The Firm (hip hop group)

Name	The Firm
Background	group_or_band
Origin	New York, New York, USA
Genre	Hip hop
Years active	1996–1998
Label	Aftermath, Interscope
Associated acts	Canibus, Dr. Dre, Half-A-Mill, L.E.S., Noreaga, Dawn Robinson, Trackmasters
Past members	NasAZFoxy BrownCormegaNature

The Firm was an American hip hop supergroup that formed in New York City in 1996. It was created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute, producer Dr. Dre and production team the Trackmasters. The group was composed of East Coast-based rappers Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ and Nature, who served as a replacement for Cormega after he was ousted from the group.

Although the group received initial hype and high expectations from fans upon their formation after collectively signing to Dr. Dre's Aftermath label, The Firm's debut album, The Album (1997), generated disappointing sales and generally negative criticism. The album, which featured predominant mafioso rap-themes and production from Dr. Dre and the Trackmasters, was criticized for its mainstream, pop-orientation. Their debut album was the group's only release and it subsequently disbanded in 1998 with each member continuing their solo careers.

History

The Firm's origins lie in the recording of Nas' studio album It Was Written (1996), which included a collaboration on the song "Affirmative Action" with East Coast-based rappers AZ, Cormega, and Foxy Brown. The supergroup was a project created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute, West Coast-based rapper and producer Dr. Dre, and production team the Trackmasters. The resulting line-up included Nas, Brown, AZ and rapper Nature. Cormega had been ousted from the group and was replaced by Nature prior to recording The Firm's debut, due to artistic differences between him and Nas, as well as contract disagreements with Nas' manager Steve Stoute. AZ had gained critical acclaim for his 1995 debut album Doe or Die (1995), and Cormega had chosen to continue his rapping career after his release from prison in 1995. After the announcement of the group's formation by Dr. Dre, Nas particularly was believed by fans and critics to have abandoned his roots in favor of seeking pop stardom. Nas's and Dr. Dre's participation in the group furthered speculation by fans and critics that the two artists were losing their creativity and appeal. Their work during this period has since been considered the weakest and least successful of their careers.. After a short-lived truce, Nas attacked Cormega on the diss track "Destroy & Rebuild" from his fifth studio album Stillmatic (2001). In December 2006, Cormega, Foxy Brown and Nas reunited to perform "Affirmative Action" live on-stage, ending the beef between Cormega and Nas. A reunion was not confirmed.

In an August 2010 interview with MTV, Foxy Brown stated there have been recent discussions on a Firm reformation, dependent on the remaining four agreeing to it.

Discography

Studio albums

{| class ="wikitable" border="1" |- !rowspan="2"|Year !rowspan="2" width="185"|Album details !colspan="2"|Peak chart positions !rowspan="2"|Certifications(sales thresholds) |- !width:40| ^US !width:40| ^CAN |- | 1997 | align="left"| The Album

Released: October 21, 1997

Label: Aftermath/Interscope

Format: CD, LP

|align="center"| 1 |align="center"| 8 | |}

Notes

References

External links

The Firm at Discogs

Category:1990s music groups Category:Aftermath Entertainment artists Category:American hip hop groups Category:Interscope Records artists Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998 Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Musical groups from New York Category:Supergroups