User:EllenZoe/sandbox/10k Projects

10k Projects is a Los Angeles, California-based independent record label, founded by Elliott Grainge in 2017. The artist roster includes Trippie Redd, Surfaces, Alex Wigdahl, AUSTN, Iann Dior, Kierra Luv, GNAR, lilspirit, Peach Tree Rascals, POORSTACY, Quin NFN, Ty Fontaine and 2 Rare, among others. The label has joint ventures with Taz Taylor’s Internet Money and its artists and producers. Controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine (aka Daniel Hernandez) was previously signed to the label.

10k Projects has obtained 18 gold and 8 platinum or multi-platinum singles and has generated more than 10.5 billion streams for its artists.

Label history
Grainge grew up in Northern London, the son of music executive Lucian Grainge. He was interested in music with early favorites S Club 7, and often joined his father in the studio to watch artist recording sessions.

In 2009, when Grainge’s father moved to the United States to become Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group, he entered Boston’s Northeastern University. While there, he started a bottle service club promotion business at several area dance and hip-hop clubs. After completing his education and moving to Los Angeles, Grainge launched a record label called, at first, Elliott Grainge Entertainment before settling with the 10k Projects name in 2016.

The new label began its A&R to sign acts by monitoring the SoundCloud’s emerging hip-hop scene, which Grainge compared to the ‘70s punk scene DIY ethos that his father admired. 10k Projects signed a distribution deal with UMG’s Caroline.

The first signings to 10k Projects were Trippie Redd and Takashi 6ix9ine. Redd’s mixtape, A Love Letter to You, was released on May 14, 2017, and reached No.64 on the Billboard 200, and a gold certification for sales of half-million. In October 2017, Redd's second mixtape, A Love Letter to you 2 debuted at No.34 on the Billboard 200. That was followed by Tekashi’s, "Gummo," single release on November 10, which peaked at No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 500,000 copies. The rapper’s debut mixtape, Day69, released jointly by ScumGang Records and 10k Projects, came out on February 23, 2018, went to No.4 on the Billboard 200, and earned a gold certification as well. 10k Projects signed its first pop artist with Austin Brown, renamed AUSTN, in January 2019.

That year, 10k Projects did a joint venture label deal with Taz Taylor’s producer coalition Internet Money, which had a roster of Grammy-nominated producers, such as Nick Mira and JR Hitmaker, and has worked with artists such as Drake, Juice WRLD as well as Trippie Redd. The combined companies released their first single, "Somebody," featuring Lil Tecca and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie in October 2019, and it was certified gold. They also signed Iann Dior and PoorStacy, among others. Dior's debut mixtape, nothings ever good enough, released April 2019 was executive produced by Taylor. The eight-track collection included Dior's single, "Emotions". In August 2019, Redd’s next album, !, debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200. That month, 10k Projects’ Grainge and Create Music Group co-founders and CEO Jonathan Strauss and COO Alexandre William entered into a joint venture with digital marketing and record label Homemade, including artist Jacob Sartorius and others. Homemade was already working on 10k Projects’ artists Surfaces, AUSTN, NEbu Kiniza and others on touring, digital marketing and merchandise. The two companies initially broke Surfaces’ single, "Sunday Best", by utilizing TikTok influencers to help the song go to No.24 on the Billboard Hot 100. In December 2019, Trippie Redd’s A Love Letter to You 4, went to No.1 on the Billboard 200. Texas pop duo Surfaces – Forrest Frank and Colin Padalecki – released their debut album, Where the Light Is, in early 2019?, yielding the single, "Sunday Best", the gold-certified track that peaked at No.10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and earned more than 200 million plays on Spotify and nearly 54 million views on YouTube.

Surfaces' second album, Horizons, was released February 2020, and the group performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers in March. The duo collaborated with Elton John for a track on the album titled "Learn to Fly," which came out June 12.

Philanthropy
In June 2020, the label established 10k Together, a charitable arm of the record company designed to fight issues of social justice, including racism in the music industry. The 10k Together committee pledged $500,000 over five years to support these causes. The three components 10k Together work includes: charity contributions such as an initial $25,000 donated to Color of Change, the online racial justice organization; youth empowerment via intern programs for Black youth at 10k Projects and partner companies in the music industry; and the support of Black-owned businesses in Los Angeles, where 10k is located.

Artists

 * Aitch
 * Alec Wigdahl
 * AUSTN
 * Iann Dior
 * Internet Money (?)
 * Kierra Luv
 * Lil Gnar
 * Peach Tree Rascals
 * Poorstacy
 * Quin NFN
 * Ricky Hil
 * Surfaces
 * Trippie Redd
 * Turbo
 * Tyfontaine
 * Westsidejhitt
 * Wizthemc
 * 2 Rare