by Cyril Cordor
The members of Yonkers, NY, rap crew the LOX (Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P) founded D-Block Records, which officially launched with Sheek's solo album Walk Witt Me in 2003. The label's roster -- which also includes J-Hood (aka Jae Hood), Team Arliss, and the president of D-Block Records, Supa Mario -- took on the D-Block name for compilations and other material released within New York's vibrant mixtape circuit. A highlight of D-Block's developing catalog, The CD/DVD Mixtape reached into the Top 40 of the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart after its March 2006 release on Koch Records. Not averse to beef, D-Block had an ongoing feud with 50 Cent and his G-Unit camp (which was the pretext for their leaving Interscope to the distribution deal with Koch), because 50 Cent criticized Jadakiss for appearing on rival Ja Rule's "New York" track. There was also contention with Roc-a-Fella artist Beanie Sigel and the LOX's former Bad Boy boss, Sean "Diddy" Combs, involving their publishing rights; however, both of these situations were quashed rather amicably.