Through the Wire: The Rise of Roc-A-Fella Records, 1996
“I'm not a businessman; I'm a business, man."
The year is 1996, and the streets of New York are buzzing with the beats of a revolution in hip-hop. Roc-A-Fella Records, the scrappy upstart label founded by Dame Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke, and a young, hungry Jay-Z, is fighting to carve its place in an industry dominated by giants. With an empty bank account but an abundance of ambition, Roc-A-Fella must navigate shady industry deals, radio politics, and rivalries that could ignite faster than a cipher in a Brooklyn park.
As delegates, you’ll step into the kicks of artists, producers, and executives shaping the label's destiny. Will you secure that elusive radio play, build your empire, and ride the wave of the 90’s rap boom? Or will egos, diss tracks, and the temptations of success derail your hustle? From studio sessions to street-level promotions, the Roc-A-Fella dream is yours to make—or break. Just remember: it’s a hard knock life out there, and loyalty is as rare as a Reasonable Doubt platinum plaque.