Music industry veteran Troy Carter acquires the complete catalog of Pop Art Records, the pioneering Philadelphia hip-hop label that launched the careers of legendary artists such as Roxanne Shanté, Salt-N-Pepa and MC Shan.
The deal marks a return for Carter, who grew up in West Philadelphia and went on to become one of the most powerful executives in the music industry.
“I’m proud to be the steward of some of the most important musical works in hip-hop history,” Carter said in announcing the acquisition. “These songs and artists shaped my childhood and inspired me to pursue a career in music.”
The Pop Art Records catalog represents a treasure trove of hip-hop’s earliest and most influential recordings from the 1980s. The album includes Roxanne Shanté’s 1984 song “Roxanne’s Revenge,” which kicked off the legendary “Roxanne Wars” that defined early rap wars.
Salt-N-Pepa’s debut single “The Showstoppa”, originally released as Super Nature, appears in the catalog alongside MC Shan’s 1986 classic “The Bridge”, which sparked KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions’ famous “Bridge Wars”.
Before achieving mainstream success, Biz Markey also recorded for pop art.
Pop Art Records was founded by Lawrence Goodman and his brother Dana Goodman, who built the label into a powerhouse that put Philadelphia on the hip-hop map.
Lawrence Goodman, often referred to as “The LG Teacher,” discovered and developed talent that influenced hip-hop for decades. The Goodman brothers founded Pop Art Records in 1979 with a vision to showcase Philadelphia’s burgeoning hip-hop scene.
Lawrence Goodman served as producer and talent scout, while Dana ran business operations, creating a family-run business that competed with New York’s major record labels.
Under their leadership, Pop Art Records became home to Philadelphia’s most important early hip-hop artists. Members of the label include Lawrence Goodman’s nephew Steady B; Cool C; and the trio Three Times Dope, featuring EST, Chuck Nice and Woody Wood.
Philadelphia artists dominated the early releases of pop art, with Steady B becoming one of the city’s first rap stars with songs like 1986’s “Bring The Beat Back.”
Cool C attended Overbrook High School with future Fresh Prince Will Smith, and his career took a tragic turn after teaming up with Steady B to rob a bank and kill police officer Lauretha Vaird.
Both rappers were sentenced to life in prison.
Three Times Dope’s 1988 debut album “Original Stylin'” brought a unique sound to pop art, featuring hits such as “Crushin’ & Bussin'” and “From Da Giddy Up” and showcasing Philadelphia’s unique hip-hop style.
Carter’s connection to this music runs through his Philadelphia roots.
Born in West Philadelphia in 1972, Carter dropped out of West Philadelphia High School in 1990 at age 17 to pursue music with his hip-hop group, which was briefly signed to Will Smith and James Lassiter’s WilJam Records.
After his rap dream ended, Carter turned to management and discovered his true calling behind the scenes. He interned at Bad Boy Records before landing his first major client, Philadelphia rapper Eve, whom he helped launch her career in the late 1990s.
Carter’s management skills were quickly recognized, prompting him to work with Nelly during her breakout years.
His greatest success came from managing Lady Gaga from her early days to her rise to global superstardom, making Carter one of the most powerful managers in the music industry.
Throughout Carter’s career, he has managed John Legend, Priyanka Chopra and Meghan Trainor while founding multiple companies. He founded Coalition Media Group in 2007 and Atom Factory in 2010 to expand his reach beyond traditional artist management.
In 2019, Carter co-founded Q&A Media with Suzy Ryoo and currently serves as CEO. He also launched Venice Music, a technology platform that helps independent artists navigate the modern music industry through artificial intelligence tools.
Carter’s tech investments have made him a bridge between music and Silicon Valley, backing more than 80 startups in recent years through his venture capital firm, Cross Culture Ventures. His portfolio includes companies focused on creator economic tools and music technology innovation.
His executive roles include serving as global head of Creator Services for Spotify, helping independent artists develop projects. Carter also serves on the SoundCloud board of directors.
Carter has not disclosed financial terms of the acquisition.
