Federation

California producer Rick Rock, after creating tracks for 2Pac, Jay-Z, and E-40, gathered Doonie Baby, Goldie Gold, and Mr. Stress to launch Federation in 2002. The crew’s first effort, The Album, surfaced on Virgin two years later. Reviewers and committed hip-hop fans lauded the abrasive, aggressive record, yet Rock remained unhappy with the label’s marketing push even though the project later earned gold status. He declared in 2005 that Federation would join the Warner Bros. roster, resulting in the 2007 Reprise release It’s Whateva.