Meek Mill has aired a number of grievances against his label Atlantic Records, saying they were delaying the release of his new music against his wishes.
He said he was “blackballed” by the label during the release of his last album ‘Expensive Pain’ and accused them of “outsmarting young black kids taking advantage and calling it business.”
Meek also said that Atlantic cut him out of managing Roddy Ricch while he was in jail after he introduced the label to the rapper, saying it was the “same thing” that had happened with him and Rick Ross years earlier. NME has reached out to Atlantic Records for a response.
“So look I made Atlantic records 100’s of millions and let them rape me out out [sic] Roddy a artist they came to me about in jail,” Meek wrote. “They still saying I can’t drop music until 9 months after my last album got blackballed.”
So look I made Atlantic records 100’s of millions and let them rape me out out Roddy a artist they came to me about in jail … they still saying I can’t drop music until 9 months after my last album got blackballed just wrapped buildings and Nina art with talent …
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) February 1, 2022
The rapper did, however, acknowledge a campaign for ‘Expensive Pain’ that saw artwork by Nina Chanel Abney plastered on landmark buildings across the US. Despite Meek’s claims, the record still debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 95,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
In follow-up tweets, he added: “Roddy my youngin still… But that label separated us instantly when the millions came in from him… same thing they tried to do with me and rozayy [Rick Ross].”
Roddy my youngin still …. But that label seperated us instantly when the millions came in from him… same thing they tried to do with me and rozay … it takes a long time to catch up too because most of em tied in for the love of some money …artist scared to speak up
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) February 1, 2022
He then repeated his accusations that Atlantic “didn’t put nothing into expensive pain” and then prevented him releasing new music for 9 months, and that after he introduced them to Roddy Ricch they “cut me out as soon as the money came.” He later clarified that “Me and Roddy good now this is not about him at all.”
They didn’t put nothing into expensive pain and then said I can’t drop another project for 9 months at the end of my contract after I made them 100’s of millions ….. how would can anybody survive that … most rappers can’t speak because they depend on these companies “ I don’t”
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) February 1, 2022
I had to think Roddy didn’t come to me he was on his own grind … they bought him to me and cut me out soon as the money came … the label should of paid me not “Roddy” then they fed him like I was tryna lock him in … I was tryna help and eat ain’t get a Dolla from label!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) February 1, 2022
“If I didn’t have millions I’d prolly do something crazy,” Meek said. “They out smarting young black kids taking advantage and calling it business! Other artist[s] speak up and tell the truth while you winning not when you down!”
If I didn’t have millions I’d prolly do something crazy …. They out smarting young black kids taking advantage and calling it business! Other artist speak up and tell the truth while you winning not when you down!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) February 1, 2022
Meek is not the first artist to criticise Atlantic recently. Yesterday (February 1), YoungBoy Never Broke Again also accused them of “black ball[ing]” him and removing one of his mixtapes from the charts.
“I don’t give a fuck you still can’t stop me don’t sign to Atlantic if you a artist they not gone support you especially if you live a certain way.”
Meek also said he had to “fight for my life” to get his 2016 release ‘Dreamchasers 4’ counted as an album after he had referred to it as a mixtape. “If y’all made 20 million off it what is it counted as?” he said.
The fifth and final entry in the ‘Dreamchasers’ series was released last month as an NFT.
Meek recently joined forces with Jay-Z, Big Sean and more to support a proposed New York state law that would limit prosecutors’ ability to use defendants’ rap lyrics as evidence of alleged crimes.
The rap giants have added their names to a letter calling on lawmakers to pass Senate Bill S7527 – which was first revealed in November and which passed through the Senate Codes committee earlier this week – into state law. Others who have signed on to the letter include Fat Joe, Kelly Rowland and Killer Mike.