In this episode of the Ern & Iso Podcast, we take a deep dive into the history, rise, and fallout of one of the most important movements in hip-hop culture: State Property and their time under the legendary Roc-A-Fella Records. The story of Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk, Oschino, Omillio Sparks, Young Chris, and Neef Buck isn’t just about rap—it’s about Philly’s impact on hip-hop, loyalty, business moves, and the difference between being a label and being a family. 💿 The Rise of State PropertyWe start by going back to the late 1990s, when Beanie Sigel was discovered after a freestyle that caught Jay-Z’s attention. Signed to Roc-A-Fella in 1998, Beans quickly became the voice of Philly on a New York-based label. His debut album The Truth (2000) and follow-up The Reason (2001) positioned him as one of the hardest voices in rap, bridging the gap between the streets and the charts. Next came Freeway, who made his debut on “1-900-Hustler” from The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000) before officially signing in 2001. With his unique cadence and raw delivery, Free brought something fresh to the Roc, and later gave us the classic Philadelphia Freeway album in 2003 with hits like “What We Do” and “Flipside.” Meanwhile, Philly’s streets gave the Roc even more talent: Oschino & Sparks joined around 2000–2001 after auditioning for Jay, Young Chris & Neef Buck came in as teenagers rebranded as “Young Gunz,” and Peedi Crakksigned in 2001 through Freeway’s cosign, quickly dropping his anthem “One for Peedi Crakk.” Together, they formed State Property, a group that would change the sound and energy of Roc-A-Fella. 🎙️ The Iconic Hot 97 FreestyleOne of the defining moments of this era came on January 12, 2001, when Jay-Z led his Roc soldiers to Hot 97 for a Funkmaster Flex freestyle session. Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Oschino, Sparks, Young Chris, and others tore down the mic, putting Philly front and center in New York. It was more than just a freestyle—it was a declaration that Roc-A-Fella wasn’t just a Brooklyn label anymore, it was a movement. 📀 Albums in OrderFrom 2000 to 2005, the Roc-A-Fella/State Property machine released a run of projects that stamped their legacy: The Truth – Beanie Sigel (2000) The Reason – Beanie Sigel (2001) State Property soundtrack (2002) Philadelphia Freeway – Freeway (2003) The Chain Gang Vol. 2 – State Property (2003) Tough Luv – Young Gunz (2004) Brothers From Another – Young Gunz (2005) These records gave us some of Roc’s most iconic singles, from “Roc the Mic” to “What We Do” to “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” showing Philly could hold its own next to Jay-Z, Kanye, and the rest of the dynasty. 💔 The BreakupBut in 2004, Roc-A-Fella Records split apart. Jay-Z took over as President of Def Jam, while Dame Dash started Dame Dash Music Group. This left State Property divided. Some stayed loyal to Jay, some followed Dame, and others tried to find their own path. Beanie dropped The B. Coming on DDMG in 2005, Freeway stuck with Jay and later joined Roc Nation, Chris & Neef released their second album but struggled with momentum, and Peedi Crakk’s career was slowed by label politics. Oschino and Sparks went independent, pushing music on their own. 🔥 Roc-No-Familia: The FalloutEven after the Roc era, tensions never fully went away. Oschino has taken shots at Freeway and others on social media, questioning loyalty and respect. Beanie Sigel has publicly said a Roc reunion “has to happen,” pointing to the energy when they performed together at Jay’s TIDAL B-Sides show in 2015. On the flip side, Memphis Bleek recently said in 2025 that “there’s no return” for Jay and Dame. The love between Roc members is complicated—sometimes it looks like family, and other times like permanent scars. #HipHop #StateProperty #RocAFella #BeanieSigel #Freeway #YoungGunz #PeediCrakk #Oschino #Sparks #fyp #ernandiso4president
