Asfalt Records is a Polish

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 ...

specialized in hip-hop music. It was founded in 1998 by Marcin "Tytus" Grabski. In July 1998, Asfalt Records signed a three-year

distribution deal A distribution deal (also known as distribution contract or distribution agreement) is a legal agreement between one party and another, to handle distribution of a product. There are various forms of distribution deals. There are exclusive and no ...

with

Sony Music Entertainment Poland Sony Music Entertainment Poland Sp. z o.o. (SMEP) is a Polish subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. It was founded in 1995 in Warsaw. The label's CEO is Kazimierz Pułaski. The label was founded after Sony Music Entertainment took over the cat ...

. The first album released by Asfalt Records was the debut of Polish group OMP ''Wilanów... zobacz różnicę'', which was released on December 16, 1998. Afterwards, two groups, RHX and

Płomień 81 Płomień 81 (literally "Flame 81") is a Polish hip-hop group founded in Warsaw. It was formed by the Polish rappers Pezet and Onar in 1998. The group name originates from the school in which the two rappers met (Primary School No. 81 in Ursyn� ...

joined the label. In June 1999, the label released a 12" single ''Otzafszetu/Oempe'', which was most likely to be the first hip-hop record released in such format. In February 2001, Grabski founded a sub-label Teeto Records that was supposed to release hip-hop-related records. In April 2007, album '' HollyŁódź'' by

O.S.T.R. Adam Andrzej Ostrowski (, born 15 May 1980 in Łódź, Poland), better known as O.S.T.R., is a Polish rapper, musician, audio engineer and record producer, famous for his freestyle rap skills, ambitious lyrics and unique beats. He graduated from ...

was certified as

gold record Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile meta ...

. It was the first Asfalt's record, which reached that status. The first

platinum record Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...

was also

's album '' Tylko dla dorosłych'', released in 2010. So far, Asfalt Records has released albums for artists such as

Medium Medium may refer to: Science and technology Aviation *Medium bomber, a class of war plane *Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design Communication * Media (communication), tools used to store and deliver information or data * Medium of ...

, The Jonesz, Patr00, Ortega Cartel, Killing Skills, Flirtini, Zorak 3000, Sztigar Bonko, Rasmentalism, DJ Haem,

Noon Noon (or midday) is 12 o'clock in the daytime. It is written as 12 noon, 12:00 m. (for meridiem, literally 12:00 noon), 12 p.m. (for post meridiem, literally "after noon"), 12 pm, or 12:00 (using a 24-hour clock) or 1200 ( military time). Sola ...

, The Returners, POE, Envee, Afront, Bassisters Orchestra,

Emade Emade (real name Piotr Waglewski) (born December 15, 1981) is a Polish hip-hop producer, brother of rapper Fisz and son of the Polish musician Wojciech Waglewski, lead vocalist of Voo Voo. He started out playing percussion at the age of 13 in hi ...

, Tworzywo Sztuczne, Tabasko, Łona, Onar,

Taco Hemingway Filip Tadeusz Szcześniak (born July 29, 1990), better known by the stage name Taco Hemingway (earlier FV), is an Egyptian-born Polish rapper, songwriter, and musician. He began recording in 2011, at which time he released - under the pseudonym ...

, Inespe,

Fisz Bartosz Waglewski (Fisz) born March 19, 1978 in Warszawa, Poland is a Polish rap artist. He is the son of musician Wojciech Waglewski and older brother of Emade (Piotr Waglewski). He studied at Europejska Akademia Sztuk (EAS). The musical style ...

and O$ka.

References

{{Authority control Hip hop record labels Polish independent record labels Record labels established in 1998