Agitprop! Records is a 'revolutionary hardcore and
hip hop'
independent record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
based in
Boston, US, founded by Jacob Tavares. The name comes from the term
Agitprop, a genre of political propaganda from
Soviet-Russia.
One of the label's notable releases is the compilation ''Stand Up & Fucking Fight For It'', its first full-length CD, released in 2002. The recording features
queercore bands such as
Fagatron,
Best Revenge
Best Revenge was a queercore punk band from Los Angeles. They were active as a studio and live act from the beginning of 1998 until December 2002.
History
Best Revenge was formed by members Ryan Revenge (vocals/guitar) and KT (bass/vocals) in ...
, The Rotten Fruits,
Kids Like Us
Kids Like Us is an American hardcore punk band from north Florida. Formed in 2003, the band drew influences from various subgenres of punk prominent in the scene at the time such as DIY, Garage, and Skate. Known for their over-the-top lyrical vu ...
and others, and is one of a handful of queercore compilations to be released. Tavares said in the
Fanorama zine, "I was 17 or 18 when I came out, and very much into hardcore and punk. It was weird being involved in these two different 'communities' - one that, at times, could be overrun with
homophobia
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...
and
heterosexism, and the other which I could find very little in common with other than that we fucked the same." He said that the compilation was inspired largely by the
Outpunk label and its early-1990s ''Outpunk Dance Party,'' though he added that despite its reputation, Agitprop! is not specifically a "queer" label.
Other early releases included albums and vinyl singles by Ninja Death Squad and Fagatron,
[ and Agitprop! also began issuing records by hip hop artists like Juha and Deep Dickollective.
Agitprop! was initially established as a distro, and continued to distribute other labels' recordings after it began releasing its own. The label is referenced in ''Homocore'', a somewhat definitive guidebook to queercore history.
Tavares put Agitprop! on hiatus to focus on fiction writing (which has included "Fast Ones" from the Dennis Cooper anthology, ''Userlands''). In 2007, Agitprop! returned, first by making much of its back-catalogue available through CDBaby. In December 2007, Juha's album ''The Grooms of God'' became the first new Agitprop! release since the label was revived.
]
Artists on Agitprop! Records
* And I Can't Wait
* Best Revenge
* Deep Dickollective
* Fagatron
See also
* List of record labels
References
External links
Agitprop! Records web site
Old Agitprop Records Webpage
by way of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine
{{Authority control
American independent record labels
Record labels established in 2002
Record labels established in 2007
Re-established companies
Queercore record labels
2002 establishments in Massachusetts