1501 Certified Entertainment

American record label 1501 Certified Entertainment 1501 Certified Entertainment logo.png 2016 Carl Crawford Hip-hop United States Houston, Texas, U.S. 1501ent.com 1501 Certified Entertainment is an American independent record label. Based in Houston, it was founded in 2016 by American former baseball player Carl Crawford. It is best known as the former record label of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who filed multiple lawsuits against the company starting in 2020 that were collectively settled in 2023, and the label of rapper Erica Banks. History 1501 Certified Entertainment was founded in 20164X Allstar MLB Player Carl Crawford Creates Opportunities for Minority Creatives at his label 1501 Certified Ent https://www.2822news.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/629628028/4x-allstar-mlb-player-carl-crawford-creates-opportunities-for-minority-creatives-at-his-label-1501-certified-ent/ WYOU EIN Presswire August 17, 2025 Houston Press release April 24, 2023 in Houston by former American baseball player Carl Crawford. T. Farris, who had formerly worked with the Swishahouse record label and its artists Paul Wall and Mike Jones, worked as its operations manager until 2020.Ju Shirley 1501's Carl Crawford on Megan Thee Stallion: 'Roc Nation Tried to Cut Me Out of the Deal' https://variety.com/2020/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-roc-nation-1501-carl-crawford-contract-1203522811/ Variety August 12, 2025 March 4, 2020MoClassified Megan Thee Stallion Inks Deal with 300 Entertainment https://thesource.com/2018/11/27/megan-thee-stallion-inks-deal-with-300-entertainment/ The Source August 12, 2025 November 27, 2018Howard Nandi Meet the electrifying Megan Thee Stallion https://www.thefader.com/2018/08/30/megan-thee-stallion-tina-snow-interview The Fader August 12, 2025 August 30, 2018 Crawford also worked closely with record executive and Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince as his consultant.Sadler Armon How Is J Prince Connected To Megan Thee Stallion? https://uproxx.com/music/how-j-prince-connected-megan-thee-stallion/ Uproxx August 15, 2025 August 24, 2022 Rapper HardyBoy Pigg has stated that he was the first artist signed to 1501. Many of the label's artists until 2020, including rapper Haroldlujah and singer Railey Rose, were recruited by Farris.Setaro Shawn 'It Was Like Signing With the Devil': 1501 Certified Entertainment Artists Speak Out https://www.complex.com/music/a/shawn-setaro/1501-certified-entertainment-artists-speak-out Complex August 12, 2025 March 11, 2020 thumb|left|upright|Carl Crawford in 2022 After a video of rapper Megan Thee Stallion freestyling in a 2016 Houston cypher went viral, Crawford found her through Instagram and she signed a 360 deal with 1501 in 2018.Keates Emma Megan Thee Stallion takes out restraining order against her label https://www.avclub.com/megan-thee-stallion-restraining-order-1501-entertainmen-1849785199 The A.V. Club August 15, 2025 November 15, 2022Lal Kish 6 rappers to watch in 2019 https://www.redbull.com/au-en/rappers-to-watch Red Bull August 12, 2025 February 1, 2019Lamarre Carl Carl Crawford Denies Megan Thee Stallion's Claims His 1501 Label Is Preventing Her From Releasing Music: 'Nothing Is True That She Said' https://www.billboard.com/pro/carl-crawford-megan-thee-stallion-1501-label-denial/ Billboard August 12, 2025 March 3, 2020 Megan Thee Stallion later signed a distribution deal with 300 Entertainment in November 2018. By 2019, 1501's roster also included rappers D-Raww and K'ona Lisa.Burton Brittany 1501 Certified Ent. Founder Carl Crawford Talks Discovering Meg Thee Stallion, Working With J. Prince & Bringing Houston to ATL https://respect-mag.com/2019/10/1501-certified-ent-founder-carl-crawford-talks-discovering-meg-thee-stallion-working-with-j-prince-bringing-houston-to-atl/ Respect August 12, 2025 October 22, 2019 Megan Thee Stallion's 2020 single "Savage", which topped the Billboard Hot 100, and her studio albums Good News (2020) and Traumazine (2022) were released through 1501.Horowitz Steven J. Megan Thee Stallion Settles Legal Feud With 1501 Certified Entertainment Over Contract Disputes https://variety.com/2023/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-1501-certified-entertainment-legal-settlement-1235762105/ Variety August 17, 2025 October 19, 2023Duran Anagricel Megan Thee Stallion settles legal dispute with former record label https://www.nme.com/news/music/megan-thee-stallion-settles-legal-dispute-with-former-record-label-3518761 NME August 17, 2025 October 20, 2023 Rapper Erica Banks signed to 1501 in April 2020.Crumpton Taylor Erica Banks Has Arrived https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2021/04/erica-banks-has-arrived/ D Magazine August 12, 2025 April 16, 2025 She later signed a joint deal with 1501 and Warner Records in 2021, following the viral success of her 2020 single "Buss It" on TikTok.Hamilton Xavier Erica Banks on Turning Down Early Label Deal Offers, Including DaBaby's Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment https://www.complex.com/music/a/fnr-tigg/erica-banks-explains-why-she-didnt-sign-with-dababy Complex August 12, 2025 April 6, 2021 In May 2020, during a music video shooting for one of Crawford's then–recent signees to 1501 at his home, Bethany Lartigue, a 25-year-old football player and the signee's girlfriend, and a young boy named Kasen Hersi both drowned and died in Crawford's swimming pool.Dougherty Matt Family: Woman was shooting music videos at former baseball player's Houston home where she drowned https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/family-says-woman-was-shooting-music-videos-at-former-baseball-players-home-when-she-young-boy-drowned/285-6b3e8c74-b93b-4b12-ba83-85532b0aba42 KHOU August 12, 2025 May 17, 2020 Banks soon posted in Lartigue's memory on social media.Bieler Des Women's football team mourns loss of player who drowned with 5-year-old in ex-MLB star's pool https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/05/19/womens-football-team-mourns-loss-player-who-drowned-with-5-year-old-ex-mlb-stars-pool/ The Washington Post August 12, 2025 May 19, 2020 In 2022, the label began focusing on scouting influencers to become rappers.Carey Isiah 1501 Certified Entertainment CEO Carl Crawford talks new project, upcoming event https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1149776 FOX 26 Houston August 15, 2025 Video December 2, 2022 In February 2023, amidst the label's legal battle with Megan Thee Stallion that began in 2020, Crawford stepped down as its president and announced that Kai "Verse" Tyler would be taking his place.Saunders Angel Megan Thee Stallion receives apology from Carl Crawford: "We don't have a problem" https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-02-27/276070/megan-thee-stallion-receives-apology-from-carl-crawford Revolt August 17, 2025 February 27, 2023 Banks stated that she had parted ways with the label by June 2023 and accused them of owing her money in the lyrics of her song "Real Rap Bitch", a snippet of which was posted that month.Giacomazzo Bernadette Erica Banks Seemingly Disses 1501 Certified Ent. As She Cuts Ties With Label https://hiphopdx.com/news/erica-banks-1501-diss-cut-ties/ HipHopDX August 17, 2025 June 30, 2023 The following month, Crawford claimed on Instagram Live that Banks's departure from 1501 left the label in $500 thousand of debt to Warner Records.Williams Aaron Carl Crawford Claims He's '$500K In The Hole' Over Erica Banks' Album https://uproxx.com/music/erica-banks-1501-certified-label-500k/ Uproxx August 17, 2025 July 10, 2023 Megan Thee Stallion lawsuits thumb|upright|Megan Thee Stallion in 2022 Unbeknownst to Crawford, Megan Thee Stallion signed a management deal with Roc Nation in September 2019, which she announced in January 2020, with Farris leaving 1501 to work with her at Roc Nation. She stated that Roc Nation made her aware of her deal with 1501 being "unconscionable".Miss2Bees Carl Crawford Talks Feeling Blindsided by Megan Thee Stallion's Roc Nation Deal https://thesource.com/2019/11/04/carl-crawford-roc-nation/ The Source August 12, 2025 November 4, 2019Ross Alex Robert Megan Thee Stallion signs management deal with Roc Nation https://www.thefader.com/2019/09/13/megan-thee-stallion-signs-management-deal-with-roc-nation The Fader August 12, 2025 September 13, 2019 According to her, after attempts to renegotiate her contract went awry, 1501 barred her from releasing any new music, which she shared publicly on Instagram Live in March 2020. The following day, she filed a lawsuit against 1501, asking to have her recording contract with the company thrown out and alleging that they had misled her about the services they offered to provide her and had only paid her $15 thousand. The lawsuit also alleged that Prince had made threats related to Megan Thee Stallion's Roc Nation deal and toward her collaborator LilJuMadeDaBeat and that someone from the company had leaked photos of her 2015 mugshot. A judge soon granted her a temporary restraining order against 1501, which allowed her to release music until mid-March. She released her project Suga on March 6, 2020.Strauss Matthew Megan Thee Stallion Drops New Album Suga https://pitchfork.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-says-shes-releasing-new-album-suga-this-week/ Pitchfork August 12, 2025 March 4, 2020 In interviews with Billboard and Variety shortly thereafter, Crawford denied all of the lawsuit's allegations and blamed the dispute with Megan Thee Stallion on Farris.Setaro Shawn Megan Thee Stallion's Label Dispute, Explained https://www.complex.com/music/a/shawn-setaro/megan-thee-stallion-label-dispute-explained Complex August 12, 2025 March 4, 2020 Complex also interviewed several of 1501's former and active artists at the time, most of whom shared that they had experienced similarly contract-related issues involving the label.Ivey Justin 1501 Certified Ent. Artists Criticize Label Following Megan Thee Stallion's Lawsuit https://hiphopdx.com/news/1501-certified-ent-artists-criticize-label-following-megan-thee-stallions-lawsuit/ HipHopDX August 12, 2025 March 11, 2020 A settlement was reached in March 2021, causing parts of her contract to be amended.Dillon Nancy Megan Thee Stallion Wins Early Round in Contract War With Houston Label https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/megan-thee-stallion-wins-early-round-contract-war-1501-houston-label-1234653804/ Rolling Stone August 15, 2025 December 29, 2022 In August 2021, Megan Thee Stallion filed a petition against 1501 Entertainment and Crawford, alleging that they were blocking the release of her remix of the BTS song "Butter". The remix was released later that month after a judge ruled that she was cleared to release it.Sinha Charu Megan Thee Stallion Cleared to Drop 'Butter' Remix https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/megan-thee-stallion-cleared-to-drop-butter-remix.html Vulture August 12, 2025 August 25, 2021 She sued the label again in February 2022 over their refusal to classify her compilation album Something for Thee Hotties (2021), which consisted of archival material and previously released freestyles, as an album, which she alleged was a tactic to keep her stuck in her three-album recording contract.Donahue Bill Megan Thee Stallion Sues Record Label Again — This Time Over The Definition of 'Album' https://www.billboard.com/pro/megan-thee-stallion-lawsuit-record-label-album-definition/ Billboard August 15, 2025 February 22, 2022 1501 countersued the following month, with Crawford calling the project a "bullshit ass mixtape".Sadler Armon 1501 CEO Carl Crawford Admits Mistakes In Megan Thee Stallion Contract Battle https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/1501-carl-crawford-admits-mistakes-megan-thee-stallion-1234738555/ Vibe August 17, 2025 February 27, 2023 She added to the lawsuit in August of that year, asking for $1 million in damages due to allegedly not receiving royalties owed to her and alleging that 1501 were involved in leaking her second studio album, Traumazine.Donahue Bill Megan Thee Stallion Demands $1M in 1501 Lawsuit, Implies Label Helped Leak 'Traumazine' https://www.billboard.com/pro/megan-thee-stallion-record-label-lawsuit-traumazine-leak/ Billboard August 15, 2025 August 22, 2022 Prince soon made an Instagram post defending Crawford and 1501 and accusing Megan Thee Stallion of "consistently and intentionally breach[ing] her 1501 contract with impunity for years in ways that are too numerous to list". 1501 filed a motion in September 2022 asking the court to bypass the trial and rule that Something for Thee Hotties was not an album, which was denied in December of that year. In November 2022, Megan Thee Stallion was granted a restraining order against 1501 Certified and 300 Entertainment, following her accusations that the label was trying to prevent the usage of her music during the 2022 American Music Awards. Also that month, Desiree Perez, Megan Thee Stallion's manager and Roc Nation's CEO, was subpoenaed to testify at a deposition by 1501. Megan Thee Stallion's lawyers criticized it as a way of "harassing Perez and disrupting her responsibilities" and attempted to prevent the deposition by filing a protective order, which was denied by a judge in January 2023.Bustard Andy Megan Thee Stallion Accuses 1501 Label Of 'Harassing' Roc Nation CEO https://hiphopdx.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-1501-harassing-roc-nation-ceo-desiree-perez/ HipHopDX August 17, 2025 November 24, 2022Donahue Bill Roc Nation CEO Must Sit For Deposition in Megan Thee Stallion's Label Lawsuit, Judge Rules https://www.billboard.com/pro/megan-thee-stallion-label-lawsuit-roc-nation-ceo-deposed/ Billboard August 17, 2025 January 20, 2023 Crawford said in an interview with TMZ in February 2023 that he would stop mentioning Megan Thee Stallion's name on social media or in interviews and that the two had "never had any problems" outside of social media. Megan Thee Stallion filed another motion in April 2023 to appoint a third party to manage 1501 and Crawford's funds, with her lawyers accusing the label of siphoning money out of its primary bank account in order to become judgment proof.Darville Jordan Helfand Raphael Megan Thee Stallion claims label is siphoning her money in new court motion https://www.thefader.com/2023/04/14/megan-thee-stallion-claims-label-is-siphoning-her-money-in-new-court-motion The Fader August 17, 2025 April 14, 2023 Weeks after Megan Thee Stallion stated on Instagram Live that she had become an independent artist, it was announced that she and 1501 had reached a settlement over their legal battle and would "amicably part ways" in October 2023.McLaren Bonnie Megan Thee Stallion: Rapper settles legal dispute with former label https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-67163267 BBC News August 17, 2025 October 20, 2023 She released "Cobra", her first single released without 1501, in November 2023.Megan Thee Stallion Strikes Back with WMG Pact https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/megan-thee-stallion-strikes-back-with-wmg-pact Hits August 17, 2025 February 5, 2024 Artists Current Ayana Hassan Diamond the Body1501 Certified Entertainment Welcomes Reality TV Star, Diamond The Body, As Their Newest Signee To The Label https://thestarlist.com/1501-certified-entertainment-welcomes-reality-tv-star-diamond-the-body-as-their-newest-signee-to-the-label/ TheStarList August 17, 2025 August 12, 2025 Erica Banks FNF ChxpoHarris Trey 1501 Certified invades SXSW; concludes with themed stage '1501 House' https://www.kget.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/696969780/1501-certified-invades-sxsw-concludes-with-themed-stage-1501-house/ Austin, Texas EIN Presswire KGET August 17, 2025 Press release March 19, 2024 Luh CEOHarris Trey 1501's Newest Artist LUH CEO, Releases the Visuals to his Highly Anticipated Singles 'Never Lackin' and 'Gangsta Chick' https://www.kron4.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/670806075/1501s-newest-artist-luh-ceo-releases-the-visuals-to-his-highly-anticipated-singles-never-lackin-and-gangsta-chick/ EIN Presswire August 17, 2025 Press release November 25, 2023 Skeatur Jones ThirtyBallHarris Trey 1501 Signed Birmingham Rapper, ThirtyBall, and Released Single 'Know How We Coming' ft. Luh CEO https://www.krqe.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/710600367/1501-signed-birmingham-rapper-thirtyball-and-released-single-know-how-we-coming-ft-luh-ceo/ EIN Presswire August 17, 2025 Houston Press release May 10, 2024 Former OG Ron C (General Manager) DJ Hollygrove (DJ) 1amBabyJoker D-Raww HardyBoy Pigg Haroldlujah K'ona Lisa Megan Thee Stallion Railey Rose Yung RulerPowell Jon The legal battle between Megan Thee Stallion and 1501 Certified has ended https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-10-19/331507/megan-thee-stallion-reaches-settlement-with-1501-certified-ent Revolt August 17, 2025 October 19, 2023 References Category:2016 establishments in Texas Category:American hip-hop record labels Category:Megan Thee Stallion Category:Record labels established in 2016 Category:Record labels based in Texas Category:Companies based in Houston