Grapetree Records is a record label founded by Knolly Williams. It was active from the early 1990s to the early 2000s.

History Beginning In 1988, Knolly Williams was anxious enough to avoid the temptations inside Los Angeles to spend a summer in Austin, Texas working for his uncle. Although he had given up his dreams of rap stardom as part of his commitment to Christianity, he allowed himself to write verses he deemed "poetry" but suspiciously resembled lyrics.

According to Williams, the path toward founding a Christian rap label followed God's giving him the name "Grapetree." Biblically speaking, Williams says the name represents a combination of people that were about to be destroyed (grapes) and the fully restored state of man in Christ (trees).

After getting his GED, starting college, and working a series of Austin-area graphic design and retail management jobs, Williams decided to launch Grapetree in 1993 with his first release as Rubadub, Reflections of an Ex-Criminal. His second release, Mind of a Gangsta, wound up setting the tone for the upstart company.

By then, Williams had signed a distribution deal with Diamante Music Group, a mid-size distributor that handled retail accounts for more than 40 Christian indies. Three years later, Grapetree stood as the coalition's bestselling label, with each Grapetree release averaging 10,000-25,000 units. At that point, Grapetree was releasing as many as 30 albums a year. To Williams' surprise, finding the label's talent wasn't difficult. Grapetree artists routinely found other MCs disenfranchised by street life on the road and turned them on to Williams. By 1995, Williams brought his wife onboard full-time and quickly began amassing a staff.

In 1999, Grapetree signed a lucrative distribution deal with EMI, the parent company of Capitol Records.

Grapetree was featured on ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, Newsweek and in over 300 newspapers worldwide. The company grew to become the largest independent label in Central Texas and the world leader for the genre, with over one million CD units sold. However, by 2001, the music industry had suffered a severe blow with the onset of digital downloading. And, like the high-tech industry, sales came to an almost stand-still. After 12 profitable years, the bottom fell out of the business when the music industry switched to "digital". The situation worsened quickly, and before long, Williams was facing default and possible foreclosure. Fortunately, he and his wife Josie had built enough equity in their home to be able to sell, without having to bring money to the table. The experience of nearly losing their home, however, left Williams reeling—and gave him a perspective that he would carry with him into a new career in real estate.

Reformation In 2023, Knolly Williams announced the reformation of Grapetree Records, with Lil Raskull as the CEO and himself as the chairman. He also announced a new roster featuring Alicross, Colby J, and Zigg Madison. This reformation was done in partnership with Syntax Creative. “We are thrilled to partner with Grapetree Records and bring their genre-defining music into our system,” said Syntax Creative CEO Timothy Trudeau. “Grapetree started releasing music when I was still in high school and definitely paved the way for the rest of us. I’m excited to now return that same favor.”

Divisions GT Latin Phat Boy Music Diamond Cut Records Syntax Creative

Artists A.G.E. Alicross Angela Antonious Amani aka Antonio Neal Ayeesha Barry G Breathe Eazy Bruthaz Grimm Christ Fa Real Colby J. C.R.O.W. D.D.C. D.C.P. E-Roc (aka Rhymes Monumental) Faze Fiti Futuristic Tha Original Flow FTF (Dr. Chedder & Fila Phil) Geno V God's Original Gangstaz J-ROC KIIS L.G. Wise Lil' Raskull Mike Mike Mr. Real M.V.P. Mystery NuWine (now known as Hefe Wine) Preachas in tha Hood Prime Minister Rhymes Monumental (aka E-Roc) Rubadub St8 Young Gangstaz Truth True II Society Zigg Madison

Discography

1993 Rubadub - Reflections of An Ex-Criminal

1995 KIIS - West Coast Thang Barry G - Rugged Witeness

1996 Rubadub - Mind Of A Gangster Gina Brown (now known as Gina Green) - In His Time D.D.C. - Plate Fulla Funk Lil' Raskull - Controversial All-Star G.O.G.'z - True 2 Tha Game Faze - Just Trying Ta Stay Up GOD's New Creation - Self Titled Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 1 HHH Vol. - Strickly Gangsta Style

1997 Prime Minister - Prime Time True 2 Society - Bow Down Lil' Raskull - Cross Bearing Preachas in tha Hood - Gangstaz Pain G.O.G.'z - Resurrected Gangstaz Geno V - Take Me 2 Tha Homies L.G. Wise - G's Us 4 Life Nuwine - Da Bloody 5th Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 2 HHH Vol. 2 - From Tha Ground Up Gina Brown - In His Time Another Way to Praise - Take A Look Back

1998 Prime Minister - Prime Time 2: The Millennium True 2 Society - Let's Take a Ride Lil' Raskull - Gory to Glory Preachas in tha Hood - Tearz Of A Gangsta E-Roc - The Return Rhymes Monumental aka E-Roc - Target Earth G.O.G'z - Pawn's In A Game of Chess SYG'z - Steady Bangin' Lord Byron - Keep Tha Fire Burning Antonious - Good Vs. Evil D.C.P. - The Last Saint Bruthaz Grimm - He's Coming L.G. Wise - Never Alone Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 3 GT Hit Mix: Wreakin' Thangs HHH Vol. 3 - Ghetto Drama Phat Trax R&B Vol. 1

1999 E-Roc - Avalanche Lil' Raskull - Certified Southern Hits Preachas in tha Hood - Life Sentence G.O.G.'z - Tha G Files SYG'z - Tha Movement Ayeesha - Listen Closely Antonious - Principalities D.C.P. - Ghetto Preacha C.R.O.W. - Operation K.A.P. (Kill A Pimp) Bruthaz Grimm - Letter 2 Tha Bruthaz Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 4 Mr. Real - Humility HHH Vol. 4 - N-Tyme Mafia Christ Fa Real - It's Personal Amani - Issues Of Life Rhat Trax R&B Vol. 2 GT Greatest Hits Vol. 1

2000 Prime Minister - Inside Out True 2 Society - All Up In Yo Face Lil' Raskull - The Day After Rhymes Monumental aka E-roc - A Lie N Science D.C.P. - Our Time to Shine Bruthaz Grimm - ...And Things Will Never Be The Same F.T.F. - Fireproof? J-Roc - Last Days: Perelious Times L.G. Wise - Ghetto Fables: Da 1/2 Ain't Been Told Mr. Real - A Chosen One Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 5 GT Greatest Hits Vol. 2 Kandle - Encounters Angela - Faithful & True

2001 Amani - Songs Of Love Preachas in tha Hood - Gangsta Hitz Antonious - This Chapter In My Life C.R.O.W. - Method Of Attack L.G. Wise - Greatest Hits Marod - Degree 40:3 Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 6: 2001 Southern Butter: Hot Out Tha Kitchen Testimony: Songs of Redemption King Cyz - Life Or Death Mystery - The Mystery Is Revealed

2002 Prime Minister & Z.O.E. Click - Reel Life Rhymes Monumental aka E-Roc - Back 2 Earth Antonious - Fury (Greatest Hits) Fiti Futuristic - All In A Days Work Muzik Ta Ride 2 Vol. 7: From Tha Cross 2 Da Streets The Gathering: Chicago's Finest

2003 Truth - The Truth Hurts E-Roc - Greatest Hits 2024 Alicross - Alone

References

External links Knolly Williams Homepage Grapetree Products Throwing Back Love AC Story