Strut Records is a British record label that focuses on
dance music and
afrobeat.
History
The label was "acquired and re-launched in January 2008." The label website states that "from 1999-2003, the label became renowned for its uncompromising high quality packages documenting landmarks in the history of dance music from
Italo disco,
Calypso,
Afrobeat and beyond". From 1999 to 2003 "Strut was one of the UK's leading record labels dedicated to unearthing the lost gems of dance music past, covering music from hard funk, underground
disco
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
, original breaks and Nigerian
Afrobeat to old skool
hip hop and forgotten music library classics."
"Set up in 1999 to document important areas of dance music's history, Strut's releases cut no corners, bringing together killer dancefloor tracks as well as giving a full context to the music, telling the story of the characters behind the tunes, the clubs and the scene of the time."
"The albums are mastered from original tapes wherever possible and feature extensive sleevenotes, researched and written by respected journalists, rare photographs and memorabilia."
In 2008 Strut & Gold Dust Media joined the
!K7
!K7 Music is a music company based in Berlin, Germany that focuses mostly on electronic music. The name is an abbreviation of the company's original Berlin address, Kaiserdamm 7 (it has since relocated, first to Heidestrasse 52, and currently he ...
label group, which today is best known for producing electronic music artists and especially for the
DJ-Kicks compilations. Between 1999 and 2003, Strut released everything from Nigerian Afrobeat to leftfield disco to
rare groove. The release of
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler (born January 1, 1958), popularly known by his stage name Grandmaster Flash, is an American DJ and rapper. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Hip Hop DJing, cutting, scratching and mixing. Grandmaster Flash and the Fur ...
's new album also took place this year. Strut's founder, Quinton Scott, is responsible for A&R. Gold Dust Media is A&R'd from the US office of !K7 and will focus mainly on American artists.
As of 2017, Strut serves as !K7's reissue label, including recordings by
Patrice Rushen and
Miriam Makeba.
One group signed to the label is Ottawa-based
Souljazz Orchestra.
In 2019, Strut celebrates its 20th anniversary by re-pressing some of their best releases (Disco Not Disco,
Patrice Rushen) or adding new episodes in compilations series (Nigeria 70).
References
{{Authority control
British record labels