High Focus Records is an independent British hip-hop record label founded by rapper Fliptrix in 2010, following the collapse of Low Life Records.

History

In 2008, Fliptrix was in the process of releasing his first album on Low Life Records the largest UK hip-hop label at the time. Unfortunately, the label collapsed later that year. As a result, Fliptrix turned to one of the only other hip-hop labels in the UK at that time, YNR. However the label's owner,

Jehst William G. Shields (born 21 August 1979), better known by his stage name Jehst, is an English Rapping, rapper and co-founder of hip hop label YNR Productions. Biography Born in Kent in 1979, Jehst spent his early childhood in Crowborough in Su ...

, recommended he create his own label in order to get his album out as soon as possible. Friends of Fliptrix, such as

Jam Baxter Jam Baxter is an English rapper from London. Since 2009, he has released 7 solo albums and several EPs on UK-based labels High Focus Records and, since 2019, Blah Records. He is noted for his surreal and cryptic lyrics, described variously as b ...

and Leaf Dog, asked if he could put their albums out too - and it was from there High Focus Records began to grow.

Details

Originally influenced by late 1990s and early 2000s British hip hop artists such as

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and

Skinnyman Skinnyman (born Alexander Graham Holland, 9 November 1974) is a British rapping, rapper who was born in Chapeltown, West Yorkshire, Chapeltown Leeds, Yorkshire and moved to Finsbury Park (area), Finsbury Park, London at a young age. He is best ...

, High Focus has often focused on a 1990s US '

boom bap Boom bap is a subgenre and music production style that was prominent in East Coast hip hop during the golden age of hip hop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. The term "boom bap" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sounds used for the ...

' style hip hop sound. However, it has diversified its artist roster into

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 ...

in recent years with Onoe Caponoe Strange U and Jam Baxter incorporating wider influences. The label has released dozens of albums and projects since 2010. They have released one UK top 40 album, Ocean Wisdom's Wizville in 2018. However, he has since left the label to start his own venture with

Warner Music Warner Music Group Corp., commonly abbreviated as WMG, is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and the third-largest in the gl ...

. As of October 2015, High Focus Records has had nearly 40 million views on its YouTube channel. In 2016, High Focus regular

Verb T Thomas Conning (born 11 January 1981), better known by the stage name Verb T is a UK hip-hop artist based in London. Biography Verb T has released 10 albums and six EPs as well as numerous singles. His first release was the 12-track EP ''Ba ...

teamed up with comedian Doc Brown to release a song dedicated to their shared local South London football team

Crystal Palace FC Crystal Palace Football Club, commonly referred to as Crystal Palace or simply Palace, is a professional Association football, football club based in Selhurst, South London, England, which competes in the Premier League, the top-tier of Engl ...

. The track, called "Glad All Over Again", was played at Wembley in the 2016 FA Cup Final between Crystal Palace and Manchester United. Verb T and producer Pitch 92 (who have two albums out together on High Focus) also recorded the theme tune for the

Sky One Sky One was a British pay television channel operated and owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). Originally launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, it was Europe's first satellite and non- terrestrial channel. From 31 July 1989, ...

television series The Reluctant Landlord. Show creator and comedian

Romesh Ranganathan Jonathan Romesh Ranganathan (born 27 March 1978) is a British comedian, actor, and presenter. His style of comedy is deadpan and often self-deprecating. Ranganathan has made numerous appearances on television comedy panel shows and has been a ...

has featured High Focus members The Four Owls, Dirty Dike and former label star Ocean Wisdom on his hip hop themed podcast, ''Hip Hop Saved My Life.'' High Focus artists have also been frequent collaborators with

Rag'n'Bone Man Rory Charles Graham (born 29 January 1985), known professionally as Rag'n'Bone Man, is an English singer. He is known for his deep baritone voice. His first hit single, "Human", was released in 2016, and his first album ''Human'' was released ...

, who released two EPs on the label between 2011 and 2014.

Artists

Current and former acts

* Brothers of the Stone *BVA *CMPND *Contact Play *Coops *Cracker Jon & 2Late *Dabbla *Datkid *Dead Players *Dirty Dike *DJ Sammy B-Side *Ed Scissor *Fliptrix * The Four Owls *Jam Baxter *Leaf Dog *Mr Key *Mr Slipz *Onoe Caponoe *Ocean Wisdom *

*Ramson Badbonez *Ronnie Bosh *Strange U *TrueMendous *

*Verbz *Vitamin G

Associated producers

* Chemo * Leaf Dog * Illinformed * DJ Sammy B-Side * Talos * Pitch 92 * Dirty Dike * Pete Cannon * Joe Corfield * Molotov * DJ Madnice * Ghosttown * Runone * Alecs DeLarge

References

{{Authority control British independent record labels Hip-hop record labels British hip-hop record labels