PGLang

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PGLang
TypePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2020; 2 years ago (2020)
FounderKendrick Lamar
Dave Free
Headquarters
United States
Services
WebsiteOfficial website

PGLang (stylized as "pgLang") is an American multi-disciplinary media company co-founded by American recording artist Kendrick Lamar and his business partner Dave Free, in 2020.[1] It is a service company that encompasses a record label, a production house, and publishing.[2]

History[]

Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free met when the two were in high school, and also co-directed music videos together under the name The Little Homies.[3] In 2019, Free announced his departure from Top Dawg Entertainment after being the co-president of the label, saying "None of the tactics we used back in the day to break Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, or Schoolboy would work now. It's a whole new game. Blogs were very influential back then and I'd have to build a lot of relationships with blogs and now it's just more about streaming. You have to have the relationships with the streaming sites and it can't just be a fake relationship."[4]

On March 5, 2020, Lamar and Free announced the launching of PGLang, which was described as a multilingual, artist-friendly service company.[5][6] The company is multilingual for creators, with its official mission statement saying "Our community speaks music, film, television, art, books, and podcasts – because sometimes we have to use different languages to get the point of our stories across. Stories that speak to many nations, many races, and many ages."[7] In a press release, Free said that the company "is not a record label, a movie studio, or a publishing house. This is something new. In this overstimulated time, we are focused on cultivating raw expression from grassroots partnerships."[8] The announcement also featured a "visual mission statement", a four-minute short film starring Lamar, Baby Keem, Jorja Smith, and Yara Shahidi.[9] Lamar simply stated in the press release, "Selfless. Reset."[10][11]

On January 13, 2021, PGLang announced a collaboration project with Calvin Klein, with a series of seven short films written and directed by Free.[12] The short films included appearances from Baby Keem, Brent Faiyaz, Mecca Allah, Travis Bennett, and Amber Wagner, among others.[13][14]

In 2022, an untitled comedy film to be produced by Dave Free, Kendrick Lamar, Matt Stone, and Trey Parker was announced, with Vernon Chatman set to write.[15] On March 9, 2022, pgLang announced the signing of Los Angeles artist Tanna Leone.[16]

Roster[]

Act Year
signed 		Releases
under the label 		Notes
Baby Keem 2020 1 Partnership with Columbia
Tanna Leone 2022 – Partnership with Def Jam

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Artist Album Details
Baby Keem The Melodic Blue

Filmography[]

Year Title Notes
2020 Calvin Klein short films

References[]

  1. ^ Alter, Rebecca. "Kendrick Lamar, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Launches Something 'Selfless'". Vulture.
  2. ^ Mamo, Heran. "Kendrick Lamar Announces Mysterious 'pgLang' Project: What Does It All Mean?". Billboard.
  3. ^ Yoo, Noah. "Dave Free No Longer Co-President of Top Dawg Entertainment: Report". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ "Dave Free Leaves Top Dawg Entertainment". Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ Mamo, Heran. "Kendrick Lamar Announces Mysterious 'pgLang' Project: What Does It All Mean?". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Holmes, Charles (March 5, 2020). "Kendrick Lamar Launches... Something (And Says It's Not a Record Label)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  7. ^ McKinney, Jessica. "What Is pgLang? Kendrick Lamar's Mysterious New Company, Explained". Complex.
  8. ^ "Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free Launch New Company pgLang". Complex. Archived from the original on March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  9. ^ DeVille, Chris. "Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free Launch "At Service Company" pgLang". StereoGum. Archived from the original on March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  10. ^ Strauss, Matthew. "Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free Launch New Company pgLang". Pitchfork.
  11. ^ "What Is PgLang? Decoding Kendrick Lamar's Mysterious Company". GQ.
  12. ^ Dunn, Frankie. "Kendrick Lamar's pgLang has collaborated with Calvin Klein". Vice.
  13. ^ Triscari, Caleb. "Kendrick Lamar's pgLang announces creative project featuring Baby Keem, Brent Faiyaz and more". NME.
  14. ^ Darville, Jordan. "Kendrick Lamar's pgLang is launching a Calvin Klein campaign". The Fader.
  15. ^ Grobar, Matt. "Kendrick Lamar, Dave Free & 'South Park' Duo Matt Stone And Trey Parker To Produce Comedy Penned By Vernon Chatman For Paramount". Deadline.
  16. ^ "Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free's pgLang Announces Partnership With Los Angeles Artist Tanna Leone". Complex.
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