross–label MC talent for his album as well, includingCam'ron and Jay-Z. Sigel's record produced a hit track, "Feel It in the Air", and sold 131,000 copies in its first week.[10]
Advertising his friendship with the incarcerated Sigel, Dash publicly claimed that he was leaving the Roc-A-Fella roster to join him. Sigel's group, State Property was thrown into turmoil, but eventually chose to remain at Roc-A-Fella—apparently against Sigel's wishes. On his release, Sigel questioned the loyalty of his group and said that he was signing with Dame and Biggs due to a stronger relationship with the pair than with Jay-Z:
I've never been around Jay on an off day. It ain't like I made a choice of running with Dame and Biggs or 'Dame and Biggs held me down through my whole trial.' It's not that. I would be a sucker if I said I [signed with the Damon Dash Music Group] because they did that for me. It's love. You see how we chillin' now, this ain't about no business.[11]
Soon after, he clarified his comments, saying he simply did not want to be involved in the conflict, and elected to re-open talks with Roc-A-Fella instead of moving to Dame Dash Music Group.[11]
In 2006, Sigel re-signed with Roc-A-Fella Records and started recording for his fourth studio albumThe Solution.[12] On October 29, 2007, Sigel released the first single fromThe Solution titled "All The Above" which featuredR. Kelly. It debuted on theU.S. R&B charts at number 83. On May 22, 2007, Sigel releasedThe Solution which debuted on theBillboard charts at number 37.
In 2009, Sigel released his first independent albumThe Broad Street Bully after his contracts with Roc-A-Fella Records andDef Jam Records had expired.
In 2010, Sigel announced that he was working on his sixth studio album titledThe Closure which was to be released onUniversal Republic andG-Unit Records.[13] However, on May 31, 2011, Sigel cancelled the album and retired from the music industry for two weeks, before deciding to return and work on the album again, re-titling itThe Classic. In 2011, Sigel signed with50 Cent's subsidiary labelG-Unit Philly and renewed his 2009 contract with G-Unit Records.[14] On July 13, 2011, Sigel released his first single from the album titled "B-Boy Stance".[15]On March 30, 2012, Sigel toldStatik Selektah onShade 45 that he would be working on a collaborative album with his longtime close friend, theSouthern rap veteranScarface; the album was to be calledMac and Brad. Scarface tweeted the announcement at the same time via mobile. On that same day, while distribution deals withE1,The Orchard, andAsylum were on the table, Sigel also decided to sign a distribution deal withEMI after one of his mutual friends garnered the interest of Chris Schwartz. Under Schwartz's guidance, Sigel released a newmixtape, followed by his studio albumThis Time.[16][17]
Sigel first appeared in the documentaryBackstage, and his first main acting role was in the movieState Property which spawned a sequelState Property 2. He also appeared along withKevin Hart in the 2002 filmPaper Soldiers. Sigel released a DVD titledThe B. Coming of Beanie Sigel in 2005, shortly after his third solo album releaseThe B. Coming.[18]
In 2006, Sigel was interviewed in theRap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops documentary, which exposed rappers to the dossiers maintained by NYPD as part of their effort to surveil hip-hop artists and executives.[19] He also auditioned for the lead role in the 2009 filmNotorious.[20]
Sigel appeared in the 2011 filmRhyme and Punishment, a documentary about hip-hop artists who have served time in county jail or state/federal prison. The film features an interview with Sigel in which he discusses his conviction and life while incarcerated.
Sigel recorded a song dissing his former boss and mentor Jay-Z on the track "I Go Off" with50 Cent who had signed him to his G-Unit Records label in 2009.[21] On May 31, 2011, it was reported that Sigel had apologized to Jay-Z. However, in an interview withDJ Green Lantern, he said that he had never "apologized" to Jay-Z, and that he was still making music.[22]
In 2015, Sigel and Jay-Z reunited at theTidal B-Sides Concert and performed together, ending the feud.[23]
During the beginning of the new millennium, Sigel and various other Roc artists engaged in a conflict with artists from theRuff Ryders.[24] Sigel publicly decriedJadakiss, the rest ofThe LOX andDMX. Although Sigel and Jadakiss both denied any violent intent, they continued to exchange criticism until Sigel put out a freestyle rap over Jadakiss' hit "Put Ya Hands Up".[25]
On September 26, 2016, Sigel andMeek Mill, a former friend and neighbor, got into an altercation when Sigel ridiculed Mill's intelligence and claimed to be "the ruler of all of Philly" during a radio interview.[26] Minutes after the interview, someone who was believed to have been one of Meek Mill's affiliates, punched Sigel on the back of his head.[27] Three days later, Mill criticized Sigel viaInstagram.[28] He also dissed Sigel again in a freestyle onFunkmaster Flex's radio show.[29] Sigel responded by releasing his own diss track titled "I'm Coming".[30]
Grant is aSunni Muslim.[31]
In November 2021, rapper and former Roc-A-Fella cohortKanye West gave Grant credit for originating his now-trademarknickname "Yeezy". Grant attested to this during a subsequent interview withTMZ. In his interview, West also suggested he owes Grant monetary compensation, to which Grant declined.[32]
In October 2023, Grant formally endorsed theindependent 2024 presidential campaign of environmental lawyerRobert F. Kennedy Jr., deeming him to be "honest".[33] The following year, after Kennedy suspended his campaign, he endorsedKamala Harris in the2024 United States presidential election.[34]
In 2002, Sigel was arrested and charged with a federal weapons charge inWest Philadelphia. He would later serve a year in federal prison.[7]
Sigel was arrested in January 2003 after allegedly punching a 53-year-old man in the face, fracturing his eye socket.[35] On July 3, 2003, Sigel turned himself in to Philadelphia police and was charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing six shots from a 9 mm handgun at a club door, injuring two people. He was also charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and possession of a criminal instrument. His first trial ended in ahung jury. A second trial resulted in a not-guilty verdict.[8]
In 2004, Sigel was convicted of federal weapons charges and sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison.[36]
Sigel was shot multiple times during a robbery in Philadelphia on May 25, 2006. He was able to flee the scene and drive himself to a local hospital. One month prior to this incident, Sigel was released from prison after serving a brief stint for child support charges.[37]
On August 15, 2009, Sigel was arrested on a drug possession charge while traveling to a concert in New Jersey. He was found in possession of nearly 50 grams (1.8 oz) of marijuana in his vehicle.[38]
Sigel was charged in 2010 with three counts of failing to file tax returns on income of over $1 million between 2003 and 2005. He pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 25 months in prison.[39]
On August 29, 2012, two weeks before reporting to prison, Sigel was arrested again in Philadelphia on drug, weapons, and conspiracy charges after being pulled over by police. Officers found a fully loaded .38-caliberSmith & Wesson handgun inside the vehicle, as well as $4,500 in cash, an unlabeled bottle of codeine cough syrup, and various pills.[40] Sigel began his 24-month sentence for failing to file tax returns at theFederal Detention Center, Philadelphia on September 12, 2012. Additionally, he was sentenced six to 23 months in county jail for illegal possession of prescription drugs, to be served concurrently with his federal sentence.[41][42]
On August 14, 2014, Sigel was released fromFederal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill and was reported to be serving out the rest of his sentence in ahalfway house in Philadelphia.[43] Sigel was wounded in a drive-by shooting outside his Pleasantville, New Jersey home on December 5, 2014.[44][45] He was rushed to the hospital where he had alung removed due to complications during surgery. According to police, Sigel was not the intended victim.[46][47][48]
Studio albums
Collaborative album
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