Dwight Equan Grant, globally recognized by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born on March 6, 1974, Sigel's journey extends beyond his successful solo career. He is known for being the de facto leader of State Property, the Philadelphia-based hip hop collective that he formed with other Roc-A-Fella labelmates.
Rise to Fame and Early Career
Beanie Sigel's impact on the music scene is undeniable. His second and third albums, "The Reason" (2001) and "The B. Coming" (2005), both achieved significant success, reaching the top five of the Billboard 200. His career began to take off with Roc-A-Fella Records.
In 2002, Sigel and much of the Roc-A-Fella roster starred in "State Property". This movie's release coincided with the creation and promotion of State Property, a group of Philadelphia artists signed to Roc-A-Fella, who were organized by Sigel and Freeway. Its members included Peedi Crakk, the Young Gunz (Neef Buck & Young Chris), Oschino and Omillio Sparks. Their first collaboration was for the movie's soundtrack, an eponymous release that featured the original "Roc the Mic" by Sigel and Freeway. 2003's "The Chain Gang Vol. 2" followed, featuring the single "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" by the Young Gunz.
"The B. Coming" and Label Transitions
In 2005, Beanie Sigel prepared for a one-year prison sentence stemming from an earlier arrest. He shot multiple videos, directed by Joe Briscella, and finished his third album "The B. Coming". During this period, Jay-Z, Sigel's label head at Roc-A-Fella, became president of Def Jam, its parent label. This transition led Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to depart and establish the Dame Dash Music Group.
Dame Dash Music Group and Def Jam released Sigel's "The B. Coming" rather than Roc-A-Fella, but it still contained production from a slew of Roc/Jay Z-affiliated producers including Chad West, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Boola, and Buckwild. Sigel recruited cross-label MC talent for his album as well, including Cam'ron and Jay-Z. Advertising his friendship with the incarcerated Sigel, Dash publicly claimed that he was leaving the Roc-A-Fella roster to join him. Sigel's group, State Property was thrown into turmoil, but eventually chose to remain at Roc-A-Fella-apparently against Sigel's wishes.
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Sigel reflected on this period, stating, "I've never been around Jay on an off day. It ain't like I made a choice of running with Dame and Biggs or 'Dame and Biggs held me down through my whole trial.' It's not that. I would be a sucker if I said I [signed with the Damon Dash Music Group] because they did that for me. It's love."
Roc-A-Fella Return and Later Projects
In 2006, Sigel re-signed with Roc-A-Fella Records and started recording for his fourth studio album "The Solution". On October 29, 2007, Sigel released the first single from "The Solution" titled "All The Above" which featured R. Kelly.
In 2010, Sigel announced that he was working on his sixth studio album titled "The Closure" which was to be released on Universal Republic and G-Unit Records. However, on May 31, 2011, Sigel cancelled the album and retired from the music industry for two weeks, before deciding to return and work on the album again, re-titling it "The Classic".
On March 30, 2012, Sigel told Statik Selektah on Shade 45 that he would be working on a collaborative album with his longtime close friend, the Southern rap veteran Scarface; the album was to be called "Mac and Brad". Scarface tweeted the announcement at the same time via mobile. On that same day, while distribution deals with E1, The Orchard, and Asylum were on the table, Sigel also decided to sign a distribution deal with EMI after one of his mutual friends garnered the interest of Chris Schwartz.
Acting Career
Sigel's talents extend beyond music. He first appeared in the documentary "Backstage", and his first main acting role was in the movie "State Property" which spawned a sequel "State Property 2". He also appeared along with Kevin Hart in the 2002 film "Paper Soldiers". Sigel released a DVD titled "The B. Coming of Beanie Sigel" in 2005, shortly after his third solo album release "The B". Sigel appeared in the 2011 film "Rhyme and Punishment", a documentary about hip-hop artists who have served time in county jail or state/federal prison.
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Controversies and Conflicts
Throughout his career, Beanie Sigel has faced numerous legal issues and publicized court trials since 2002.
Sigel recorded a song dissing his former boss and mentor Jay-Z on the track "I Go Off" with 50 Cent who had signed him to his G-Unit Records label in 2009. On May 31, 2011, it was reported that Sigel had apologized to Jay-Z.
During the beginning of the new millennium, Sigel and various other Roc artists engaged in a conflict with artists from the Ruff Ryders. Sigel publicly decried Jadakiss, the rest of The LOX and DMX.
In November 2021, rapper and former Roc-A-Fella cohort Kanye West gave Grant credit for originating his now-trademark nickname "Yeezy". Grant attested to this during a subsequent interview with TMZ. In October 2023, Grant formally endorsed the independent 2024 presidential campaign of environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Legal Troubles
In 2002, Sigel was arrested and charged with a federal weapons charge in West Philadelphia. Sigel was arrested in January 2003 after allegedly punching a 53-year-old man in the face, fracturing his eye socket. On July 3, 2003, Sigel turned himself in to Philadelphia police and was charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing six shots from a 9 mm handgun at a club door, injuring two people. He was also charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and possession of a criminal instrument. His first trial ended in a hung jury.
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Sigel was shot multiple times during a robbery in Philadelphia on May 25, 2006. He was able to flee the scene and drive himself to a local hospital. On August 15, 2009, Sigel was arrested on a drug possession charge while traveling to a concert in New Jersey. Sigel was charged in 2010 with three counts of failing to file tax returns on income of over $1 million between 2003 and 2005. On August 29, 2012, two weeks before reporting to prison, Sigel was arrested again in Philadelphia on drug, weapons, and conspiracy charges after being pulled over by police. Officers found a fully loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun inside the vehicle, as well as $4,500 in cash, an unlabeled bottle of codeine cough syrup, and various pills.
Sigel began his 24-month sentence for failing to file tax returns at the Federal Detention Center, Philadelphia on September 12, 2012. On August 14, 2014, Sigel was released from Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill and was reported to be serving out the rest of his sentence in a halfway house in Philadelphia.
Sigel was wounded in a drive-by shooting outside his Pleasantville, New Jersey home on December 5, 2014. He was rushed to the hospital where he had a lung removed due to complications during surgery.
Feud with Meek Mill
Adding to his history of conflicts, Beanie Sigel was involved in a feud with Meek Mill. The details of their dispute remain somewhat murky, but it involved diss tracks and public disagreements.