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Rawkus
Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One). Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Myer then signed some of the top underground talent from the New York area, notably Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek and Company Flow, who went on to define the label's sound. The string of 12" releases and full-length albums that followed helped initiate a resurgence in the New York/ East Coast sound. Many of these are considered classics among hip-hop aficionados. During the mid to late 1990s, Rawkus became a dominant label in the underground hip-hop scene, producing a string of gold albums and a platinum album. History Rawkus Records was established in 1995 by Brian Brater and Jarret Myer, with financial backing from their high school buddy James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch. In 1996, Rupert Murdoch bought a majority of Rawkus. In 1999 the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Company Flow
Company Flow was an American hip hop trio from Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of Bigg Jus, El-P and Mr. Len. The group was at one time associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. Rapper/producer El-P and DJ/producer Mr. Len founded the group in 1992 in Queens, New York where rapper/producer Bigg Jus later joined. History Founding members El-P and Mr. Len met when the latter was hired to perform as a DJ at the former's 18th birthday party. The two quickly became friends and formed Company Flow in 1993. They released their first vinyl single, "Juvenile Techniques". After El-P was introduced to Bigg Jus by underground rapper and indie label owner ANTTEX, the trio then released their follow-up, "8 Steps to Perfection" and then their debut EP, Funcrusher (Official Recordings), in 1996. Subject to a major label bidding war on Libra Records, Company Flow waited until they could get a contract on their own terms. They eventually signed to Rawkus, and helped r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mos Def
Yasiin Bey (; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), previously and more commonly known by his stage name Mos Def (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD), after which they appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. He formed the duo Black Star, alongside fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli, and in 1998 they released their debut album '' Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star'', featuring the singles " Definition" and " Respiration". He was featured on the roster of Rawkus Records and in 1999 released his solo debut, '' Black on Both Sides''. His debut was followed by '' The New Danger'' (2004), '' True Magic'' (2006), and ''The Ecstatic'' (2009). About.com listed him 14th on its "50 Greatest Rappers of All Time". His hits include "Oh No", " Ms. Fat Booty", and " Mathematics". He was a child actor in television films, sitcoms ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soundbombing
''Soundbombing'' is a hip hop compilation album by Rawkus Records, released on October 14, 1997. The album helped launch the careers of Mos Def and Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek), who later became Rawkus's most popular artists. ''Soundbombing'' is regarded as a "scene-defining" underground hip hop album. Background After the critical success of Company Flow's '' Funcrusher Plus'' album, released a few months prior, Rawkus returned with a compilation that showcased their growing roster. Mixed by DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz, the album is sequenced like a mixtape, staying true to the label's underground roots. The album is mainly composed of 12" singles previously released by the label in 1997. It is subtitled "The Ultimate Guide to Underground Hip-Hop Mixed by Evil Dee". Critical reception ''Soundbombing'' received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Charles Aaron of '' Spin'' noted that "you can hear the hints of a Native Tongues-like posse feeding off ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek (born May 5, 1976), is an American rapper and record producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli. His father is singer Willie Cottrell of the Willie Cottrell Band, whom Hi-Tek featured on his second album, '' Hi-Teknology 2''. Career 1996-2000 Hi-Tek started his career with hip hop group Mood and had a regional hit with "Hustle on the Side". That song was made for Mood's album ''Doom'', which featured amongst others Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli. Hi-Tek went on to produce most of Talib Kweli and Mos Def's ''Black Star'' (1998). In 2000, Tek and Kweli (under the name Reflection Eternal) released ''Train of Thought'' (2000) on Rawkus Records, with raps by Kweli and beats by Hi-Tek. It enjoyed moderate crossover radio success with the singles "The Blast" and "Move Somethin'". Reflection Eternal released a follow-up album titled ''Revolutions Per Minute'' on May 18, 2010. 2001-current After signing to Rawkus Records ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jarret Myer
Jarret Myer (born February 6, 1973) is an American media entrepreneur who co-founded the record label Rawkus Records, the YouTube talent company Big Frame, and the digital media brand Uproxx. Since the sale of Uproxx to Woven Digital in 2014, Myer has served as Woven Digital's general manager of publishing. Rawkus Records Myer founded independent hip hop label Rawkus Records with partners Brian Brater and James Murdoch in 1996. Myer met his cofounders while attending Horace Mann School. The label's high-volume model of 12-inch releases was based on the strategy of punk rock music labels like SST and Victory. The label became known for producing up-and-coming hip hop artists. Myer and Brater scouted and signed all of the label's acts themselves, including Mos Def and Talib Kweli. The label received financial support first from News Corp and then MCA from 2002 until MCA was absorbed by Interscope Geffen A&M Records in 2004. Myer was named on ''New York New York mos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lyricist Lounge, Volume One
''Lyricist Lounge, Volume One'' is the second hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. The double-disc was released on May 5, 1998 as the first installment of ''Lyricist Lounge'' album series, based on New York's '' Lyricist Lounge'' showcases. Recording sessions took place at Temple of Soul, at Firehouse Studios, at Animation Sound, at Ozone Studios, at Soundtrack Studios, at Poke's Crib, at Animal Tracks Studios, at D's House, at Platinum Island Studios, at Unique Studios, at Mark Dann Recording Studios, at Rawkus Studios and at Circus Studios in New York City, at The Chop Shop in New Jersey, at the Red October Chemical Storage Facility in Los Angeles with additional recording at Westlake Audio. Production was handled by Shawn J Period, 88-Keys, Kenny Diaz, Will Tell, Charlemagne, Curt Cowdy, Cut Chemist, Derrick Trotman, DJ Nu-Mark, DJ Scratch, El-P, Ge-Ology, G.M., Hi-Tek, Keith Horne, Megahertz, Native Sun, Nottz, Saul Williams, Stix Bones and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pharoahe Monch
Troy Donald Jamerson (born October 31, 1972), better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper from South Jamaica, Queens, New York. He is known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.Edwards, Paul, 2009, '' How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC'', Chicago Review Press, p. 327. Biography Monch released three albums as part of the rap duo Organized Konfusion with partner Prince Poetry: The self-titled '' Organized Konfusion'', '' Stress: The Extinction Agenda'' and ''The Equinox''. The duo handled a large amount of production on these albums themselves. All albums received positive critical reviews, but moderate sales. As a result, the duo split up after recording their final album ''The Equinox'' in 1997. Prince Poetry has since denied the possibility of an Organized Konfusion reunion. Pharoahe Monch then signed to Rawkus Records, an indie label. After making several guest appearances on albums l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black Star (group)
Black Star is an American Hip hop music, hip hop duo formed in 1996, from Brooklyn, New York City. The duo is composed of rappers Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli. The duo is named after The Black Star Line, a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey. Their critically-acclaimed debut album ''Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star'' was released on September 29, 1998. After decades of only releasing singles and appearing on compilations, Black Star released their sophomore studio album ''No Fear of Time'' May 3, 2022 on the podcasting platform Luminary (podcast network), Luminary. History Black Star arose from the underground movement of the late 1990s, which was in large part due to Rawkus Records, an independent record label stationed in New York City. They, together with other members of the Native Tongues Posse, helped shape underground Alternative hip hop, alternative rap, bringing it into the mainstream. Both Mos Def, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli have gone on to greater co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He earned recognition early on through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's musical career continued with solo success including collaborations with producers and rappers Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pharrell Williams. His most recent album, ''Gotham'', was released in 2020. In 2011, Kweli founded his own record label, Javotti Media. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, Kweli grew up in a household in Brooklyn's Park Slope. His mother, Brenda Greene, is an English professor at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York, and his father is an administrator at Adelphi University. His younger brother, Jamal Greene, is a professor of constitutional law at Columbia Law School and a graduate of Harvard University and Yale Law School, and former clerk to Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court. As a yout ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reflection Eternal
Reflection Eternal is an American hip hop duo composed of emcee Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek. They released their first album, ''Train of Thought'', in 2000. They have since released a mixtape, ''The RE: Union'', in late December 2009, and their second album ''Revolutions Per Minute'' was released May 18, 2010. History The duo of Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek met in Tek's native Cincinnati, Ohio, following the release of the Hi-Tek/Mood collaboration "Hustle on the Side". Kweli and Hi-Tek made their first official collaboration in 1997 on Mood's debut album, ''Doom'', on the track "Industry Lies". That same year, the two formed as Reflection Eternal, and signed to upstart underground hip hop label Rawkus Records. The tracks from their debut single, "Fortified Live" b/w "2000 Seasons", were included on the Rawkus Records compilation '' Soundbombing'' in October 1997. In 1998, Kweli and his high school friend, fellow Rawkus Records artist Mos Def, formed the duo Black Star, and rel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Home Field Advantage (album)
''Home Field Advantage'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group The High & Mighty. It was released on August 24, 1999 via Rawkus Records and was produced mostly by DJ Mighty Mi, but also featured production from Alchemist and Reef. It features guest appearances from Bobbito García, Cage, Defari, Eminem, Evidence, Kool Keith, Mad Skillz, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Thirstin Howl III, What? What? and Wordsworth. The album peaked at number 193 on the ''Billboard'' 200, number 45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and number 11 on the Heatseekers Albums. Track listing Notes * ''B-Boy Document '99'' appears on the soundtrack of ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2''. Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.The High & Mighty - Home Field Advantage (CD liner notes). Rawkus Records. P2-50121 * Mr. Eon - performer, writer, executive producer * DJ Mighty Mi - producer, writer, executive producer, mixing * The Alchemist - producer, mixing * What? What? - performer, writer * Kool Keit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Funcrusher Plus
''Funcrusher Plus'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Company Flow. It was released by Rawkus Records in 1997. In 2009, it was re-released on Definitive Jux. The album has been recognized as "a landmark independent hip-hop release". Critical reception AllMusic gave the album a perfect 5 star rating, and writer Steve Huey stated: " 'Funcrusher Plus''demands intense concentration, but also rewards it, and its advancement of hip-hop as an art form is still being felt. It's difficult, challenging music, to be sure, and it's equally far ahead of its time." Jon Dolan of ''City Pages'' noted " ompany Flow'sevincing a confrontational critique of 'those signed, big-budget muthafuckas' like none hip hop has attempted since EPMD's '' Strictly Business''." Andrew Hultkrans of '' Spin'' gave the album 8 stars out of 10, commenting that " he albumdeconstructed hip-hop conventions and rebuilt them into a spare, murky, sputtering soundscape." Jeff Weiss of ''Los Angeles Times' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
