Interscope

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Interscope Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMG’s Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.

Interscope was formed in 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field with financial support from Atlantic Records (which owned a 50% stock in the label). Upon its creation, it was initially distributed by Atlantic Records’ subsidiary East West Records America.

The label’s first release was Latin-rapper Gerardo, who scored a top 5, gold hit with “Rico Suave” in the spring of 1991. More early success came later in the year when the label released the debut album from Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which went platinum in early 1992. During this time, Interscope also signed rapper Tupac Shakur, Primus, No Doubt and Nine Inch Nails. They also released Bad4Good’s album, Refugee in 1992, yet it was a commercial flop.

Though Interscope seemed to be on a roll with its first few releases, the label was faced with criticism for manufacturing what was considered cookie-cutter hip-hop that many did not take seriously. That changed when, in 1992, Iovine financially assisted Suge Knight and Dr. Dre in the creation of Death Row Records, and arranged for Interscope to distribute its records. The arrangement hit paydirt when Death Row and Interscope released The Chronic, the solo debut album from rapper/producer Dr. Dre.
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