User:Maryfbe/sandbox/10K

10K Projects is a Los Angeles, California-based independent record label that releases a variety of music styles including hip hop, rock, pop, indie, crossover, among others. It was founded by Elliott Grainge in 2017.

The artist roster includes Trippie Redd, Surfaces, Alec Wigdahl, AUSTN, iann dior, Kierra Luv, Lil GNAR, lilspirit, Peach Tree Rascals, POORSTACY, Quin NFN, TyFontaine and 2rare, among others. The label has joint ventures with Taz Taylor’s Internet Money a collective of artists and producers. Controversial rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine (aka Daniel Hernandez) was previously signed to the label releasing two albums. The label also releases film soundtracks.

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.

Background
Grainge grew up in Northern London. As the son of music executive Lucian Grainge. He would go with his father into the studio to watch artist recording sessions, and developed an interest in music and the music business.

In 2009, Grainge’s father moved to the United States to become Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group. At the time, the younger Grainge also migrated, entering Boston’s Northeastern University, where, as a student, he launched a bottle service club promotion business at several area dance and hip-hop clubs. After completing his education, Grainge moved to Los Angeles and created a record label called Elliott Grainge Entertainment. The label was renamed 10K Projects in 2016.

A&R, signings, releases
The new label began signing acts that Grainge found via the SoundCloud’s emerging hip-hop scene. 10K Projects signed a distribution deal with UMG’s Caroline in 2017.

The first signings to 10K Projects were Trippie Redd and Tekashi 6ix9ine. Redd’s mixtape, A Love Letter To You, was released on May 14, 2017, and reached No.64 on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies. 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 half million 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.

In January 2019, 10K Projects expanded into pop music with the artist Austin Brown, who releases records as AUSTN.

10K Projects entered into a joint venture with Taz Taylor’s artist/producer coalition Internet Money, which has 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 in February 2020. 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”, which was certified gold in July 2020. In November 2019, 10K Projects released dior’s debut album Industry Plant, which features artists Trippie Redd, Blink 182’s Travis Barker, and Gunna. Industry Plant includes the single, “Gone Girl”, which the RIAA certified gold in February 2020. In June 2020, dior’s second album, I’m Gone, included the single, “Prospect”, featuring Lil Baby. 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 Projects, 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.19 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 second album, Where the Light Is, on 10K Projects in January 2019. The duo released their third 10K Projects album, Horizons, in February 2020, and performed “Sunday Best” on Late Night with Seth Meyers in March. The group reached No.1 on the Billboard Emerging Artist Chart. 10K Projects continued to work Surfaces’ “Sunday Best” and it went to the No.19 Billboard Hot 100 chart position, and achieved over half a billion plays on Spotify. The duo collaborated with Elton John for a track on the album titled Learn to Fly, which came out June 12. An August 2020 performance of “Sunday Best” followed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Canada’s Turbo joined the label in May 2020 for a joint venture between Internet Money/10K Projects/Homemade Projects. Internet Money’s Alec Wigdahl released his first single, “Cologne,” on 10K Projects in spring 2020. In addition, WizTheMC signed with 10K Projects in August 2020.

In August 2020, along with Internet Money, 10K Projects released the single, “Lemonde” featuring Gunna, Nav, and Don Toliver. That song, and “Somebody” is featured on the collective’s debut album, B4 The Storm, which was released in August.

10K Projects compiled, and released in August 2020, their first soundtrack album, to accompany the release of the film, Bill & Ted Face The Music. Artists on the album include Weezer, Mastodon, Cold War Kids, Lamb of God, FIDLAR, and Bill and Ted’s band, Wyld Stallyns.

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 of 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
 * Forrest.
 * iann dior
 * Internet Money
 * Kierra Luv
 * Lil Boom
 * Lil Gnar
 * lilspirit
 * Peach Tree Rascals
 * POORSTACY
 * Quin NFN
 * Ricky Hil
 * Salem Ilese
 * Surfaces
 * Trippie Redd
 * Turbo
 * Tuxx
 * TyFontaine
 * Westsidejhitt
 * WizTheMC
 * 2Rare