Open Bar Entertainment

Open Bar Entertainment, also known as Almighty Open Bar Entertainment, was an American hip-hop record label established in 2000 by rapper Xzibit. The label grew out of Xzibit's rising profile after the release of his early albums At the Speed of Life and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, and was intended to give him a platform for developing members of his wider Likwit Crew-associated circle. Its roster included Xzibit and Defari, while projects connected to King Tee and the Golden State Project were discussed or developed but did not all reach release. The label initially operated through a joint arrangement involving Loud Records, which at the time used Epic Records for distribution. Open Bar's first major release was Xzibit's third studio album, Restless. Released in 2000, the album became the label's strongest commercial success and one of Xzibit's defining releases. It reached the top 15 of the Billboard 200, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and produced the commercially successful single “X.” The album also featured appearances by Defari, reinforcing Open Bar's role as both a vehicle for Xzibit's career and a possible platform for affiliated artists. Open Bar also planned to release music by Defari and the Golden State Project, a trio consisting of Xzibit, Saafir, and Ras Kass. Defari's proposed 2001 album was ultimately shelved after he left the label. The Golden State Project's album, later associated with the title The Coast Is Clear, experienced repeated delays and was eventually shelved permanently. These abandoned projects limited the label's development beyond Xzibit's own catalog. Xzibit's 2002 album Man vs. Machine was the final release issued through the Loud/Open Bar joint venture. It became his highest-charting album in the United States, reaching number three on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold in the United States. After Loud dissolved in 2003, Xzibit moved to a direct relationship with Columbia Records. Open Bar remained associated with subsequent Xzibit releases, including Weapons of Mass Destruction, issued in 2004 through Columbia and Open Bar. That album reached number 43 on the Billboard 200 and achieved gold certification based on shipments, although Xzibit later expressed dissatisfaction with its promotion and left Columbia in 2006. The available reference material does not establish a formal closure date for Open Bar Entertainment. Its documented activity is centered on Xzibit's releases from 2000 through the mid-2000s, and the label's later operating status is therefore uncertain. In practical terms, Open Bar is best understood as an artist-led hip-hop imprint whose principal commercial output was Xzibit's album catalog rather than a large independent label with a broad, sustained roster.

Open Bar Entertainment was founded in 2000 by American rapper Xzibit. The imprint was created during the period when Xzibit was establishing himself commercially after At the Speed of Life and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz. Xzibit described the label as a way to take greater control of opportunities around him and to provide a platform for members of his musical community, particularly artists associated with the Likwit Crew. He identified King Tee, Defari, and the Golden State Project among the artists or collaborators he hoped to bring into the label's orbit. The label's initial business arrangement involved Loud Records, with distribution through Epic Records. Its first major release was Restless, Xzibit's third studio album, issued in 2000. The album included appearances by Defari and became Open Bar's most successful release. It reached the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and received platinum certification from the RIAA in the United States. The single “X” helped give the project substantial commercial visibility and strengthened the association between Open Bar and Xzibit's solo career. Open Bar planned to broaden its catalog through releases by Defari and the Golden State Project, a group composed of Xzibit, Saafir, and Ras Kass. A Defari album was expected in 2001, but the project was shelved after Defari left the label. The Golden State Project also faced delays. Its album, later identified as The Coast Is Clear, was first expected in 2001, then moved to a later release window, and ultimately did not come out. In 2002, Open Bar and Loud issued Xzibit's Man vs. Machine. The album was commercially important for Xzibit: it reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number eight in Canada, while receiving gold certification in the United States. It was the last release associated with the Loud/Open Bar joint venture because Loud Records dissolved in 2003. Xzibit then signed directly with Columbia Records, although Open Bar continued to be credited on later work. Weapons of Mass Destruction followed in 2004 through Columbia and Open Bar. It reached number 43 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States based on shipments. Xzibit later said he believed the album had not received adequate promotion and left Columbia in 2006. The source material also lists later Xzibit albums, including Full Circle and Napalm, in Open Bar's discography, but it does not provide enough detail to establish their release arrangements or the label's continuing operational role. No reliable closure date is supplied for Open Bar Entertainment. The label's clearly documented history is concentrated in the 2000–2006 period, and its current status is consequently uncertain. Its principal legacy is as an artist-controlled imprint that delivered several important Xzibit albums while planned releases by affiliated artists remained unreleased.

• 2006

  Xzibit leaves Columbia Records

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Xzibit departed Columbia after criticizing the promotion of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

• 2004

  Weapons of Mass Destruction is released

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The Columbia/Open Bar album reached number 43 on the Billboard 200 and achieved U.S. gold certification.

• 2003

  Loud Records dissolves

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The dissolution ended the original joint-venture context, while Xzibit moved to a direct Columbia Records relationship.

• 2002

  Man vs. Machine becomes the final Loud/Open Bar release

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The album reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was later certified gold.

• 2001

  Defari's planned album is shelved

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  The proposed Defari release was abandoned after he left Open Bar Entertainment.

• 2000

  Open Bar Entertainment is established

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Xzibit founded the label as an artist-led imprint connected to his own career and to artists in his wider Likwit Crew-associated network.

• 2000

  Restless is released

  [1]Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Xzibit's third album became Open Bar's strongest commercial release, reaching the U.S. Billboard 200 top 15 and earning platinum certification.

An artist-led hip-hop imprint focused on Xzibit's recordings and the development of affiliated West Coast rap artists.

• Studio album · 2000

  Restless

  Xzibit's third studio album and Open Bar Entertainment's first major release. The project featured guest appearances from Defari, produced the successful single “X,” reached the top 15 of the Billboard 200, and received platinum certification in the United States. It established the label's commercial identity around Xzibit's solo catalog.

• Studio album · 2002

  Man vs. Machine

  Xzibit's fourth studio album and the last project released through the Loud Records/Open Bar Entertainment joint venture. It reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number eight in Canada, making it Xzibit's highest-charting album in the United States according to the reference material. The album received U.S. gold certification.

• Studio album · 2004

  Weapons of Mass Destruction

  Xzibit's fifth studio album, released through Columbia Records and Open Bar Entertainment. It reached number 43 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States based on shipments. Xzibit later criticized its promotional support before leaving Columbia.

• Planned studio album

  The Coast Is Clear

  The planned album by the Golden State Project, a trio consisting of Xzibit, Saafir, and Ras Kass. The project was repeatedly delayed after its originally discussed release windows and was ultimately shelved.

• Planned studio album · 2001

  Defari album

  A solo album by Defari was planned for release through Open Bar Entertainment around 2001. It was not released after Defari left the label.

• 2003

  Move from the Loud joint venture to ColumbiaStrategy

  Background

  Loud Records dissolved after the release of Man vs. Machine, ending the original distribution and joint-venture setting.

  Action taken

  Xzibit signed directly with Columbia Records while continuing to issue later work with Open Bar associated with the releases.

  Aftermath

  Weapons of Mass Destruction was released through Columbia and Open Bar in 2004. Xzibit left Columbia in 2006 after dissatisfaction with the album's promotion.

  Source

• 2000

  Create an artist-led development imprintStrategy

  Background

  Xzibit wanted greater control over opportunities surrounding his career and sought to bring members of his musical circle into a shared label structure.

  Action taken

  He founded Open Bar Entertainment and pursued projects involving Xzibit, Defari, King Tee, and the Golden State Project.

  Aftermath

  The label produced several Xzibit releases, but only Defari became a documented signed artist besides Xzibit and the planned affiliated projects did not develop into a broad catalog.

  Source

1. 1Open Bar Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org