Mo' Wax was a British
record label
"Big Three" music labels
A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...
founded by
James Lavelle
James Lavelle (born 22 February 1974) is an English electronic musician, record label owner and curator. He founded the Mo'Wax record label in 1992, and has been the only constant member of UNKLE. He directed the 2014 edition of the Meltdo ...
in
1992
1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General.
* January 6
** The Republ ...
.
The label was not co-founded by
Tim Goldsworthy
Tim Goldsworthy is a British record producer, DJ and recording artist.
Career
Originally a musician/producer for Unkle with James Lavelle, he later worked with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and was formerly joint owner of DFA Records. Go ...
, as is often reported. Steve Finan became co-owner shortly after.
Mo' Wax came to recognition for being at the forefront of
trip hop
Trip hop is a musical genre that has been described as a psychedelic music, psychedelic fusion of hip hop music, hip hop and electronica with slow tempos and an atmospheric sound. The style emerged as a more experimental music, experimental var ...
,
turntablism
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more Phonograph, turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer. The mixer is plugged into ...
and
alternative hip hop
Alternative hip-hop (also known as alternative rap and experimental hip-hop) is a subgenre of hip-hop music that encompasses a wide range of styles that are not typically identified as mainstream. AllMusic defines it as comprising "hip-hop group ...
during the mid-1990s. The label also released notable records covering
techno
Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempos being in the range from 120 to 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time ( ) and often ...
,
drum and bass
Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated as DnB, D&B, or D'n'B) is a genre of electronic dance music characterised by fast Break (music)#Breakbeat (element of music), breakbeats (typically 165–185 Tempo, beats per minute) with heavy Bass (music) ...
and
electro. Mo' Wax also helped the graffiti artist
Futura 2000 regain popularity, by using his artwork on many of their releases in the 1990s.
Lavelle signed partial ownership of Mo' Wax over to
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...
(now part of the
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...
) in 1996.
When their deal expired he signed with
Beggars Group
Beggars Group is a British record company, founded by Martin Mills, that owns or holds stakes in various record labels, including 4AD, Rough Trade Records, Matador Records, XL Recordings, and Young (record label), Young.
History
The company had i ...
, who still own some of the catalogue.
The name derives from "Mo'Wax Please", the title of a column James Lavelle wrote in the magazine ''
Straight No Chaser'' and the Oxford club night he ran. This in turn was influenced by the
Freddie Roach LP, ''
Mo' Greens Please'' on
Blue Note records
Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Capitol Music Group. Established in 1939 by History of the Jews in Germany, German-Jewish emigrants Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it deriv ...
.
The original Mo' Wax logo as used on the early releases was designed by UK graphic designer Ian Swift "Swifty" and the label grew their reputation by featuring artwork contributions from
Futura,
Robert Del Naja
Robert Del Naja (; born 21 January 1965), also known as 3D, is a British artist, musician, singer and songwriter. He emerged as a graffiti artist and member of the Bristol collective The Wild Bunch (sound system), the Wild Bunch, and later as ...
(from
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English trip hop collective formed in 1988 in Bristol, England, by Robert Del Naja, Robert "3D" Del Naja, Daddy G, Grant "Daddy G" Marshall, Tricky (musician), Adrian "Tricky" Thaws and Andrew Vowles, Andrew "Mushroom" ...
), She One, ''
Req1 '' and
Kostas Seremetis.
Ben Drury and Will Bankhead were the main designers responsible for the art direction and design of the label.
The label also released toys and art prints under their Mo' Wax Arts (MWA) imprint, and collaborated with artists such as
Mark Gonzales
Mark Gonzales (born June 1, 1968), also known as "Gonz", "the Gonz" and "the Godfather", is an American professional skateboarder and artist. A pioneer in the development of modern street skating, he is considered one of the first street-style s ...
,
Mike Mills
Michael Edward Mills (born December 17, 1958) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer who was a founding member of the alternative rock band R.E.M. Though known primarily as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist of R.E.M., hi ...
, and
Money Mark
Mark Ramos Nishita (born February 10, 1960), known professionally as Money Mark, is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys from 1992 until 2011.
Early life
Born in Detroit to a Japanese-Hawai ...
.
The label shut in 2002 and was celebrated in 2014 with an exhibition titled "Urban Archaeology: 21 years of Mo' Wax".
In 2015, Lavelle licensed back the Mo' Wax label to release
Elliott Power's "Murmur" single as a limited edition hand stamped
12" vinyl. On 26 February 2016, Elliott Power's debut album, ''Once Smitten'', was released on Mo' Wax in collaboration with Marathon Artists.
This is the label's most recent release.
Discography
* MW 001
Repercussions – ''Promise''
* MW 002 Raw Stylus – ''Many Ways'' (12")
* MW 003 Palm Skin Productions – ''Getting Out Of Hell'' (12")
* MW 004 Marden Hill – ''Come On'' (12")
* MW 005 RPM – ''Food of My De-Rhythm'' (12")
* MW 006 The Federation – ''Life So Free'' (12")
* MW 007 Mistura – ''Coast to Coast'' (12")
* MW 008 Bubbatunes – ''This Is Just A Dance'' (12")
* MW 009 Palm Skin Productions – ''Time & Space EP'' (12")
* MW 010 V.A. – ''Jazz Hip Jap Project''
* MW 011 El Malo - ''Mighty & Solution'' (12")
* MW 012 DJ Takemura - ''Hoping For The Sun'' (12")
* MW 013 Palm Skin Productions – ''In A Silent Way'' (12")
* MW 014
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972 in San Jose, California, San Jose, California), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ and record producer. His debut studio album, ''Endtroducing.....,'' was released in 1996.
He uses l ...
- ''In Flux''
* MW 015 The Federation – ''Remix E.P.'' (12")
* MW 016 Step - ''If'' (12")
* MW 017 La Funk Mob - ''Tribulations Extra Sensorielles''
* MW 018 RPM – ''2000 / Sortie Des Ombres''
* MW 019 Dee C. Lee - ''New Reality Vibes'' (12")
* MW 020
Attica Blues - ''Vibes, Scribes 'n' Dusty 45's'' E.P.
* MW 021 Deep Joy - ''Make Some Sense Of This'' (12")
* MW 022 Visionistics - ''Mysterious Ways'' (12")
* MW 023 La Funk Mob - ''Casse Les Frontieres, Fou Les Tetes em L'Air'' (2 x 10")
* MW 024
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972 in San Jose, California, San Jose, California), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ and record producer. His debut studio album, ''Endtroducing.....,'' was released in 1996.
He uses l ...
/
DJ Krush
, better known by his stage name DJ Krush, is a Japanese record producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature, and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.
Early life
Ishi ...
- ''Lost And Found (S.F.L) / Kemuri'' (12")
* MW 025
DJ Krush
, better known by his stage name DJ Krush, is a Japanese record producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature, and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.
Early life
Ishi ...
– ''
Strictly Turntablized''
* MW 026 V.A. -''
Headz''
* MW 027 DJ Shadow - ''What Does Your Soul Look Like''
* MW 028 U.N.K.L.E - ''The Time Has Come E.P.''
* MW 029 Palm Skin Productions - ''The Beast''
* MW 030 ''(no official release)''
* MW 031 Sam Sever & The Raiders Of The Lost Art - ''What's That Sound?''
* MW 032
Money Mark
Mark Ramos Nishita (born February 10, 1960), known professionally as Money Mark, is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys from 1992 until 2011.
Early life
Born in Detroit to a Japanese-Hawai ...
- '' Insects Are All Around Us''
* MW 033 DJ Krush - '' A Whim''
* MW 034 Money Mark – ''
Mark's Keyboard Repair''
* MW 035
Luke Vibert
Luke Vibert (born 26 January 1973) is a British electronic musician and producer, also known for his work under several aliases such as Plug and Wagon Christ. Raised in Cornwall, Vibert began releasing projects in the 1990s across varied genre ...
- ''A Polished Solid''
* MW 036 Money Mark - ''Cry''
* MW 037
Rob Dougan – ''
Clubbed to Death''
* MW 038 Attica Blues - ''Blueprint''
* MW 039 DJ Krush – ''
Meiso (LP)''
* MW 040 Andrea Parker - ''Melodius Thunk''
* MW 041 ''(no official release)''
* MW 042 DJ Krush - ''Meiso (Single)''
* MW 043 Money Mark - ''Third Version E.P.''
* MW 044 Money Mark - ''Legitimate Pop Songs?''
* MW 045 Andrea Parker - ''Rocking Chair''
* MW 046
Dr Octagon – ''
Dr. Octagonecologyst''
* MW 047 Air - ''Modular''
* MW 048 ''(no official release)''
* MW 049
Innerzone Orchestra - ''Bug In The Bassbin''
* ''MW 050 (Sam Sever - ''Zone Alone'' - Unreleased Test Pressing)''
* MW 051 Innervisions - ''Mermaids''
* MW 052 V.A. - ''Headz 2 Sampler''
* MW 053 V.A. - ''Headz 2 Sampler''
* MW 054 V.A. - ''Headz 2 Sampler''
* MW 055 Dr Octagon - ''Blue Flowers''
* MW 056 V.A. - ''Excursions''
* MW 057 DJ Shadow - ''Midnight In A Perfect World''
* MW 058 DJ Shadow - ''Stem''
* MW 059
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972 in San Jose, California, San Jose, California), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ and record producer. His debut studio album, ''Endtroducing.....,'' was released in 1996.
He uses l ...
– ''
Endtroducing.....''
* MW 060 DJ Krush - ''Only The Strong Survive''
* MW 061 V.A. – ''
Headz 2A''
* MW 062 V.A. – ''
Headz 2B''
* MW 063 DJ Shadow - ''High Noon''
* MW 064
Dr Octagon – ''
Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats)
''Instrumentalyst (Octagon Beats)'' is a remix album by United States, American rapping, emcee Kool Keith, Keith Thornton, credited under the title ''Dr. Octagon''. Released in 1996, it is the instrumental version of ''Dr. Octagonecologyst''. It ...
''
* MW 065 Urban Tribe - ''Eastward''
* MW 066 Money Mark - ''Hand In Your Head''
* MW 067 Attica Blues - ''Tender''
* MW 068 Dr Octagon - ''3000''
* MW 069 UNKLE - ''Berry Meditation''
* MW 070 UNKLE - ''Rock On'' (12" - One Sided Promo)
* MW 071 Luke Vibert - ''Do Unto Others''
* MW 072
Luke Vibert
Luke Vibert (born 26 January 1973) is a British electronic musician and producer, also known for his work under several aliases such as Plug and Wagon Christ. Raised in Cornwall, Vibert began releasing projects in the 1990s across varied genre ...
– ''
Big Soup''
* MW 073
Sukia – ''Contacto Espacial Con El Tercer Sexo''
* MW 074 ''(no official release)''
* MW 077 DJ Krush – ''
MiLight
is the fourth solo studio album by Japanese hip hop producer DJ Krush. It was released in 1996. It peaked at number 100 on the UK Albums Chart.
Critical reception
Ned Raggett of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, calling it "a fairly good ...
''
* MW 078
Liquid Liquid
Liquid Liquid is an American no wave and dance-punk group, originally active from 1980 to 1983. They are best known for their track "Cavern," which was covered—without proper permission or attribution—by the Sugar Hill Records (rap), Sugar ...
– ''Liquid Liquid''
* MW 080
Attica Blues – ''Attica Blues''
* MW 082 V.A. – ''The Original Artform''
* MW 085
UNKLE
Unkle (often stylised as U.N.K.L.E. or UNKLE, occasionally known as UNKLE Sounds) is a British musical outfit founded in 1992 by James Lavelle. Originally categorised as trip hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a ...
– ''
Psyence Fiction''
* MW 088 DJ Krush – ''
Holonic-The Self Megamix''
* MW 090 Money Mark – ''
Push The Button''
* MW 099
Andrea Parker – ''Kiss My Arp''
* MW 101 V.A. – ''Time Machine'' (mixed by
Psychonauts
''Psychonauts'' is a 2005 platformer, platform game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Majesco Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, Xbox (console), Xbox and PlayStation 2. Set in a Retrofuturism, retro-futuristic version of t ...
)
* MW 102
Urban Tribe – ''The Collapse of Modern Culture''
* MW 104
Tommy Guerrero – ''A Little Bit of Somethin
* MW 105 Major Force West – ''93–97''
* MW 110 V.A. – ''
Quannum Spectrum''
* MW 112
Blackalicious
Blackalicious was an American hip-hop duo from Sacramento, California, made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel. They are noted for Gift of Gab's often tongue-twisting, multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's soulful pr ...
– ''
Nia''
* MW 115
DJ Assault
Craig De Shan Adams (born October 19, 1977), better known as DJ Assault or Craig Diamonds, is an electronic musician and producer known for pioneering Detroit booty music and the ghettotech genre.
Adams was born in Detroit and relocated to the su ...
– ''Belle Isle Tech''
* MW 121
DJ Magic Mike
DJ Magic Mike (born Michael Hampton, May 9, 1966) is a Miami bass record producer, rapper, and the first platinum selling recording artist from Orlando, Florida. He is also a former member and former lead vocalist of the rap trio Vicious Bass alo ...
– ''The Journey (Era of Bass Part 1)''
* MW 122
Divine Styler
Mikal Safeyullah (born Mark Richardson; 1968), better known by his stage name Divine Styler, is an alternative hip hop artist.
History
He first emerged as part of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate. His first LP, '' Word Power'', was hailed by critics an ...
– ''
Wordpower, Vol. 2: Directrix''
* MW 129
Nigo
is a Japanese fashion designer, disc jockey (DJ), record producer and entrepreneur. He is best known as the creator of the streetwear brand, A Bathing Ape (Bape), and currently serves as artistic director for Kenzo. Additionally he is a member ...
– ''Ape Sounds''
* MW 132
South
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Etymology
The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
– ''
From Here on In''
* MW 141
David Axelrod – ''David Axelrod''
* MW 143
Malcom Catto – ''Popcorn Bubble Fish''
* MW 145 V.A. – ''Now Thing ''
* MW 152
Malcom Catto – ''Bubblefish Breaks ''
* MW 155 Jordan Fields - ''Moments in Dub ''
* MW 158 Tommy Guerrero – ''
Soul Food Taqueria''
* MW 159 Parsley Sound – ''Parsley Sounds ''
* MWU 001
UNKLE
Unkle (often stylised as U.N.K.L.E. or UNKLE, occasionally known as UNKLE Sounds) is a British musical outfit founded in 1992 by James Lavelle. Originally categorised as trip hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a ...
– ''
Never, Never, Land''
MWLP Prefix - Only 3 catalogue numbers were released on the LP prefix before the label started to include LP's in the main MW prefix. Also available as CD with prefix MWCD..
* MWLP 001 V.A. - ''Jazz Hip Jazz''
* MWLP 002 The Federation - ''Flower To The Sun''
* MWLP 003 V.A. - ''Royalties Overdue''
References
External links
Mo' Wax DiscographyMo'Wax at Discogs.comMo' Wax Please(Archived)
{{Authority control
British record labels
Electronic music record labels
Hip-hop record labels