The Conglomerate Entertainment
An American hip-hop record label and artist collective founded by Busta Rhymes, originally established as Flipmode Records.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Conglomerate Entertainment is an American hip-hop record label and artist collective founded by Busta Rhymes. Its roots date to 1994, when Rhymes established Flipmode Records as an imprint connected to his relationship with Elektra Records. The label developed around Rhymes's solo career and a loose group of affiliated performers that included Rah Digga, Rampage, Spliff Star, Lord Have Mercy, Baby Sham and the broader Flipmode Squad. In 2010, the organization adopted the Conglomerate name, reflecting a broader collective identity associated with Rhymes and his collaborators. The imprint emerged from Busta Rhymes's transition from member of Leaders of the New School to a solo artist. After the group separated and Rhymes continued working with Elektra under executive Sylvia Rhone, Elektra permitted him to establish a label imprint and sign associated artists. Under that arrangement, Elektra funded, promoted and distributed releases while Rhymes helped assemble projects and develop the roster. Dallas Austin assisted Rhymes in securing the production arrangement and helped create the label's logo. Flipmode's first major release was Rhymes's 1996 debut solo album, The Coming. The album's commercial success established both the artist and the imprint as important forces in East Coast hip-hop during a period when the region was regaining prominence. Follow-up activity included Rampage's debut album, further Busta Rhymes releases, and The Imperial, a 1998 album credited to Flipmode Squad. During the late 1990s, the collective was identified with Rhymes's energetic performance style and with a roster that also included Rah Digga, Spliff Star, Lord Have Mercy and Baby Sham. In the early 2000s, Flipmode moved with Rhymes between major-label arrangements. In 2001, Rhymes signed with J Records and brought the imprint, Rah Digga and the Flipmode Squad into that relationship. Releases associated with this period included Genesis and It Ain't Safe No More. Delays affecting artist projects and changes in the roster contributed to the collective becoming less cohesive, and plans for additional group material were shelved or altered. Rah Digga later left the label after extended delays involving her intended follow-up to Dirty Harriet. By late 2005, Flipmode had moved to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, distributed through Interscope Records. The arrangement supported the release of Rhymes's 2006 album The Big Bang, which restored substantial commercial visibility to the artist and his imprint. The subsequent failure of Rampage's Have You Seen? to achieve comparable chart certification and Rhymes's 2008 departure from Interscope/Aftermath marked another transition. Rhymes then entered a Universal Motown arrangement, under which Back on My B.S. was released in 2009. In 2010, Busta Rhymes formally founded The Conglomerate Entertainment as the successor identity to Flipmode. The brand continued to function both as a label and as a collaborative platform. Its associated artists and contributors have changed over time, with Busta Rhymes remaining the central figure. The Conglomerate collective issued the Catastrophic mixtape in 2012. The label's public profile has primarily been tied to artist releases, mixtapes, collaborations and Rhymes's broader career rather than to a large standalone corporate operation.
History
The Conglomerate Entertainment developed from Flipmode Records, an imprint created by Busta Rhymes in 1994 during his affiliation with Elektra Records. Rhymes had previously been a member of Leaders of the New School, but the group's dissolution and his rising profile led to a solo arrangement with Elektra. The label allowed him to establish an imprint and to sign affiliated performers, while Elektra provided funding, promotion and distribution. Dallas Austin assisted with the production arrangement and the label's visual identity. The imprint's first major release was The Coming, Rhymes's 1996 solo debut. Its success made Flipmode a recognizable force in hip-hop and helped establish the label's association with energetic East Coast rap. The roster and collective expanded around Rhymes, with Rah Digga, Rampage, Spliff Star, Lord Have Mercy and Baby Sham among the associated artists. Rampage released a debut project in 1997, while Flipmode Squad issued The Imperial in 1998. By the end of the decade, Flipmode was widely identified with Rhymes's crew and with a collaborative approach to label identity. Relations with Elektra became strained after the release of Anarchy in 2000 and concerns that the album had not matched the performance of earlier releases. Rhymes began looking for another label home and entered a J Records arrangement in 2001 under Clive Davis. He brought Flipmode, Rah Digga and the Flipmode Squad into that relationship. The period produced Genesis and It Ain't Safe No More, but delays affected planned projects, including Rah Digga's intended second album. A proposed additional Flipmode album was ultimately shelved as the roster became more fluid and members increasingly pursued individual careers. In late 2005, Flipmode moved again, this time to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment with Interscope Records as the major-label partner. The arrangement culminated in the release of The Big Bang in 2006. The album restored strong commercial visibility to Rhymes and the imprint, although the follow-up release Have You Seen? by Rampage did not achieve comparable chart certification. Rah Digga left in 2007, citing the long delay around her next album and the changing priorities of the collective. In 2008, Rhymes departed Interscope/Aftermath and moved to Universal Motown, which released Back on My B.S. in 2009. In 2010, Rhymes established The Conglomerate Entertainment as the new name for the organization previously known as Flipmode. The change emphasized a collective and brand identity rather than only a conventional label imprint. Rhymes remained the central executive and artist, while the associated roster continued to include performers such as Spliff Star, J-Doe, O.T. Genasis and others at different points. In 2011, Rhymes signed with Cash Money Records and connected that relationship with Conglomerate activity. The collective released Catastrophic in 2012, and Reek da Villian announced his departure in 2014. Publicly available reference material does not establish a detailed current corporate structure, ownership arrangement or headquarters.
- 2012
Catastrophic mixtape is released
[1]The Conglomerate collective issues its first official mixtape.
- 2010
The Conglomerate identity is introduced
[1]Busta Rhymes establishes The Conglomerate Entertainment as the successor name to Flipmode.
- 2006
The Big Bang achieves platinum status
[1]Busta Rhymes's album restores significant commercial attention to the label and artist collective.
- 2005
Move to Aftermath and Interscope
[1]The imprint enters a new distribution relationship with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
- 2001
Move to J Records
[1]Busta Rhymes brings Flipmode and associated artists into a J Records arrangement.
- 1998
The Imperial expands the collective catalog
[1]Flipmode Squad releases an album during the imprint's late-1990s peak.
- 1996
The Coming is released
[1]The label's first major release, Busta Rhymes's solo debut, establishes Flipmode's commercial profile.
- 1994
Flipmode Records is established
[1]Busta Rhymes creates the imprint that later becomes The Conglomerate Entertainment.
Products and positioning
A Busta Rhymes-led hip-hop imprint and artist collective built around East Coast rap, label-affiliated releases, collaborative projects and the development of artists connected to Rhymes's musical circle.
Studio album · 1996
The Coming
Busta Rhymes's 1996 debut solo album and the first major release associated with Flipmode Records. Its success introduced the imprint to a broad hip-hop audience and established the commercial foundation for the label's late-1990s roster and collective projects.
Group studio album · 1998
The Imperial
A 1998 album credited to Flipmode Squad. The project represented the label's collective dimension, extending the brand beyond Busta Rhymes's solo catalog and featuring the crew-based identity that defined Flipmode during its late-1990s period.
Studio album · 2006
The Big Bang
Busta Rhymes's 2006 album released through the Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope relationship. The album returned Rhymes and the associated imprint to substantial radio and hip-hop prominence and achieved platinum certification.
Mixtape · 2012
Catastrophic
The first official mixtape released by The Conglomerate collective. Issued in 2012, it presented the post-Flipmode identity as a collaborative platform for Busta Rhymes and affiliated artists.
Brand decisions
2010
Rebrand Flipmode as The Conglomerate EntertainmentStrategyBackground
After successive major-label relationships and continuing changes among affiliated artists, Busta Rhymes moved away from the Flipmode name and established a broader collective identity.
Action taken
The organization adopted The Conglomerate Entertainment name and continued operating around Rhymes's label, artist and collaboration activities.
Aftermath
The Conglomerate name became the primary public identity, while Flipmode remained an important historical alias and reference point for the roster.
2005
Move the imprint to Aftermath Entertainment and InterscopeM&ABackground
Busta Rhymes had an established professional relationship with Dr. Dre and had worked with Aftermath-affiliated artists and producers.
Action taken
Flipmode entered an arrangement with Aftermath Entertainment, with Interscope Records serving as the major-label distribution partner.
Aftermath
The arrangement supported The Big Bang, which restored strong visibility to Rhymes and the imprint before the relationship ended in 2008.
Recent events
- 2014
Reek da Villian departs Conglomerate[1]
Leadership change
Reek da Villian publicly confirmed that he had left the Conglomerate roster.
- 2012
Conglomerate collective releases Catastrophic[1]
Product launch
The collective issued Catastrophic, identified as its first official mixtape.
- 2011
Busta Rhymes signs with Cash Money Records[1]
M&A
Rhymes signed with Cash Money Records while continuing to associate his own Conglomerate imprint with his releases and collaborations.
- 2010
The Conglomerate Entertainment name is adopted[1]
Other
Busta Rhymes founded The Conglomerate Entertainment, replacing the Flipmode identity as the primary name for the label and collective.
- 2009
Back on My B.S. is released through Universal Motown[1]
Product launch
Busta Rhymes issued Back on My B.S. through Universal Motown, with songs including Arab Money, Hustler's Anthem '09 and Respect My Conglomerate.
- 2008
Busta Rhymes exits Interscope/Aftermath[1]
Leadership change
Rhymes departed the Interscope/Aftermath relationship and subsequently entered a Universal Motown deal.
- 2007
Rah Digga leaves Flipmode[1]
Leadership change
Rah Digga announced her departure after extended delays surrounding her planned second album and said she wanted to pursue other opportunities.
- 2006
The Big Bang restores label visibility[1]
Product launch
Busta Rhymes released The Big Bang through the Aftermath/Interscope arrangement. The album became a platinum success and returned the imprint to significant radio and hip-hop visibility.
- 2005
Flipmode moves to Aftermath and Interscope[1]
M&A
The imprint moved to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, with Interscope Records handling the major-label distribution relationship.
- 2001
Busta Rhymes moves Flipmode to J Records[1]
M&A
Rhymes signed with J Records and brought the Flipmode imprint and associated artists into the new major-label relationship.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/conglomerate · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled